Wow, I’m surprised to see the Nuby No-Spill Flip It Straw Cup on the bottom tier!  We have these, got them for $2 from Walmart and have had no issues with cleaning them at all.  The trick is using the mini-bottle brushes we had hanging around from when we tried the Dr. Brown’s bottles. 

As for threading the straw up through the top, after the fourth or fifth time we did it, it was no longer an issue.  It just requires a little twist to help it through.

I think what surprises me most is it lost a lot of points in the eye appeal section - out of all the cups we’ve seen, we think these are pretty neat looking.  I certainly wouldn’t rate it as low as a 6!

That said, they do have one flaw you didn’t mention (and as these are our first straw cups I don’t know if it is a genre wide problem)… our daughter is still pretty young (10 months) and she can’t get the last 1-2 oz out of these because she can’t hold the cup level long enough.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lana! Eye appeal is definitely the most qualitative and personal assessment. Speaking personally, I tend to love Nuby designs in their idealized promotional images, like them when I first see them, and then grow to dislike them when I’ve looked at them a lot. But that’s me… We probably wouldn’t have an “Eye Appeal” section at all except that it’s the best way to help the absolute cutest designs get some recognition for it.

As for the last 1-2 oz., I wonder if turning the cup backwards would allow her to get that last sip, or if the bottom half of the straw can be inserted to a bit different depth? At least the one we have angles the straw to the edge of the cup when we have the straw put together, although we may not put the pieces together as tightly as you do.

Another point I meant to make: By and large the point spread for this division is far narrower than in our Baby and Toddler sippy division - there are only a few cups we consider really “bad” here, and their scores reflect that. But getting 29 points out of 40, as the above Nuby and Zak! products did, is still pretty good!

We have the Nuby cup and it’s ok. 

Cons:
- as mentioned, threading the straw through the opening is harder than you might think;
- because of the pulling for the threading, the straw part gets damaged pretty quickly and the replacement part costs are high enough that it’s cheaper for you to just buy a new cup, which I think is pretty wasteful - to be fair, my daughter liked to chew on the straw (as she does with any straw) which I think contributes to its quick demise;
- more parts than I like to clean (having the Tilty at home especially in comparison) and I agree with what Z Recs said, some nooks and cranies that I just can’t seem to get clean. 

Pros:
- there’s a cover so it’s transportable;
- it’s transparent;
- and of course, my daughter liked it although that’s not a helpful assessment for others.

This is the only straw cup we tried with my daughter.  In general I don’t like straw cups which I think heavily colors my impression of it.

Thanks for the tip on the straw parts, I checked to see if maybe that was the problem and noticed a manufacturing flaw!  The bottom straw on my 2 Nuby straw cups varies by 1/3 inch!!  One will not angle as a result (too short) and the other will angle just a bit so there’s only an ounce left instead of 2.  Hmmm.  Looking forward to seeing your top picks so I can try out some more straw cups.  :)

The Nuby and Munchkin (we used the Nuby ones) we found were actually best for the transition from sippy tops to straws like you noted.  For that reason, I wouldn’t have even put them in the older kid category.  We graduated pretty quickly once we got her figure out you don’t tip straw cups.

I have the Nuby No-Spill Flip It Straw Cup.  Have to say, not very impressed!  I have to use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull the straw throw the little thing at the top!  This is not a good thing.  Wouldn’t recommend these cups!  Totally agree with putting them at the bottom.

melanie