What’s All the Hype Around Stanley Tumblers?

Please someone explain to me the hype around Stanley Tumblers. I really don’t get it and think the trend is rather stupid. It’s a cup with a straw. It keeps your drink cold. Whoopdie doo. So does a normal cup with ice in it. I actually refuse to buy one just out of spite. But, I know there is a HUGE following and some people don’t leave home without one.

At my last workout class at Board30 Ponte Vedra Beach, I looked around to count the number of Stanley Tumblers. Out of 15 women, I was one of only two people not sipping out of one. I asked a few of them what the big deal was, and they all raved about them because they keep your drink so cold (especially when you’re trying to quench your thirst during a hard workout) and many of them loved the straw. I’ve never been a huge straw person myself, so maybe that’s why I’m not running out to buy one.

Just as I was starting to get over my annoyance of the Stanleys, I saw an article where Starbucks and Target did a collaboration on a limited-edition pink Starbucks x Stanley Quencher. Some shoppers said it was worse than Black Friday and caused so much chaos that fights were breaking out at Targets across the country. People were trying to buy 10 or 15 at a time — probably to resell for more than the retail cost of $45. These things are selling for more than $350 on eBay.

About the Stanley Brand

I started to dig a little deeper about how Stanley Tumblers, particularly how “The Quencher H2.0” went viral in the first place. The reusable, all-steel vacuum bottles come in a variety of colors ranging from $20 for a 14-ounce bottle to $60 for a 64-ounce cup. This brand has been around for over 100 years but traditionally focused on working-class, outdoorsy types and construction workers. In recent years, the brand began marketing to female consumers and offering fun designs and colors — far from the original iconic green color. And in 2016, launched its Quench line, though upon release, was not very popular. Fast forward 5–6 years and the rise of social media influencers, and the rest is history.

READ: Top Viral Trends of 2023: Hit or Miss?

Stanley’s Rise Amid Social Media

Today, #Stanleycup has billions of views on TikTok, and its revenue according to the latest financial reports is $50 billion — with a B!

Probably one of the most viral #Stanleycup posts, which also helped with brand awareness, though not necessarily a good news story, was from November of last year when a woman’s car was destroyed by a fire and the only item that survived was her Stanley Tumbler. She shared the story on TikTok (and the fact that it still had ice in it), and it’s been viewed more than 93 million times. You can’t buy this kind of press. Stanley responded with a new car and a new tumbler, of course.

I may be one of the only few people left on the planet who doesn’t own a Stanley, and I never will. I’m not one to try and keep up with the Jones’ or buy the brands everyone else is buying. I still don’t own Hoka sneakers or On Cloud shoes that also spiked in popularity in 2023. I only own one pair of Lululemon leggings that someone gave to me as a gift. I guess I’m not as cool as the others who do, but I’m perfectly happy saving the money not buying a Stanley and sipping on room-temperature water out of a non-viral cup — without a straw! To each their own.