Review of the Stanley Cup

Photo of Stanley Cup via Bridget Moyer

If you use social media as addictively as I do, you have likely seen the new trend among avid water drinkers. The Stanley Cup—which is not to be mistaken with the National Hockey League Championship award—is the new “it girl” on the water bottle scene.

 The Stanley Brand has several different cup styles and sizes, including tabletop mugs, flasks, barware, coffee tumblers, and traditional water bottles. The style that’s been taking the internet by storm is the “Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler.” At $1 per oz, these bottles are slightly cheaper than popular competitors such as the 40 oz. Hydro Flask, which sells at $54.95.

 The Stanley Tumbler takes on a tiered shape like some Yeti cups, with the diameter of the bottom half being smaller than the top. The tumbler also has a notably large handle. Although the shape is somewhat off-putting, there is a practical defense—cup holders! The small bottom diameter (roughly 3 inches, to be exact) allows the cup to fit in most cup holders; this is convenient for road trips and commutes alike, but does it make much of a difference for college students?

 I borrowed a thirty-ounce Stanley Cup Tumbler from a friend this week to test it out myself, and I was surprised by the results. For the sake of accountable and ethical journalism, I’d like to reluctantly disclose that I’ve been a Hydro Flask user since its initial TikTok emergence in 2019. So far, the Hydro Flask has fit my needs as a college student perfectly, and I’m afraid that The Stanley has not.

 To begin with praise, The Stanley was a great tumbler to fill, clean, and drink from. Its wide top made it easy to fill with my water filter, so there was minimal fear of spillage. The wide top also allowed me to see and get inside easily, making it easy to clean properly. I quickly got used to the straw on The Stanley, and I enjoyed the mindlessness of comfortably sipping without the hassle of unscrewing a cap and potentially dripping water down my chin.

 The practicality of The Stanley is where the conversation becomes difficult. Although it did work wonderfully in my car, The Stanley was a pain to carry around. I couldn’t secure the tumbler inside my backpack pockets, so I had no choice but to carry it around by hand: a simple first-world problem that was extremely hard for me to accept. With other straw-less tumblers, I’m able to secure any openings with the lid, swing it around, and hold the tumbler from top hooks or handles. With the Stanley, I was extremely conscious of keeping it upright to prevent water from spilling out of the straw; it felt like I was carrying around a giant mug with a comically large handle.

 The appeal of The Stanley is clear—it keeps your water cold, it keeps you hydrated, it fits in your car, and (most importantly) it keeps you on-trend. Before you go and buy yourself a Stanley of your own, I urge you to look in your cupboards and shelves and ask yourself: is this any better than what I already have? If you don’t already have a giant, aesthetically pleasing, muted pink tumbler, the answer is likely yes.