Stanley Cups - Why are they so popular?

Posted Fri Aug 02 2024

Unless you’ve been in hibernation for the past few months, you've likely seen someone sipping from a Stanley Cup on the subway, in meetings, or just about anywhere. While the company and its cups have been around for years, owning a Stanley Cup has recently become a widespread trend. So, if you've clicked on this article, you're probably curious about what makes these cups so popular.

It's a valid question, considering the Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler—currently the must-have Stanley Cup—doesn't initially appear to be the sort of item to spark a craze. However, appearances can be misleading, and we’ve gathered all the essential details to explain why these tumblers have become such a sensation.

What is a Stanley Cup?

A Stanley Cup isn’t technically just one thing, nor is it even a cup some would argue. It’s more of a bottle or container for both hot and cold drinks that’s been around for years - it’s probably best if we start at the beginning.

Stanley is, at its core, a food and drink container manufacturer that was first founded in 1913 and made its name making the “Unbreakable” bottle in the 1920s. It differentiated itself by removing the glass lining plaguing other bottles on the market at the time, making it the go-to option for blue-collar workers.

Stanley clearly did something right because the brand continues to produce new designs, models, and colors of the original bottle to this day, eventually leading us to the aforementioned and outrageously popular Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler.

If you look at what it offers, you can see the appeal. It boasts a recycled stainless steel build and vacuum insulation that is said to keep drinks warm for seven hours, cold for 11 hours, and colder still when iced for up to two days. We can’t deny that’s impressive, but the cup’s popularity can’t just be built on this alone can it?

Person holding a Stanley Quencher with a beach-themed background

Why are Stanley Cups so popular?

To answer our question, no, the Stanley Cup isn’t as popular as it is through just its performance as a bottle. Yes, its ability to keep things cool and warm for hours plays a part, but its design is what attracts a Stanley Cup to most people.

Its size, for one, is a huge selling point, along with the huge number of colors it comes in. It’s hard to deny the cup is aesthetically pleasing to look at, which kind of makes it like a practical fashion accessory that fits nicely into the wellness and general health trends you see today.

Collaborations have also been a big factor in its success. The release of the Starbucks x Stanley Target-exclusive Tumbler is probably the best example of just how popular the Quencher has become. It sold out almost everywhere, costs well over its original price on the resale market, and it’s rumored to have caused some Target workers to be fired over purchasing them against company policy.

We can’t forget to mention celebrity influence either. Pictured below is Adele drinking out of a Stanley Cup during Carpool Karaoke with James Corden for The Late Show. Of course, this brought a ton of attention to the Tumbler, although you could argue TikTok already had the world talking about Stanley Cups before this. At the end of the day, social media has a big part to play in what becomes popular, and TikTok was definitely a huge contributor to building the Stanley Cup hype. Seriously, just search “stanley cup” on TikTok and you’ll become lost in a near-endless loop of Stanley Cup-related content.

James Cordon and Adele, pictured holding a Stanley Quencher Cup

Should you buy a Stanley Cup?

It’s hard to say whether you should or shouldn’t buy a Stanley Cup, because it all comes down to your own preference and opinion on them at the end of the day.

From looking at the Quenchers “specs”, it’s hard to deny you’ll be getting an extremely useful and versatile container if you do invest in one. We’ve mentioned already how good one can be at keeping things hot and cold, but what you’ve also got to take into account is that the main Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler can hold 40 ounces. This makes it incredibly convenient to have on you at all times, and it’s a good first step to keeping you hydrated all day long.

Its price tag is perhaps a little steep for some, although if you pick wisely, you could see a potential return on your investment in the resale market. That’s not a guarantee though, so we’d advise against investing purely to resell. If you’re a collector though, and you want to show off a vast collection of Stanley Cups online or to your friends and family, then by all means go for it. If it makes you happy, who are we to stop you?

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