Classic wine glasses are beautiful, but they can break easily, especially if you err on the side of clumsiness. If you want to enjoy wine without the fear of breaking glass, you may want to invest in a couple of unbreakable wine glasses. Unbreakable wine glasses are made from a variety of materials, including stainless steel, silicone, and plastic.
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What Is an Unbreakable Wine Glass?
Typically, an unbreakable wine glass is (ironically) not made out of glass. Thanks to innovations in molds and polymers, there are several beverage sipping options that are truly unbreakable! Typically, unbreakable wine glassware is constructed of stainless steel and plastics such as Tritan, acrylic, or silicone.
These Glasses Are Really Unbreakable?
Unbreakable glassware may be labeled as shatter-resistant or shatter-proof. What’s the difference? Shatter-resistant glassware has been coated with or made from materials that will keep the container from shattering into tiny pieces if dropped (though it may still crack and break). Shatter-proof glassware, on the other hand, will not shatter or break when dropped. You really can throw it around or knock it off the counter. It may break, but usually only in an extreme situation (like being run over by a car!).
Want visual proof? Check out this video of two young women proving how robust unbreakable wine glasses are these days.
Do I Need Unbreakable Wine Glasses?
Unbreakable wine glasses can be a solution for wine lovers who are afraid of breaking glasses due to clumsiness or inebriation. They can also be great in households with small children or pets who inadvertently knock over glassware.
Unbreakable wine glasses are a great option for parties or weddings that take place outdoors in areas where going barefoot is the norm - like beaches, swimming pools, and boats.
Finally, unbreakable wine glasses are a good option if you like the idea of having a wine glass or two stowed away in a classic large Longchamp Le Pliage nylon handbag (affiliate link) or the TUMI unisex Voyageur duffle bag (affiliate link) for a weekend trip.
Will Unbreakable Wine Glasses Detract From the Experience of Drinking Wine?
The world of wine can be broken down (more or less) into two categories: beverage wine and fine wine. Most wines you find at big-box stores and larger grocery chains are beverage wine, designed to drink right after purchasing and without a lot of fuss. Fine wine, on the other hand, can be found at independent wine shops and specialty boutique grocery stores as well as online retailers and select wine clubs.
Unbreakable wine glasses will not deter from enjoyable consumption of beverage wine.
When drinking fine wine, however, you may find that unbreakable wine glasses take away from the experience, especially when it comes to capturing the aromas of wine and the feel of a thick glass rim in their mouth (rather than the preferred thin rim for fine wine glasses).
What About Stemless Wine Glasses?
We are not big fans of stemless wine glasses as the liquid in the glass quickly warms in the hand, causing the wine to become dull and “flabby.” However, if the stemless wine glass is constructed of insulating materials - like a double-walled stainless steel wine glass (affiliate link) - this is less of a concern. Insulated stemless wine glasses are a great fit for outdoor drinking situations like the pool or beach.
What Are The Downsides of Unbreakable Wine Glasses?
In addition to being suboptimal for fine wine experiences, there are a few downsides to unbreakable wine glasses. One downside of unbreakable wine glasses is that many are single-use and thus, not environmentally friendly.
Cheaper unbreakable wine glasses can have visible seams on the bowl, which can be rough on the mouth in addition to being unseemly. Also, cheaper plastics can often be cloudy. As the price of the cup increases, so does typically the quality of construction and the visibility of the wine.
Finally, while most unbreakable wine glasses are made of food-grade materials, like the popular govino stemless wine glasses, you’ll want to double-check really inexpensive unbreakable wine glasses for food-grade material construction before you drink out of them.
Best Unbreakable Wine Glasses
We love taking wine for a walk on the beach or a ride on a boat. We’ve tried several different types of unbreakable wine glasses in these environments. In our search for the best unbreakable wine glasses, we focused our selections on reusable unbreakable wine glasses and glasses that will work in a variety of situations.
Best Wine Glass For Clumsy People
If you (or a friend you’ll be buying a gift for) are very clumsy with wine glassware, this shatterproof wine glass made of Tritan materials in the USA is a great option.
We like these “glasses” as they really do look like “real” wine glasses. They’ve got a stem and substantial foot, making them a step up from stemless glassware. They are also reusable and dishwasher safe. However, don’t place them in a dishwasher set on the highest temperature setting as they might melt or bend. We do wish the bowl was a little bit bigger. And like any molded item, quality may vary across the various lots.
Best Silicone Wine Glass for Hot Tubbing
If you enjoy relaxing in a hot tub after a day of skiing or work, these silicone glasses may work for inexpensive wine or fun cocktails. They’re unbreakable and don’t have sharp edges in case they are crushed underfoot or fall into the hot tub. What sets this silicone wine glass apart from the others is its wider opening, making it less likely that your nose will hit the rim when imbibing.
There are two potential downsides to silicone wine glasses. One is that they can attract dirt (like dust or fine sand) easily. This might be unappetizing to some wine drinkers. The second downside is that the glass is “squishy” in one’s hand, unlike firm glassware or stainless steel. This might not work for folks wanting the feeling of a firm glass in their hands.
Best Shatter-Resistant Glass Wine Glass
Still want an actual glass wine glass, but need it to be more robust than expensive crystal? Then this wine glass may work for you. Most fine crystal glassware is mouth-blown, resulting in a super-thin stem and bowl. These Paksh wine glasses are made in a mold, resulting in a thicker base, bowl, and stem.
It’s important to note that these glasses are not shatter-proof. They are simply thicker and more durable than fine crystal glassware.
While these are a good solution for clumsy folks who still love an actual glass wine glass, they might be too thick for anyone looking to drink fine wine. Wine glasses made in a mold may also have small quality defects simply due to the fact that they are made in bulk.
Best Double-Walled Stainless Steel Wine Glass
The Yeti Rambler Stainless Insulated Wine Tumbler is a great stemless wine glass for outdoors as the wine is not heated through contact with your hands.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Yeti Wine Tumbler. Another wine tumbler option to consider is the Corkcicle Tumbler (affiliate link).
Best Reusable Tritan Unbreakable Wine Glass (Made in America)
Fans of Tervis for reusable water containers? You may like this wine glass made by Tervis for drinking wine at the beach or on your patio. You can purchase the tumblers with or without lids. While you can wash them in the dishwasher, we find that our Tervis tumblers hold up best when washed by hand.
One of the downsides of this unbreakable wine glass is its size. It holds only 9 oz, while other glasses we’ve reviewed hold a little more wine.
Unbreakable Wine Glasses Breakdown
Innovative polymers, as well as stainless steel wine glasses, provide a safe option for drinking wine in areas where conventional glassware is not allowed.
For the benefit of durability, wine enthusiasts should expect to give up the thin rim common in crystal glassware. Other sacrifices include not being able to see through a stainless steel bowl to admire the color of a wine.
Our experience also indicates that you get what you pay for, meaning that as price increases, characteristics like glass clarity increase and weight decreases.
In conclusion, we recommend having a couple of unbreakable wine glasses to take with you if you like to enjoy wine in venues where glassware is not allowed. Since the type of activity you enjoy influences the ideal unbreakable wine glass for you, it’s a close call to choose a favorite.
If we had to pick just one of these unbreakable wine glasses, we would go with the Yeti tumbler. This tumbler is stylish, has a pleasing shape, and keeps wine cool in our (very hot!) North Carolina summers. Also, the lid conveniently keeps sand and bugs out of the wine while we are at the beach or in the yard (always a plus!).
Whatever you decide, we hope this review was helpful, and we hope that you find just the right unbreakable wine glasses for all of your indoor and outdoor adventures!
Cheers!