What Is With Everyone’s Obsession With The Stanley Cup?

via @stephgmacedo / TikTok

The Stanley cup appears to be one of the most divisive products out there at the moment, with some people saying it’s the perfect emotional support water bottle, and others viewing it as nothing more than a glorified sippy cup.

Loved by influencers, corporate girlies, and pre-teens alike, the Stanley Quencher Tumbler has created its own subculture on TikTok.

Whether it’s videos of dads and husbands poking fun at the comically large containers, or stampedes of people pushing each other through a supermarket to get their hands on the latest colours, the cup is everywhere.

One woman’s Stanley cup obsession has even led to her being arrested. Yes, you read that right.

A 23-year-old woman was arrested in the States last week for allegedly stealing 65 Stanley cups, that’s about €2,300 worth of stainless-steel bottles. The police made a plea to the public after apprehending the thief: “While Stanley Quenchers are all the rage, we strongly advise against turning to crime to fulfil your hydration habits.”

We have to agree with them on that one…

Now the question must be asked, how did a large drinking cup go from a camping essential invented by a welder in 1913, to being the reason a young woman committed grand theft?

@dale_ebert They’re so big for absolutely no reason. #stanleycup #walk #viral #relatable #foryou #fyp ♬ Hi – temoc

For the sudden surge in popularity of the Stanley cup, we can thank Ashlee LeSueur, Taylor Cannon and Linley Hutchinson. The three close friends are the brains behind The Buy Guide, an e-commerce blog that recommends products for every aspect of ‘the modern woman’s life.’

The Stanley cup was one of the first things they recommended on the site, and was growing in popularity with their small following when the Stanley company announced that the cup would be discontinued.

That was until a new mom and influencer, having previously bought the cup from The Buy Guide, posted a picture of it to her Instagram story, saying it was ideal in helping her keep hydrated while giving birth and caring for her baby.

This sparked a new life for the Stanley Quencher, and for the Stanley company in general.

Stanley was new to the world of Instagram marketing, and TBG knew that the product had a lot of potential, so they joined forces in 2020: “We knew if women could sell this cup to women, it would be a winner.”

And they were exactly right; Stanley successfully tapped into the female market, and even have a section on the front page of their website dedicated to the Stanley Quencher.

Timing was also a major factor in the formation of the cup’s cult following. After the Hydro Flask takeover of 2019 – with everyone working from home during the pandemic – coupled with the spike in focus on health and wellness at the time, everyone was on the lookout for the perfect water bottle.

Stanley and The Buy Guide got there just in time.

@stephgmacedo Its a vibe 🤍 #fyp #stanleycup #stanley #aestheticfinds #cleanaesthetic ♬ Collide (sped up) – Justine Skye

Much like the skincare fads that have the attention of pre-teens everywhere, the Stanley cup has become a highly sought after product for young girls, with videos going viral on TikTok of 11 year olds crying tears of joy on Christmas morning after receiving the bottle. Owning a Stanely makes you cool, an interesting effect of a €50 water bottle.

Taking a cynical view of the Stanley cup phenomenon, it seems like an example of the commodification of our daily life that we see so often. Hydration is essential to survival, so how can we make it trendy, and therefore make money out of it?

Obviously the popularity of the reusable cups is great if it means there will be less single use plastic in the world, but when you see people with large collections of these stainless steel bottles, even building shelving units to showcase them, it can feel a tad counterintuitive.

If we exclude the fanatics and listen to more low-key Stanley enthusiasts, they will vouch for the water bottle pretty convincingly. The Stanley cup is convenient, fits into a cup holder, holds a LOT of liquid (just over a litre), and we all know that straws make drinking anything more fun.

Staying hydrated is so important for our mental and physical health. There is no harm in investing in a water bottle that you love, and if that’s a Stanley then go for it! Just remember, it can’t turn water into wine. Let’s not lose the run of ourselves!

Words by Sorcha Lynch 

• stanley cup
• TikTok
• trends