The Stanley Cup is a genius design. By creating a 40oz bottle that fits in a regular car cup holder, Stanley owners can bring their cup everywhere, and I mean everywhere.
Hydro Flask and Yeti (40oz) are both too bulky to fit in a regular-size car cup holder which can serve as a major inconvenience and potential spill disaster.
Stanleys also have an exposed straw and large handles which makes drinking water a one-hand experience, rather than having to use two hands to twist open a bottle cap.
“I think [drinking out of a Stanley cup] is more motivating because it’s easy to carry. Also, I think Yeti’s are really ugly,” Janeen Simon (‘24) said.
Appearance is a subjective factor, but cost isn’t.
Hydro Flask, Yeti, and Stanley tumblers vary slightly in price point. Hydro Flask offers a 32oz tumbler at a regular price of $40, Yeti offers a 35oz tumbler for $42, and Stanley offers a 40oz tumbler for $45.
Those who paid a premium for their Stanley tumblers are typically passionate about their cups. As a result, water bottle discrimination has started to develop as Stanley takes over the water bottle market, once dominated by Hydro Flask and Yeti.
“I think Hydro Flask is best because it’s the most accessible for storage. I haven’t given in [to the Stanley craze] since I have a Hydro Flask, but I do use my friends’ Stanleys when I’m out of water, and I do enjoy it. I enjoy it because of the straw, but I also don’t like it because it’s difficult to clean things with straws,” Jade Webber (‘24) said.
Many students over the holidays had a Stanely cup on their Christmas list, due to social media advertising and trends on TikTok. However, some students resisted the Stanley craze and stayed loyal to their Hydro Flasks.
“Even though [Hydro Flasks] are big, they’re not too heavy because with the Stanley I think there becomes a certain size where they become too big, and also my Hydro Flask is able to fit in my backpack,” Bella Bellotti Velasquez (‘25) said.
Even though Stanley cups can fit inside car cup holders, they don’t fit easily inside a backpack cup holder, forcing many Stanley users to hold their cups while walking around. During passing period, break, or lunch, it’s easy to spot students holding their Stanley cups.
While the functionality of the Stanley tumbler is questionable, the Stanley water drinking experience is similar to driving a BMW. Appearance and flashiness over practicality.
“BMW—The Ultimate Driving Machine.”
“Stanley—The Ultimate Tumbler.”
Some students, however, point out certain functional components of the Stanley Tumbler.
“I wanted a bottle with a handle on the side because it’s easy to transport and carry around with me, and the straw makes it nice and easy to drink,” Sophia Robertson (‘25) said.
Despite the easy transportation and straw, Robertson stated, “To be quite honest, I’m not the biggest fan of Stanley anymore because they do spill a lot so having them at school is not amazing, but it does help me drink more water, so if you’re on the fence about getting a Stanley, just get one for fun.”
Between loyal Hydro Flask users and new-found Stanley enthusiasts, the only way to know what water bottle is best is to try them both out.
Both Stanley and Hydro Flask have viral histories, from the VSCO Hydro Flask girl in 2020 to the Stanley Tumbler surviving a car fire in 2023. In today’s social media landscape, even water bottle companies are competing for attention.
So the real question is, what cup will you choose?
