Why Are Stanley Cups So Popular?

With nothing to do with hockey, Stanley Cup is a recent champion among other insulated travel mugs. As Stanley brand states, they witnessed 275% sales increase over 2021: it is a phenomenon of how a long-forgotten tumbler once again became desirable. Trending on TikTok, and Instagram, shown by many influencers, The Stanley Quencher Flowstate Tumbler Cup is exactly what we will discuss further. But first, let’s look at what exactly The Stanley Quencher Tumbler Cup is. 

The legendary cup 

The Stanley brand has been around since 1913 creating products for outdoor and camping, especially specializing in lunch boxes, coolers, cookware and steel vacuum bottles.   

Unlike other reusable bottles, the Stanley cup sets itself apart due to its convenient shape, size and splash-resistant straw. The straw feature is another one that brought attention back to the Stanley cup. Most travel mugs come with too thin or built-in straws that are hard to clean. Meanwhile, the Stanley tumbler comes with an easily removable lid and straw that are dishwasher safe.   

The Stanley tumbler is designed so it is easy to carry around, making sure you stay hydrated throughout the day. (The Stanley Quencher fits in 1.18 litres when full. Track your water intake to ensure proper body hydration.) The durable handle allows easy holding while carrying hot beverages. In fact, that is one of the reasons, the Stanley tumbler was rediscovered and found useful by many users: some say that previously they had to purchase additional straps or lids that made it easy to carry.

Comparing The Stanley Adventure Quencher original and the Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler 

As we continue to speak of design, you might want to know that there are two popular Stanley tumblers: a new Quencher and the cult-favourite original. The main difference between the Adventure Quencher and the improved version of the Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler is a soft matte finish, available colours and a new shape. The enormous size (the maximum available is the 40-ounce size) and a built-in handle make it easier to fill up and carry enough water for the whole day when you are away from home. (One of the reasons why so many moms choose the new version of the Adventure Quencher: they do not run out of water supply and find it easy to carry along with backpacks and diaper bags while driving kids from school to various activities.) To add more about the shape, the Adventure Quencher H2.0 has a tapered slim base that easily fits into a car cup holder.   

Although the original Stanley Adventure Quencher was a decent classic cup, popular among campers, slight updates in the improved version make a great difference. For instance, the original Adventure Quencher shape was as ergonomic as the updated one. However, the Quencher H2.0 offers a new two-toned “comfort grip” that lines the handle. It changes the overall appearance, making the cup feel more luxurious and providing a better grip.   

One of the main complaints consumers had about the original Quencher tumbler is that lid leaked. The Quencher H2. 0 FlowState Tumbler solved that issue with a tight closure on a lid and a splash-resistant straw. A silicone seal wraps the straw base and prevents spilling. Yet, keep in mind, that based on some reviews, the splash-resistant addition is not completely watertight: if you drop the bottle on the floor, water most likely will spill out. However, the splash resistance will slow the full pour out to a drip.   

As per similarities, both cups feature double-wall insulation that keeps beverages hot for 7-9 hours and iced for 40 hours.   

Finally, you cannot go wrong with either the Stanley Adventure Quencher Travel Tumbler ($39) or the newer Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler ($52), but the new and improved Quencher H2.0 Flowstate with upgraded features is more convenient and a better-looking option.   

Raise of interest 

While it all sounds convincing to buy one tumbler for yourself, it was not enough to raise interest in the Stanley tumbler, until a recent feature on social media. It all started with The Buy Guide (a website dedicated to testing products and providing consumers with ideas for purchases that make life a little better). One of the owners of the website simply bought the Stanley cup for herself, compared to other tested water bottles, and liked it the most.  

Further, the founders of The Buy Guide reached out to the Stanley public relations team and established a marketing campaign on their Instagram accounts. Long story short, many other influencers were introduced to the cup right after. Followers were sold on the cup, its useful feature and its ergonomic design. The Stanley travel mug increased in popularity, and later the company introduced a new line of pastel colours. “Company representatives wouldn’t specify how many had been sold, but they did share with me that 33,000 people had signed up for Stanley’s waiting list ahead of the drop. On eBay, the tumbler, which normally retails for $40, is being resold for up to $180,” says   

(To take a little step away from talking about the tumbler, such successful collaboration shows the power of influencer marketing. Whether there are companies who are struggling with sales numbers, Stanley is a great example of how a quick reach to Instagram and TikTok influencers can make a difference in sales. This century-old company was reintroduced to a younger generation of people who prefer to have and buy what their style icons feature on their feeds. With the only feature on news outlets such market outreach would not be possible.)   

What first might sound like a contradicting union—Instagram influencers and outdoor gear—, the success of the Stanley tumbler proves otherwise. “Not only has the Adventure Quencher amassed a waitlist of over 150,000 people long since its inception, but #stanleytumbler has more than 25M views on TikTok,” as per Courtney Thompson, from CNN Underscored. 

Bottom line? The Adventure Quencher Flowstate is worth the hype. It appears that everyone wants the tumbler (remember how Swell bottles were featured on Instagram profiles? The Stanley travel water bottle raised even higher interest.) According to customers’ reviews, the cup is challenging to get, considering that Amazon’s price is double compared to the official website. “Strangers often come up to me while I’m running errands or sitting on the soccer field sidelines to ask a) if the cup is as good as people say and b) how I managed to get one. Point being: People notice this cup, they want to talk about it and, subsequently, they want one too,” continues Courtney Thompson. And to add more about influencers’ devotion to The Adventure Quencher Flowstate (or even the original tumbler) looks attractive on pictures. The matte texture and pastel colours can fit into both feeds, a minimalist’s (neutral) and those whose outfits are based on colours and fashionable prints.  

Shop the most popular Stanley tumblers:

The Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler 40oz. (Stormy Sea)

The Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler 40oz. (Dune)

The Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler 40oz. (Red Rust)

The Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler 30oz. (Rose Quartz)

The Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler 30oz. (Fog) 

The Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler 30oz. (Black)

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why are Stanley cups so popular?  

Stanley cups offer a few features that make them rise in popularity. First is double-wall insulation. The second would be maximized size of 40 ounces. Thirds is ergonomic design and a wide range of pastel and neutral colours. Fourth, is a thought-through marketing campaign with Instagram and TikTok influecers who reintroduced those useful features of the Stanley cup to their followers.  

Is the Stanley Cup Worth It?  

The functionality and design of The Stanley Quencher Tumbler Cup make it worth the price. At the same time skyrocketed in popularity on social media increased the prices of the tumbler on reseller websites such as Amazon or eBay. And while on the official retailer, you can find it cheaper, it is often sold out, especially in the most popular sizes and colours. Hence, if you are willing to wait for a restock you might buy a cup at the original price ($52), but if that is not an option, be prepared to pay somewhere between $60-$100.    

Why do people like Stanley Cups so much?  

Compared to other tumblers of similar size, the Stanley cup comes with a handle making it easy to carry around. That is one of the main reasons why people like Stanley Quencher Tumblers so much. Besides, the ergonomic slim tapered bottom fits into every cup holder (whether a car or a stroller), making the tumbler a useful accessory wherever you go.