I tried using a Stanley Cup for a week – it was perfect for cold drinks but had a major flaw
THE Stanley Quencher travel cup is one of 2024’s must-have products, going viral on social media and repeatedly selling out in shops across the UK.
Since they arrived here in April last year, the #StanleyCup hashtag has amassed 7.2 billion views worldwide.
And TikTok videos of the giant tumblers have been viewed over 240 million times.
Adele loves hers. Victoria Beckham and Meghan Markle have been pictured with them, while Jessica Alba has shown off her baby blue version on social media.
The trend shows no sign of slowing down and the brand has now partnered with Grammy award-winning singer Olivia Rodrigo, who admits buying hers after seeing all the social media hype.
“I was like, I need this, it looks like it’s going to change my life,” she said.
When her limited edition version went on sale this week, fans were left fuming after the website crashed leaving many disappointed.
On social media, TikTokers flaunt their collections with cups in every hue.
Aly Zamorano, 36, has more than 30 of them.
Thirst for the craze has even seen people breaking the law in an attempt to get their hands on one of the cups – with one popular video showing a man jumping across a Starbucks counter in an attempt to steal a limited edition hot pink version of the flask.
There was also lots of talk about their durability after TikTok user @danimarielettering posted a film of the interior of her burnt out car, only to find her Stanley cup firmly intact by the driver’s seat.
She then shakes it, indicating the ice remains inside. The unusual video racked up over 94.8 million views.
But whether or not they can withstand fire, retailing for around £45, these desirable cups don’t cheap.
But are they worth the hype?
I decided to try one for a week and find out.
I managed to get hold of my Stanley at Lakeland for £44.95.
Stanley Cup dupes
Stanley Cups are all the rage but you don't have to break the bank buying the original and can save a few pounds buying a dupe. Here are a few to keep a look out for.
The Range is selling one for £5.99, down from £7.99 – it comes in a 1.2litre size and two colours.
Meanwhile, Primark’s stainless steel travel mug can hold 20oz and is just £8. There are nine colours in total to choose from.
Amazon is selling a SoleCup branded dupe, but it will set you back £35, significantly more than some of the other dupes out there.
Sports Direct’s USA Pro cup is on sale for £13, reduced from £25.99 – and it can hold 1.2litres worth of liquid.
TK Maxx’s Pink Double Wall Tumbler (1.25litres) is on sale for £14.99 – you will have to fork out £4.99 for standard UK delivery though.
Remember, when buying any product, to shop around to ensure you are getting the best deal.
You can use websites like Price Runner, Price Spy and Trolley which let you compare the cost of thousands of items to ensure you are getting the best deal.
Essentially looks like a huge thermos mug with a handle and it has a straw.
One critic described them as an ‘adult sippy cup’ and I have to admit I didn’t particularly like drinking out of the straw, though you don’t have to use it.
It can be used for both hot and cold drinks so first, I wanted to assess it’s long-term chilling capabilities.
It promises to keep drinks cold for 11 hours.
I filled it with water and left it for 14 hours and it performed well, keeping the liquid mega cool for a solid nine hours and cold for the promised 11.
Quite impressive really.
It’s huge – with a whopping 1.2 litre capacity.
I definitely drank more with this – having it on my desk meant I kept taking sips.
And the straw encouraged me to drink more too
But outside of the home, it wasn’t so easy.
The cup didn’t fit too easily in a handbag – and taking it to the gym was a bit of a hassle.
It’s bulky to carry and whilst the cups size is its selling point, it does make it rather cumbersome to fill.
It doesn’t fit under most water dispensers and it took a long time to fill, often having to load it up using a smaller cup, and causing quite a queue behind me.
It’s not completely leakproof either, which might be a dealbreaker for some.
When tipped to the side, a bit of water does drip out.
To be fair, Stanley don’t advertise it as leakproof.
They say it has a silicone base around the base of the straw to help prevent spills.
But for this price, I definitely think the design should be 100 per cent leak proof and it means you can’t just toss it in a gym or handbag without worrying about spills.
It didn’t fare so well with hot drinks either.
It promises to keep your drink hot for seven hours but I despite lots of fiddling around the lid, mine was luke warm after five.
It was hard to make a brew in it too because of the sheer size.
It was almost impossible to fish a teabag out of the bottom so you had to make it in a cup first, then tip it in.
And no one needs that much coffee! Overall I found the Stanley better for cold drinks.
According to TikTok, a Stanley can even keep your ice cream cold.
In a video that went viral, Grace (@gracesherlock3) takes a pot of Ben and Jerry’s and effortlessly puts in the top of her pink Stanley cup.
It fits perfectly and stops her ice cream melting.
One person said: “I’ve never felt the need for a Stanley but this video has convinced me I need one.”
I gave it a go to see how my cookie dough ice cream fared and actually, this is quite a nifty trick.
Rather than turning into a sloppy mess in a matter of minutes, the ice cream softened slowly and was enjoyable to eat over a much longer period.
This is a great idea for sunny days.
Some TikTokers even use it as vase so and I found it to be a good size for a bunch of flowers, so if you don’t get on with it to drink out of, at least it has another use.
I did worry about the germs, particularly because of the straw, but the whole thing is dishwasher safe and it washed up well.
It’s made from 90 per cent recycled stainless steel and seemed extremely robust.
In fact, it comes with a lifetime manufacturers guarantee so in the unlikely event it does get damaged, your entitled to a brand new one.
My verdict: if you want something lightweight to commute with, this probably isn’t the bottle for you.
But if you want something that encourages you to drink and stay hydrated, the Stanley Quencher is a great solution.
It’s definitely designed to be noticed so if makes you feel good at the same time, that’s just an added bonus.
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