We Tested Out The Tik-Tok Famous Stanley Quencher Cup And We Have Mixed Feelings

I have never seen the Internet go so mad for a drinking receptacle since the Millennial obsession of Starbucks collectible cups. But the year is now 2023, and if you’re not brandishing one of the mega Stanley Quenchers, you may as well give up water. I joke, but that’s what it felt like every time I opened TikTok and saw my FYP filled with Gen Z #WaterTok fans loading up their Quenchers like they're making the world's most intricate cocktail.

The thing is, Stanley isn’t a new brand. In fact, it’s been around since 1913, but only recently has it become a viral phenomenon (BuzzFeed News did a great article on this), thanks to the launch of its pastel-hued cups. So, by the time they became available in the UK, I was one of thousands desperate to get their hands on one.

So, with that in mind, and the price tag of £44.99, is it worth the hype?

I’m going to cut to the chase here, my Stanley Quencher and I have had a somewhat turbulent relationship thus far. It has UNDOUBTEDLY made me drink more water thanks to the fact it’s so damn big (1.2l) and it has a straw that is super satisfying to drink from.

However, it does feel like I’m wielding one of those portable fire extinguishers with me wherever I go, and it’s not particularly fun to lug around thanks to its bulkiness.

One of the big draws of the Stanley is that it fits into car cupholders, and that it does. Except mine, where the cupholders are underneath the front console and not in the middle between the driver and passenger seat, meaning yes it fits, but it’s so tall it just topples over.

It also promises to keep cold drinks cold for up to 11 hours, and hot drinks hot up to 7 hours. Again, this is handy, especially if you’re someone likely to drink a litre of tea by lunchtime.

While I was less bothered by how long it kept water cold for (I drank it before it could even consider getting warm), one of the best uses I found was it holding a bottle of wine and keeping THAT super cold for warm picnic days. So a big tick on that front.

But this is where the somewhat swimmingly relationship ends. The biggest issue I have with the Stanley cup is opening and closing it. I find opening the lid nigh IMPOSSIBLE. It shouldn’t be that hard to do, but I’m often finding myself attempting to open it like a cartoon character trying to open a jar.

Thankfully the lid also has a little tab that can swing open and shut, but you can only shut it fully if the straw is taken out of it, and then you’re left with a random, long straw lost in the deep, dark depths of your tote bag. In fact, I didn’t actually realise the Stanley could shut like that, and learnt the hard way, opening my work bag to find the contents had leaked out onto my laptop, rendering it… dead. So yes, the Stanley Quencher isn’t entirely leakproof.

So, is it better than other water bottles on the market? It’s certainly bigger, and the handle does make it easier to carry around, meaning if you’re someone that is constantly hydrating it’s great. It’s especially great for long car journeys, camping and if you’re going to use it for something fun, like keeping your wine cold.

But, has it really revolutionised water bottles? I struggle to agree. I mainly use it around my house, and at the gym, but otherwise my commute friendly Chilly’s water bottle is my trusty companion out and about.

However I seem to be an anomaly on this one, and Stanley’s ARMY of fans prove that the brand is definitely doing something right.