From The Pumpkin Patch

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or have managed to stay far away from TikTok, you’ve probably seen a Stanley cup recently.

These large insulated tumblers have taken the internet by storm, and news articles have breathlessly detailed chaotic scenes as shoppers rush to add the latest must-have colour to their collections.

Now, us Brits often watch these American displays of consumerism with a smug sense of superiority. That will never be us, we think as we sip our dainty cups of tea. But the Stanley craze has made its way across the pond, and we are now just as guilty of buying into the trend.

I wanted to provide a British perspective on the viral Stanley cup, avoiding the madness and focusing on the facts. Is it really worth the £45 price tag? Can a mere cup change my life for the better?

Let’s find out.

My experience with the Stanley cup

I purchased my cup in Utah, which I think may be the official home of the Stanley cup.

When I arrived in the USA for a two-month trip it seemed like everyone was lugging around these huge cups that were perfectly colour-coordinated with their outfits. So of course, I had to have one.

Since then, my Stanley cup has gone everywhere with me – whether I’m hiking across the Utah desert, admiring the view at the Grand Canyon or simply strolling down Main Street, my trusty cup has been by my side and keeping me fully hydrated.

At first I thought it was just a gimmick, but I quickly came to love my silly oversized cup. I call it my Emotional Support Water Bottle (ESWB) and now I can’t imagine life without it.

I mean, it gets hot here in America. I’ve travelled through Utah, Nevada and Arizona so far and will be visiting California next week, so staying hydrated is a priority.

My only concern is that I haven’t tested it out in London yet. I’m lucky enough to live next to beautiful woodlands and countryside so it will definitely be coming along with me on my daily walks, but I can’t imagine lugging it around Soho!

Pros of the Stanley cup

It helps me drink more water

I’m usually pretty good at drinking water, but I admit I can get a little lazy sometimes.

Having my Stanley cup next to me at all times is a great reminder to stay hydrated, and I can easily drink two full cups each day. Remember, this thing is huge – it holds up to 1.2 litres!

The large straw makes drinking water feel completely effortless, and I often reach the bottom of the cup before I’ve even realised what I’m doing. If you struggle to get enough fluids each day, I genuinely believe this could make a difference.

It keeps my water cold all day

Now, I’m not American. I don’t need my water to be ice cold. But on a hot day, it’s nice to drink something that doesn’t make me feel even hotter.

The Stanley cup is fully insulated, so it keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. I once left my cup in a sweltering car for hours in the middle of the Utah desert, and my first sip of water was still cool and refreshing.

I didn’t appreciate it until I did the same with a regular water bottle and almost spit the warm liquid out in disgust. I’ll never go back!

It fits in most cupholders

Although the Stanley cup is huge, the size tapers off at the bottom. This allows you to easily pop it into the majority of cupholders including at the gym, in the car and even the sofa.

It would be so annoying to have to leave it on the floor or constantly carry it around everywhere, but thankfully Stanley have got us covered.

It looks cute!

Maybe I’ve just been influenced, but I think the Stanley cup makes a great addition to any outfit.

It looks particularly good with workout clothes, which is great here in Utah as we spend a lot of time hiking out in the desert. I particularly approve when I see someone matching their cup to their outfit, although I don’t recommend being wasteful and buying them in multiple colours.

I chose a neutral cream Stanley cup that goes with pretty much anything, and I think it makes a pretty cute accessory.

Cons of the Stanley cup

It can be a little fiddly to clean

I had never realised how many little parts made up a Stanley cup until it came time for its first proper clean.

As I don’t put my cup in the dishwasher, it can be a bit of a pain to wash and I often put it off until the last minute. However, they are dishwasher-safe so if you’re less precious than me, go right ahead and save yourself the time and hassle.

It gets heavy when it’s full

Carrying a full Stanley cup around can feel like a bit of a workout, and I’ve definitely felt weighed down by it a few times.

Of course, it’s not surprising that 40 ounces of water would start to weigh a little heavy on your arm after a while. Drinking it is one way to lighten the load!

It can leak if you’re not careful

When I first purchased the Stanley cup, I assumed that it was completely leak-proof.

Unfortunately, that has not been the case.

So far I’ve had several incidents involving leaks from the straw and/or lid, including one horrifying time at a thrift store where it leaked across the entire shop. I still don’t know how that happened!

It’s fine most of the time, but you’ll certainly know about it when it decides to leak.

FAQS

Where can I buy the Stanley cup in the UK?

Although the Stanley cup trend first started in America, it has quickly made its way to the UK thanks to the power of TikTok.

You can buy your own Stanley cup in the UK from the official Stanley website where they have a range of colours and sizes available. Other stockists include Amazon, John Lewis, Urban Outfitters and Foot Asylum.

How much does the Stanley cup cost in the UK?

The average cost of a Stanley Quencher H2.0 in the UK is £44.99 (excluding delivery) if you purchase from the official Stanley website.

You can expect to pay up to £70 on Amazon depending on which colour you choose, while Urban Outfitters are currently selling them for £45 and John Lewis for £44.99. Make sure to only purchase from reputable stockists to avoid getting stuck with a fake – if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

How do I clean my Stanley cup?

According to Stanley themselves, the cup is completely dishwasher-safe. However, I’m not convinced.

There are so many fiddly little parts to this cup, and I just don’t see the dishwasher getting into all those hard-to-reach places. In my opinion, you should be washing it by hand on a regular basis.

It’s best to completely disassemble your Stanley cup in order to give it the best clean possible, as a quick rinse every day just isn’t enough to prevent mould from building up.

I like to soak all the pieces in hot soapy water and scrub them with a toothbrush, and use a fresh pipe-cleaner to get every inch of the straw clean. After drying everything off with a clean tea towel, leave the pieces on your kitchen counter to completely air-dry.

It can be a little annoying, but I’ll take it over a mouthful of mould.

Is the Stanley cup worth buying?

£45 is a lot of money to spend on a cup, particularly one that is subject to the whims of influencers and TikTok.

But in my opinion, the Stanley cup is definitely worth buying if you want to prioritise hydration and reap the health benefits.

I can’t begin to tell you how much more water I drink when I’m using my cup regularly, and how much better I feel when I’m not chronically dehydrated. I really try not to buy into trends, but I’m so glad I got sucked into this one.