The Hip Flask: Three Centuries of Good Company
From silver in 1710 to stainless steel today, a familiar companion for the gentleman who feels at home outdoors.
Some objects earn their place through years of use. A pocketknife. A reliable pair of boots. A flask brought along for a weekend away. Small enough to carry and personal enough to keep, the hip flask belongs to that company.
Its appeal comes from a simple idea: Bring a little of something you enjoy, and save it for the right moment.
A Story That Reaches Back to 1710
The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds a British silver flask with a screw top dating to approximately 1710. At just over four and a half inches tall, it offers a tangible link to the small portable vessels people carried more than three centuries ago. It isn’t proof of the first hip flask ever made, but it is a remarkable surviving example of the idea.
Silver gave this everyday vessel the character of a treasured possession. The material had value, and the workmanship turned something useful into something worth keeping.
Imagine the care involved in making a small silver container and fitting its screw top. Even before the familiar modern flask took shape, practicality and craftsmanship were already part of its story.
The Materials Changed. The Idea Endured.
The flask’s history includes more than polished metal. American makers also produced glass pocket flasks. One example in the Met’s collection, dated 1800–1860, was made from blown, pattern-molded glass. It represents another approach to the same purpose: a compact vessel that could travel with its owner.
Metal vessels accompanied travelers, too. Royal Museums Greenwich preserves a flattened tin flask from Sir John Franklin’s 1845 Arctic expedition. The museum describes it as possibly a hip flask, shaped to fit a pocket. Its original contents remain uncertain, but its design speaks clearly to the demands of carrying equipment over distance.
Across these examples, the materials tell different stories. Silver suggests a valued personal possession. Molded glass reflects American manufacturing and decorative design. Tin speaks to practical construction.
Today, stainless steel carries that tradition forward with a material suited to regular use.
The American Gentleman, Outside
At LANDOVERLAND, our idea of the American gentleman includes muddy boots.
He appreciates good workmanship, keeps his word, and knows how to make others feel welcome. He can enjoy a well-set table and be equally content pulling up a chair beside a campfire.
A flask fits that spirit. It is a modest personal accessory with a purpose, brought out when the work is finished and there is time to enjoy the company.
Its American story also carries a streak of independence. During Prohibition, from 1920 to 1933, small flasks became associated with discreetly carrying liquor. A 1926 photograph preserved by the Library of Congress shows dancer Mlle. Rhea displaying a flask tucked into her garter, a reminder that this history belonged to women as well as men.
That chapter helped give the flask its enduring hint of rebellion. But the part we appreciate most is simpler: an object that makes a shared occasion feel personal.
Good Company in Every Season
Autumn invites another pace. Leaves change, heavier layers return, and a cabin weekend starts to sound especially good. A flask belongs beside the conversation after a day spent outdoors.
Winter brings early darkness and the pleasure of returning to shelter. After the gear is put away and everyone is safely settled inside, there is time to raise a toast to the day.
Spring brings the first camping weekend, wet trails, and the welcome return to evenings outside. Once camp is settled and dinner is ready, a small toast marks the beginning of another season.
Summer stretches the day. There are lakeside weekends, fishing trips, and long evenings when nobody feels much urgency to turn in. With the boat secured and the day’s activities finished, the flask has its moment.
For the outdoorsman, the flask is a companion to those moments. The survival essentials still come first: water, shelter, navigation, and sound judgment. The spirits are saved for when the adventure is safely done.
LANDO FLASK: The Outdoorsman's Best Companion
Say hello to the LANDO FLASK, your rugged yet refined companion for every adventure. Crafted from 100% stainless steel, this 6oz flask holds your favorite pick-me-up beverage in impeccable style. Whether you're sipping a warming drink by the campfire or enjoying a chilled refreshment at a scenic overlook, the double-wall insulation keeps your drink at the perfect temperature.
Built for the outdoors, its rust-free durability ensures it can handle any terrain, while the powder-coated finish adds a touch of timeless elegance. The LANDO FLASK isn't just practical, it's a statement piece, making it an ideal gift for explorers, minimalists, and everyone in between.
Take it along on your next adventure and toast to the road ahead.
The LANDOVERLAND Stainless Steel Flask
Our stainless steel flask continues a tradition that reaches back centuries: carrying a small measure for an occasion worth remembering.
Stainless steel gives this familiar accessory a practical modern character. It belongs in the same conversation as the other useful things you choose carefully, look after, and bring along again.
For us, the appeal is in the ritual. Packing for a weekend. Choosing what to bring. Unscrewing the cap once everyone has settled in. Remembering who was there.
From an early silver flask to the stainless steel version you carry today, that small gesture still feels at home.
Explore the LANDOVERLAND stainless steel flask. Bring it along for the moments worth a toast.