You are sitting in your lecture hall, filled with over 100 students and all around, you see splashes of color: pink, blue, yellow, green, and purple. What are these flashes of color? Stanley Cups, the newest and trendiest hydration quencher with over thirty color combinations and eight different sizes.

Oddly enough, Stanley Drinkware & Gear was originally geared towards men and their water bottles consisted of colors such as army green, black, and dark gray. Ashlee, Taylor, and Linley, bloggers for The Buy Guide, are the girls responsible for this explosion of color. Ashlee was a fan of the cup when it first came out and she gifted it to her colleagues, who immediately fell in love with it. One day, Stanley discontinued the thirst quencher and the three bloggers knew they needed to take action. The bloggers repeatedly reached out to the Stanley marketing team with a clear message, market towards women and business would flourish. With over 20,000 people on the new and improved Stanley site, the cups sold out instantly, proving the bloggers’ theory to be true. Stanley had to create an email waiting list for those who could not get their hands on one. Soon enough, Stanley was welcomed into big department stores, such as Whole Foods, REI, and Whole Earth.

With the extreme demand for the cups, it may be difficult to get your hands on one of these. Stanley Drinkware & Gear has since broadened its horizons and begun to sell at big retail stores like Target, Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

What makes the coveted Stanley Cup so special? When comparing the Stanley Cup tumbler line to Hydroflask tumblers and YETI cups, there are some key differences. Stanley has the biggest sizing range, going up to a whopping 40 ounces while Hydroflasks and YETI cups cut off at 30 ounces. Although the YETI cups are dishwasher safe and can fit in cup holders, Stanley cups take the crown with having dual features, as well as handles (a necessity for someone who usually has their hands full). In regards to the lids, Hydroflasks have the standard straw attachment lid or screw-off, while YETI has a standard sliding lid, able to fit a straw, but fails to include one. The Stanley Cup lid comes with a rotating cover, which has an opening for a reusable straw, an opening to drink straight from the lid, and a full-cover top that prevents spills. The YETI cup has a 5-year warranty, whereas the Hydroflasks and Stanley Cups have lifetime warranties. It is safe to say that Stanley Cups hold the upper hand compared to their water receptacle counterparts.

Like all reusable water bottles, regularly using a Stanley also helps the environment. Think of how many plastic water bottles you could avoid using if you had a Stanley. Thinking about the turtles and the plastic straws? Stanley has got you and the earth covered, with a lid-compatible, reusable, and dishwasher-safe straw included in your purchase. Although Stanley has faced complaints about their cups not being 100% leak proof, they have addressed the concerns and added more rubber around the straw to eliminate the issue. Keeping the environment clean has never been this easy.

Stanley Cups have become a college girl’s necessity. There are various color options available, a sleek, yet functional design, and an easy way to reach your recommended water intake. Not only do these cups keep drinks cold for up to eleven hours, but it also can keep your daily coffee hot for up to seven. Whether carrying this cup to class, to the rec center, or to your favorite study spot, the Stanley Cup will make you feel put together and keep you hydrated.

Written by Alexa Davis, Photographer: Alexis Holt, Social Media: Sofia Felker

Goodbye HydroFlasks, Stanley Cups are Taking Over