So, you’ve probably heard about the Stanley Cups that went viral on TikTok a few years back. For ages, I’ve struggled to drink water, and like most people, I wondered whether it was worth jumping on the trend to help myself stay hydrated.
I’ve had my fair share of un-aesthetic water bottles – everything from vacuum flasks that were impossible to keep clean and plastic bottles that shrunk in the dishwasher (yes, really), but I just couldn’t crack it.
Instantly, I loaded up the Stanley website to add one to my cart, but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the price. Being on a budget, I did what I always do when making an expensive purchase – I searched for a more affordable dupe.
If you’re anything like me and you have a bit of a shopping addiction, a key principle I like to live by is that before buying something pricey, I always try to find a cheaper dupe first. If I use it enough, I’ll upgrade – it’s a great way to test if I’ll actually use it, and that way there’s no big loss if I don’t.
I eventually settled on one for half the price on Amazon, and thus began trying to live a well-hydrated life.
Following through on my principle, once I’d used my dupe to the point where it was well and truly time for a new one, I decided to commit to a real Stanley and purchased the Quencher FlowState Tumbler, and then later, an IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler too.
It was time to see if they really were worth all the hype.
Stanley Cup dupe Vs. real: Which is actually worth it?
Upon first glance, my £20 Amazon Stanley dupe was a dead ringer for my friends’ real Stanleys. It was available in a neutral cream, meaning I could be just as aesthetic as the Pinterest girlies. It was sturdy, and I liked that it came with two plastic straw options – one transparent and one translucent.
The only difference was that it was slightly smaller than the Stanley Quencher, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The question you’re probably asking is whether it kept my water cold – and the answer is yes, it did. When it came to ice, however, it is worth noting that it melted almost instantly, which meant my water wasn’t freezing cold. In terms of durability, it did chip on the bottom after some time.
In comparison, my £45 Stanley Quencher was fairly impressive. It was available in a whopping 23 colour options and made with 90% recycled stainless steel. The biggest tick for me was that it’s dishwasher safe, making it super easy to keep clean.
It kept my water freezing cold far longer than my more affordable dupe, which helped me drink it consistently throughout the day and kept my ice in longer, too.
The downside to the OG Stanley is that it’s large and quite bulky, making it heavy and not ideal for transportation. I often found it a little tricky to take it to exercise classes in case it leaked or made my arm ache.
Saying that, it is now available in four sizes, so you can choose what suits you best.
Final verdict: which one is worth the hype?
Out of the two, I’d say if you’ve got the budget, go for the OG Stanley. It promises to keep your water cold for up to 11 hours, and I’d say it certainly delivered. But if you do, maybe opt for a smaller one if you plan to commute with it.
If you’re tight on money, it’s definitely worth looking for an affordable dupe. There are tons out there which look just as good, if not better, and do a pretty decent job at keeping your water cold, too.
I think it’s safe to say that I am certainly a hydrated girly these days.
