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Every so often, a product comes along that makes grown-ass women (and men) absolutely lose their sh*t. We’re talking all semblance of rational thought, gone, pouf, out the window. For moms in the ‘90s, it was the coveted Tickle Me Elmo. For modern day gamers, it was the elusive PS5. And sure, sometimes the product lives up to the hype. (I finally caved and bought the stupid Barefoot Dreams blanket Chrissy Teigen and Khloé Kardashian were raving about. It was OK.) But the way the sold-out pink Stanley cup has human adults going absolutely feral in recent weeks truly has me scratching my head.
The obsession for this cup goes beyond reason. They’re fighting at Target. They’re entering the black market. They’re risking their jobs. All for a 1.4-pound hunk of metal with an oversized handle. Let’s talk about this, shall we?
Now, you might think, based on the hysteria, that this cup does something special and rare. But its double-walled insulation properties are hardly groundbreaking. Off the top of my head, I can think of plenty of competing cups (Yeti, Hydro Flask, Corkcicle,ect.) that do the exact same thing: They keep your cold beverages cold and your hot beverages hot (though you’ll need to swap out your Yeti lid if you’re a hot coffee kinda gal).
And sure, the Stanley might beat out a few in side-by-side temperature comparisons: Food and Wine did find it kept the hot drinks a few degrees warmer than the Yeti.
Other than that however, for all intents and purposes….it’s just a cup. It doesn’t have a filter, like the Larq or the Brita, to make your water taste better. It doesn’t light up to remind you to drink, like the HidrateSpark. It’s not particularly focused on sustainability, like Reduce. In fact, there’s been growing concern over the company’s use of lead in its beloved cups. (TLDR: Yes, there’s a pellet of lead hidden underneath the stainless-steel cover at the bottom, no, it’s not touching your liquid, but yes, it could touch you should the stainless-steel cover come loose—something Stanley told TODAY is “rare.”)
And all that aside? It’s just not that cute!
Look, the Always Pan and the Le Creuset Dutch oven, those are kitchen accessories worth shelling out for. They not only serve a function, they effectively decorate your space with their gorgeous matte and glossy surfaces, sleek silhouettes and eye-catching colors. They’re sexy, if you will.
But this thing? It’s kind of an eyesore, truth be told. The go-to 40-ounce size is obnoxiously large (like, bigger than my face, large). The handle is bulky and awkward. And the narrower bottom, which was designed for your car’s cup holder, has a tendency to make it tip over—or so I’ve been told.
What’s more, at this point, every basic Becky on the planet seems to have one, so it’s not exactly unique. (See the proof below.)
@yuallen525 OMG it's hard to imagine such a scene!😂😂 #stanleycup #target # #targe #targetfinds #stanleycup #stanley #stanleytarget #valentinesday ♬ original sound – American Treasures Corner
The truth of it is, there are far more attractive tumblers out there. Give me the Corkcicle Cold Cup any day of the week! Hell, I’d even take this little see-through Amazon pick.
So why, then, for the love of God, is this thing causing such complete and utter chaos?
Well, as anyone who’s ever taken an economics class likely knows, it basically boils down to the laws of supply and demand. Scarcity paired with high demand = a skyrocketing value. The company’s limited edition collabs and colors make them rare—and therefore valuable. And the more “valuable” something becomes, the more the demand for it grows. After all, if everyone wants it, it’s gotta be absolutely fantastic, right?
Or, it’s a cheap marketing ploy.
Mix that in with a bit of good PR from good old TikTok, and you’ve got a recipe for a bonafide viral sensation.
Will it keep your drinks cold? Probably so. Will it store 40 ounces of water? Also yes. But so will just about every other tumbler on the market. Because at the end of the day, it’s (gasp!) just a cup. A big, ugly (yep, I said it), stupid cup.
All of this to say, ladies, for f*ck’s sake: Put down the boxing gloves at the Target. There are so many other prettier, unique, more functional vessels out there from which to sip your LaCroix—I promise! They even come in pink! Let’s put an end to this madness, now, shall we?
Stanley Cup Alternatives
What are your thoughts on the Stanley cup charade? Let me know in the comments below!
Xo, Nicole
