The Stanley cup, a seemingly ordinary water tumbler, became an unexpected cultural icon. For a while, it was the must-have accessory, gracing the hands of influencers, celebrities, and everyday consumers alike. But now, in 2024, the Stanley Cup trend has begun to decline.
Stanley's multi-colored insulated cups still have considerable cachet among teens, Piper Sandler says. At the same time, the brand's popularity may have peaked and is "on the way out," teens said in the firm's annual survey. Stanley now finds its cool factor somewhere between trend-forward Owala and mainstay Yeti.
While Stanley says the lead used in the manufacturing process doesn't pose a health risk, some TikTokers have been posting videos throwing their cups away since questions about lead have been raised, and encouraging followers to as well.
Stanley cups are popular for a few reasons: they're known for durability, keeping drinks hot or cold for a long time, coming in a variety of colors, and being associated with an active, on-the-go lifestyle. Social media marketing has also played a big role in their rise to fame.
TikTok's Role in Stanley's Rise
The #StanleyCup hashtag on TikTok exploded, with billions of views of users showing off their tumblers. From color-coordinating their cups with outfits to personalizing them with third-party accessories, TikTok creators helped fuel the craze.
Classic black is one of Stanley's most sought-after colors for its tumblers. It's available in all of the Quencher sizes.
According to LeSueur the cup isn't simply about a hydration trend among preteens, GenZ and millennials. “They're seeing this as an accessory, as a status symbol... It's also a statement as to what I show to the world [about myself] every day when I choose to get dressed, and when I choose to take my water bottle.”
The lawsuit alleges that Stanley and PMI misled customers because they did not warn consumers about the potential for exposure from damage to the vacuum seal and did not disclose how much lead is in each cup. PMI did not respond to NBC News' request or comment.
Stanley's 40-ounce Quencher cup gained rabid popularity for its candy-like array of colors and its ability to keep beverages hot and cold for long periods of time. Once the cups took off on social media, Stanley's annual sales reportedly jumped from $75 million to $750 million in 2023 alone.
While the Stanley Cup comes with a built-in handle, the Owala swaps the handle for a slim and sleek design, that fits easily into car cupholders; even without the handle, we find it super easy to grip and hold.
The question “why are Stanley cups so popular?” goes beyond mere aesthetics. Stanley tapped into a concoction of quality, nostalgia, and social media savviness that turned a simple beverage container into a must-have accessory.
Much of its popularity comes from its large size and its ability to keep drinks cold for hours. Many members of the Shop TODAY team count themselves as Stanley Quencher fans, and you can spot the hydration vessel on plenty of desks throughout our office.
These unique thermal beverage vessels can be used for water, coffee, soda, hot tea, and anything else you want to carry around and sip on throughout your day. Recently, viral 'Stanley Cup' brand tumbler mugs (and memes) have been making waves on social media outlets like Instagram and TikTok.
A representative for Stanley told Today.com, “In 2022, there was a 275% increase in sales of the Quencher year over year, and U.S. sales of all sizes of the tumbler were up 751% in the year to date.” Last year, the tumblers took off on TikTok with the rise of #watertok, when creators filmed themselves making flavored ...
✔️ Temperature Retention: When we tested Stanley and Yeti water bottles side by side, they provided nearly identical temperature retention over 24 hours — the Stanley kept water cooler by just one degree compared to the Yeti. ✔️ Price: They're also quite similar in price.
These factors — combined with Stanley's history as a durable, reliable brand, the aesthetic quality of the tumbler overall plus limited-edition drops (which create a sense of scarcity), and the influence of social media — have led to entire cupboards and even walls devoted to Stanley cup collections.
They will likely be around for some time. But as an “it” item, Lewis compares them to Beanie Babies — they may not be very popular. A new water bottle may soon take its place, though, and the Quenchers could join a list of not-as-hot drink containers, like Nalgenes, Yetis, and Hydro Flasks.
Women aged 35 to 44 are typically 98 percent of Stanley cup buyers. However, the age demographic has recently dipped rapidly to women in their 20s and teens. This is a dramatic shift: for generations, Stanley products were marketed primarily to construction workers and outdoorsmen (the “Manley cup” as some have said).
Stanley cups are popular for a few reasons: they're known for durability, keeping drinks hot or cold for a long time, coming in a variety of colors, and being associated with an active, on-the-go lifestyle. Social media marketing has also played a big role in their rise to fame.
The most popular version of the Stanley cup is The Quencher H2.