We are always on the lookout for brands that bring genuine design thinking to everyday objects. Chako Lab does exactly that. Founded in 2020 and based in mainland China, this drinkware brand has built a reputation for turning bottles, cups and tumblers into something you actually want to carry around.
The idea behind Chako Lab is in the name itself. Chako is an acronym the brand coined: Colourful, Healthy, Attractive, Keep Objective, meaning "keep true." The brand, run by parent company Ningbo Inso Technology in Ningbo, Zhejiang, holds more than 30 design patents and registrations across its range, and the design work has been recognised with both an iF Design Award and a Red Dot Design Award.
Since we first brought Chako Lab into Wally, the range has grown. We now carry the original LinLin Kettle alongside two new kettle finishes (a matt ceramic exterior edition and a lightweight plastic version), the BaoBao Cup, the Dual-Layer Tumbler, and the brand's new Twist Tumbler. This guide covers the full lineup, what each piece is built from, and how to pick the right one.
What Makes Chako Lab Different
A lot of insulated drinkware looks the same because most of it comes from the same generic OEM factories. Chako Lab is not that. The brand runs its own design and engineering studio, and the difference shows once you start using their pieces.
A few things stand out.
A design-first approach. Chako Lab holds a large portfolio of design patents across the range. That is where the brand has put its real investment: shape, colour combinations, soft curves, playful silhouettes. It is the only drinkware brand we stock where the design work alone has been recognised with both a Red Dot and an iF Design Award. If you are tired of the matte black everything that has dominated the category for the last decade, this is the antidote.
Medical-grade 316 stainless steel. The industry standard for insulated bottles is 304 stainless (also called 18/8). Chako Lab uses 316 stainless on their insulated steel pieces, which adds molybdenum for better corrosion resistance. It is the same grade used in medical instruments and marine hardware. In practice this means no metallic taste, and better resistance to acidic drinks like fruit infusions, citrus water, electrolyte mixes and coffee.
Ceramic interior coating where it matters. Some pieces in the range, the original LinLin Kettle, the LinLin Kettle Ceramic edition, and the new Twist Tumbler, add a food-grade ceramic layer over the steel. This keeps flavours clean between uses, so your green tea in the morning will not taste like the coffee you had yesterday, and it resists staining from things like turmeric lattes and red berry infusions. The BaoBao Cup, Dual-Layer Tumbler, and the lighter Tritan plastic LinLin do not have ceramic coatings, which we will get into below.
Patented sealing and handle engineering. Chako Lab's technical patents cover things like single-ring wide-mouth seals that stay leak-proof with fewer parts to clean, and quick-release handle systems that let you reconfigure how you carry the bottle. Small details, but the kind of thing you notice on day 30 rather than day 1.
The honest answer on the category: vacuum insulation is well-understood science, and Chako Lab's thermal performance sits comfortably alongside any other quality insulated bottle. Where they genuinely stand apart is the design investment and the material spec. You are buying a beautifully designed bottle, not a magic thermal device.
The LinLin Kettle: Three Versions, One Silhouette
The LinLin Kettle is Chako Lab's signature piece. The kettle-shaped silhouette with the U-hollow handle is unmistakable, and we now stock it in three different finishes built for different uses. Knowing which one is which matters, because they are not all the same bottle in different colours.
LinLin Kettle 1000ml (the original steel version)
The flagship. A full litre of capacity in a vacuum-insulated 316 stainless steel body lined with a food-grade ceramic interior coating. The ceramic interior is what keeps the next drink tasting clean even when yesterday's was an espresso or a turmeric latte. Holds temperature for up to 24 hours hot or 36 hours cold. A silicone pop-up straw, an ABS handle, food-grade silicone seal, non-slip base, and the whole thing disassembles for cleaning.
Available in Pink, Yellow, New Pink, New Green and White & Blue.
This is the LinLin Kettle most people picture when they hear the name.
LinLin Kettle Ceramic edition
A more recent addition. Same silhouette, same insulated 316 stainless steel construction, same interior ceramic coating, with the addition of a soft tactile matt ceramic exterior finish. The exterior treatment is what sets this version apart visually and to the touch. Same 24h hot / 36h cold thermal performance, same pop-up straw, same disassembly for cleaning. The colourways are deliberately quieter and more refined than the original lineup.
Available in Basque, Souffle, Ricebread and Blue & Brown.
If you want the most premium-feeling LinLin in the range, this is it.
LinLin Kettle Plastic
The lighter, easygoing sibling. This is the one to be clear about: the plastic LinLin is not stainless steel, not insulated, and does not have a ceramic coating. It is the same recognisable silhouette and U-hollow handle, made from food-grade Tritan plastic. Tritan is impact-resistant and BPA-free, which makes this version a sensible pick for school bags, gym bags, pram baskets, and anywhere weight or breakage matters more than holding temperature. 1150ml capacity, leak-proof lid with built-in straw, wide mouth for filling and cleaning.
Available in Blue, Yellow and Pink.
It is also the most affordable LinLin at $59.99, so it is a good entry point if you like the look but do not need vacuum insulation.
Which LinLin should I get?
If you want the classic LinLin look with serious thermal performance, go for the original steel version. If you want the most considered finish and the matt exterior feel, the Ceramic edition is the upgrade. If you need lightweight, drop-resistant, and you do not need it to keep things hot or cold, the Plastic version is the pick.
BaoBao Cup 450ml
A compact insulated cup that works equally well for your morning yoghurt, afternoon coffee, or post-workout smoothie. The 316 stainless steel body has vacuum insulation that keeps contents hot or cold for over six hours, and the 360-degree leak-proof seal means it travels safely in your bag. It even comes with its own spoon tucked into the lid. The rubber base keeps it planted on any surface.
The BaoBao does not have a ceramic interior coating, so we recommend rinsing it well between uses if you switch from coffee to something else mid-day. For a single-purpose vessel (just coffee, just smoothies, just water), it is exactly the right size.
Available in Sweet Corn, Blueberry Bagel and Raspberry Oatmeal.
Dual-Layer Tumbler 570ml
The most inventive piece in the range. This is two cups in one: a 570ml high borosilicate glass inner cup paired with a 600ml 316 stainless steel outer. Use the glass inner for brewing tea or cold infusions where you want to see the colour and clarity of your drink, then slot it into the steel outer for insulation. Or pull them apart and use each independently. The steel outer keeps drinks hot for 6 hours and cold for 24.
The lid is a cover, not a leak-proof seal, so this is one for the desk, the kitchen, or the meeting table rather than the inside of a bag.
Available in White/Green and Pink/Purple.
Twist Tumbler 530ml (the new one)
The newest piece in the lineup, and the one that gets picked up most when people walk in and play with the range in store. The Twist Tumbler's lid switches between a direct sipping spout for hot drinks and an integrated straw opening for iced ones, all with a quick twist. No fumbling with multiple lids.
The inner chamber is 316 stainless steel with a ceramic lining, so flavours stay clean from the first sip to the last. The outer wall is 304 stainless. The matte powder-coated exterior shrugs off fingerprints and scratches, and the soft-touch silicone handle is removable for switching between desk mode and on-the-go. A silicone base keeps it quiet on a hard surface, and every part comes apart for a proper wash. Fits most car cup holders.
Available in Pink Purple, Yellow Blue and Blue Pink.
If you want one tumbler that does coffee in the morning, cold brew at lunch, and water at the gym, the Twist Tumbler is the most versatile piece in the range.
How to Pick Your Chako Lab Piece
Three quick questions narrow it down:
How long do you need it to hold temperature? All-day hydration (24h+) means a LinLin Kettle (steel or ceramic edition). A few hours is fine for the BaoBao Cup, Dual-Layer Tumbler, or Twist Tumbler. If you do not need temperature retention at all, the Plastic LinLin is the lightest and most affordable option.
Are you carrying it in a bag? Leak-proof options are the LinLin Kettle (any version), the BaoBao Cup, the Twist Tumbler, and the Plastic LinLin. The Dual-Layer Tumbler is a desk piece, not a bag piece.
Do you switch between drinks during the day? Pick a piece with a ceramic interior so flavours do not carry over: original LinLin Kettle, LinLin Kettle Ceramic, or Twist Tumbler.
Why We Stock Chako Lab
New Zealand has embraced reusable drinkware, but so much of what is available looks the same. Chako Lab brings personality to the category without compromising on the specs that matter: 316 stainless steel construction on the insulated pieces, ceramic interior coatings where flavour clarity matters, BPA-free materials throughout, and leak-proof designs you can trust in your bag. The colour palette alone sets them apart from anything else on the market.
It is the kind of brand we love to champion: an independent design studio doing genuine R&D work, taking a category nobody was making beautiful, and bringing out products that people actually want to pick up and use.
Chako Lab FAQ
Where is Chako Lab from? Chako Lab is based in mainland China, founded in 2020, with parent company Ningbo Inso Technology headquartered in Ningbo, Zhejiang. The name itself is an acronym the brand coined: Colourful, Healthy, Attractive, Keep Objective. The design team has taken home both Red Dot and iF Design Awards for their work.
Where can I buy Chako Lab in NZ? Wally is a Chako Lab stockist in Takapuna, Auckland. Shop the full range online at wally.co.nz/collections/chako-lab with free shipping on NZ orders over $80, or come and see the pieces in person at our Takapuna store.
Do all Chako Lab kettles have a ceramic coating? No. The original LinLin Kettle 1000ml (Pink, Yellow, New Pink, New Green, White & Blue) has a ceramic interior coating. The LinLin Kettle Ceramic edition (Basque, Souffle, Ricebread, Blue & Brown) has the ceramic interior coating plus a matt ceramic exterior finish. The LinLin Kettle Plastic version is made from Tritan plastic and has no ceramic coating. If you need ceramic for flavour clarity between drinks, choose one of the steel versions.
Are Chako Lab bottles dishwasher safe? Most of the steel range is dishwasher safe, but we recommend hand washing where possible to get the longest life out of your piece. Regular dishwasher use over time can be harder on ceramic coatings, silicone seals and powder-coated finishes. The Twist Tumbler and Plastic LinLin are hand wash recommended.
What are Chako Lab bottles made from? The insulated pieces (original LinLin Kettle, LinLin Kettle Ceramic, BaoBao Cup, Dual-Layer Tumbler outer, Twist Tumbler) are built from 316 stainless steel. The Dual-Layer Tumbler also includes a high borosilicate glass inner cup. The LinLin Kettle Plastic is food-grade Tritan plastic. All pieces use food-grade silicone seals and are BPA-free.
How long do Chako Lab bottles keep drinks hot and cold? LinLin Kettle (steel or ceramic edition): up to 24 hours hot, 36 hours cold. BaoBao Cup: 6+ hours hot or cold. Dual-Layer Tumbler: 6 hours hot, 24 hours cold (in the steel outer). Twist Tumbler: insulated for hot or cold use, exact retention varies by drink and lid mode. The Plastic LinLin is not insulated.
Is the Twist Tumbler good for coffee? Yes. The 316 stainless steel inner with ceramic lining means coffee tastes clean and there is no carryover to your next drink. The twist lid switches between a sipping spout for hot coffee and a straw opening for iced coffee, so it covers both use cases in one piece.