I bought into the Stanley cup hype and I've never been more hydrated | Why I Bought This Tech
I bought the cup everyone is sharing on Instagram and it's actually turned out to be a good purchase.
If you follow any mom-fluencers on Instagram you might have noticed a trend where they are all proudly showing off their gigantic metal tumbler (with a handle). As a new dad, I follow a few of these moms but what got me to take part in the movement were my very influential friends and coworkers Serene and Abby. I was #influenced and purchased not one, but two 40oz Stanley Adventure Tumblers.
I've been here before
Fancy, overpriced metal cups aren't a new phenomenon. I've owned plenty of Yetis and a few years ago when the pandemic began, my wife and I invested in his and hers 40oz Hydroflasks because #hydration and #workfromhome.
Unlike my other water bottles though, there is one place my Stanley hasn't been and that's the back of my kitchen cabinet.
What makes it great?
What makes it great for some people is also what makes it cumbersome for other people. Let's look at a few examples:
- It's a really large metal tumbler. Correct and I love it because as someone who works from home 100% of the time, I'm open to anything that makes it easier to stay hydrated. A $40 cup was a stretch, but I fill this up 2-3 times a day so I know that I'm drinking the minimum amount of water I should be.
- The handle makes it easy to use. This might not seem like a big deal for some but if you've dealt with larger metal tumblers like Yeti and Hydroflasks, it's really easy to be clumsy, and most of the time you have to hold the bottles with two hands.
- It fits in my car's cup holder. Because of its size, this is definitely not a travel mug (even though it's in the name). However, it fits perfectly in my car's cup holder and that means a few things. I can fill it up before I go and leave it in the car knowing I'll always have some cold water while I'm out. The handle makes it easier to hold while on the road, and the straw means my eyes are always on the road and not staring down a metal bottle.
- It's machine washable. One of the main reasons I didn't use my Hydroflask as often was because it had to be washed by hand. It's a first-world problem, for sure, but it added friction that ultimately kept me from using the thing.
- It keeps things cool for a reasonable amount of time. One of the reasons I don't use Yeti mugs is because they keep drinks too hot for too long. And for cool drinks? I don't need a mug to keep water cool for 24-36 hours. Why? Because I'm supposed to be drinking it. So yes, this tumbler keeps cold water cold just long enough for me to finish it before filling it up again.
One thing that does annoy me is that it's called a Travel tumbler. Unless you travel by car, I can imagine how cumbersome this would be to take on a train or through airport security. The only place mine travels is to my desk, kitchen, car, and dishwasher. Something to keep in mind if this is something you've been considering.
Why did I buy this? It made it easier to drink water daily
As an ADHDer, any amount of friction results in me not completing a task. I could have gotten a 16oz bottle (I have a lot actually) but a smaller bottle means more refills.
My brain asks: Do I stop what I'm doing now, fill up my water, and risk getting distracted on my way to the kitchen? Or, do I buy a big ass tumbler, sip throughout the day, and fill it up a few times a day when I'm already in the kitchen?
You can obviously tell what I chose and for me, I think it's been a good purchasing decision. Hype aside, it has resulted in me drinking more water and that's exactly what I would expect from a large water bottle.
