I thought this mug woul be heavy but it is incredibly lightweight for its size. The rim at the top is thin making it easy to drink but this does not take away from the more robust shape of the mug. Being such a large mug it is perfect for big tea drinkers like me as it holds a lot of liquid. The outside of the cup is very smooth and a pleasure to hold. I cannot fault this item and am constantly getting complimented on it and now use it as my favourite (and only) drinking mug!