What is a Stanley Cup?

The brand applied its double-wall vacuum insulation to a 1.2-litre (40-ounce) cup with a straw and non-slip ergonomic handle that would keep cold drinks cold for 11 hours (or 48 hours with ice), or hot for 7 hours. But, when originally launched in 2016, the cup didn’t initially fly off shelves.

Stanley actually discontinued the product in 2019 before it was brought back in 2020, after a US-based website The Buy Guide argued its practical applications to daily life for parents. The site bulk-bought 5000 Quencher cups to sell and demonstrated the purchasing power of women, subsequently persuading Stanley to pivot towards a new audience.

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Newly available in a host of pastel colours, the cup sold out in weeks. It quickly became the brand’s bestseller, thanks to a demographic previously underserved.

What is so special about a Stanley cup?

With 25 colours to choose from in the UK (there are more in the US), we’ve seen users sip and slot them into car cup holders and camping chairs, twist them into the sand during beach days, carry them on walks and choose them over traditional bottles for gym sessions.

It’s also a favourite among nursing mothers and desk workers looking for fewer refills and drinks that stay cool for longer.

Stanley gives its products a lifetime warranty, meaning should you damage it, the brand will try to repair it where possible or replace it free of charge. And, this ‘built for life’ ethos extends beyond the warranty into a broader sustainable position: the cups are constructed from 90 per cent recycled stainless steel. It’s a steer away from single-use plastic bottles, and each part is dishwasher-safe – a rather modern credential. The lid can also be disassembled for easier deep-cleaning.

From an accessibility perspective, the lid screws on three ways to accommodate left- or right-handers, and the handle has a comfort grip to help you carry its weight when full. If you have a car with unobstructed cup holders, these giant vessels are largely compatible to sit upright, for sipping from safely one-handed.

Drawbacks of the Stanley cup

Retailing at £45, it’s a luxury tumbler. It’s now been around long enough for plenty of cheaper Stanley cup dupes to hit the market. Although leakproof, it’s also not watertight when not upright, and unsurprisingly, it’s heavy when full.

The brand hit a considerable snag last year when questions about the Stanley cup’s safety were raised around the presence of lead in the seal of its vacuum insulation.

In a statement on its website, Stanley attempts to reassure consumers, saying: “All Stanley products are safe. Rest assured that no lead is present on the surface of any Stanley product that comes into contact with the consumer nor the contents of the product.” The company also mentions that the cup meets “all US regulatory requirements” and that the process of sealing its insulation is “industry standard”.

Professor of public heath at New York University Jack Caravanos, who studies the effects of lead exposure, recently tested three Stanley cups for lead and told the BBC that he “wasn’t able to detect it using state-of-the-art equipment.”

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