We Tried the Internet’s Favorite Water Bottle—Here’s Our Honest Review

Updated: Dec. 05, 2023

By now you've likely heard of the Stanley Quencher Tumbler. It's chic, comes with a straw and helps you drink more than eight glasses a day. But is it worth the hype?

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I’m always on the hunt for the next best water bottle. I stock up on new styles because, well, I get bored of drinking out of the same water bottle every single day. As ordinary as a water bottle is, I’m a firm believer it’s worth investing in one that acts as a close companion to all of life’s hydration needs: exercising, traveling and everyday use at home or the office.

When I discovered the famed Stanley Quencher Tumbler, its special features—like a sturdy handle and straw—quickly caught my eye. But what exactly is it that has the internet hooked? Here’s my honest Stanley Tumbler review.

What is the Stanley Quencher Tumbler?

stanley Tumbler water bottleMadi Koetting/Taste of Home

At first glance, the Stanley Quencher Tumbler looks like any other large water bottle. But let me be the first (or 100th) person to tell you it’s so much more than a water bottle. The 40-ounce capacity ensures you drink eight glasses a day—and then some. It comes with a straw and sturdy handle for transporting. The beautiful colorways make it an accessory you’re proud to flaunt, but what really sets this bottle apart is the fact that it fits in car cupholders. That alone is one of the reasons it continues racking up loyal fans.

Why is the Stanley Quencher Tumbler Trending?

As silly as it sounds, there’s a specific side of the internet dedicated to learning about the benefits of drinking water, and with that comes talk about the best water bottles. One of the main reasons the internet fell madly in love with the Stanley Tumbler is the fact that it fits snugly inside car cupholders. No more spilled water from speed bumps or sharp turns!

The Stanley Quencher Tumbler features other smart details like two drinking options (straw or spout), a sturdy handle and stunning color options. In a video posted by @MissCarinaB, she sums up all the things the internet loves about little miss Stanley. Meanwhile, #StanleyTumbler has garnered more than 780 million views to date.

Need more proof? It’s so popular it hasn’t stopped selling out since it went viral. If it’s sold out when you read this, bookmark the page so you can check again in a few days. Stanley is restocking these tumblers as quickly as possible, so don’t give up on trying to get your hands on one. Trust me: it’s worth it!

@misscarinab

Have you tried the @Stanley 1913 tumbler?? #stanley #tumbler #stanleypartner

♬ Aesthetic Girl – Yusei

How We Tested It

Stanley Quencher Tumbler in the carMadi Koetting/Taste of Home

I got my pink Stanley Quencher Tumbler in December 2022. Upon its arrival, I was intrigued to discover it was much larger in person than on screen. I’ve had other 40-ounce water bottles before, but the slim yet tall Stanley design was a pleasant surprise. I thoroughly rinsed it with warm, soapy water, dried it off and filled the bottle with ice and water.

To truly test what the cup was capable of, I took it on all my everyday adventures: working from home, exercising at the gym, outdoor walks and running errands. I always keep a tall glass of cold water at the ready while I work from home because it’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day. But when I made the switch from a regular water glass to the 40-ounce Stanley Tumbler, I found it ten times easier to drink more than enough water.

What’s more, I only have to fill my tumbler once in the morning and one more time in the afternoon to meet my hydration goals. The best part? My water never goes warm—even after eight hours. The trick is making sure ice is added to the bottle at some point in the morning. I found that the ice tends to melt by the end of the day, but water truly stays cold for several hours, which is personally all I care about.

Another attractive feature of the Stanley is the fact that it comes with a straw and wide drinking spout for people who prefer to drink straight out of the bottle. The lid has a horizontal top that easily sets which way the water comes out. Taking the straw out, I twisted the top to open the wide drinking spout. I tested the tumbler like this for a few days until reverting back to drinking from the straw. The bottle is somewhat heavy when it’s filled to the top, so tilting it slightly to pour the water into my mouth wasn’t as easy (or fun) as drinking out of the straw.

As for traveling and running errands with the Stanley Quencher Tumbler, it depends on your method of travel. When I lived in a city and relied solely on walking, there were some hiccups with my Stanley Tumbler tests. During walks to the gym and running errands, I found it wasn’t the ideal companion when traveling on foot. This is solely because the lid isn’t 100% leakproof when using the straw. Even with the straw removed and the lid locked, a few streams of water trickle out the top. Plus, the only way to hold it while traveling on foot is the handle, and it gets heavy after a while of holding it upright.

However, since moving out of the city in June 2023 and finally having access to a car, I’ve discovered a whole new love for my Stanley Tumbler. Sure, the most attractive feature is the fact that it fits perfectly in car cup holders. But the real kicker is having enough icy cold water by my side for hours and not having to refill it over and over again on road trips or while running errands.

Traveling through the airport is a different story (the bottle is hard to fit in backpack side pockets), but luckily there are some Stanley cup accessories that solve this problem. This is officially the only large-capacity water bottle I own that fits in car cupholders, and for that, I say it’s a successful investment. (On top of keeping water cold for eight hours, of course!)

Pros

  • Large 40-ounce capacity
  • Fits in car cupholders
  • Sturdy handle
  • Keeps water cold for eight hours
  • Two sipping options: straw and spout
  • Double-wall vacuum insulation
  • Dishwasher-safe
  • Multiple pretty color options

Cons

  • Lid isn’t 100% leakproof
  • Not the most travel-friendly if you walk everywhere
  • Ice melts after a few hours, but water still remains cold for eight hours

FAQ

Why is the Stanley Tumbler so popular?

Because people love good-looking water bottles that help them drink half their body weight in ounces per day! Plus, not every large-capacity water bottle fits car cupholders like the Stanley Tumbler. They really thought of all the things people need in a water bottle and engineered it into a cup that’s as chic as it is functional.

Is the Stanley Tumbler worth it?

In my experience, yes, it’s 100% worth it. Everyone needs a water bottle companion to keep them hydrated, and Stanley more than gets the job done.

How often do they restock Stanley Tumblers?

For the most part, the tumblers are restocked about every month.

What Other Shoppers Had to Say

Just take it from verified Stanley purchaser Emily C. when she says it’s the “best purchase I’ve made in a long time. I definitely fell for the ‘TikTok made me buy it,’ but I’m okay with that because this cup is the bomb. I literally bring it with me everywhere. I’d say the only downside to it is that it’s heavy, but I couldn’t care less about that. I drink so much more water with this! Side note: I dropped this at least three times already and it still looks good as new with the exception of one minor knick in the coating from where it fell on that side. Super durable!”

“Easiest way to stay hydrated!” raves Carmen C., a verified Stanley purchaser. “It’s always so hard to make sure I drink enough water throughout the day so this makes it super easy. It goes everywhere with me.”

“Absolutely love this tumbler!” adds verified purchaser Ashley H. “The soft matte material is great too! I get so many compliments. I use this tumbler every day. It’s super easy to clean and would definitely recommend the styles with a handle.”

Product Comparison

When it comes down to materials and construction, the Stanley Tumbler is super similar to Yeti and Hydro Flask. Each one of these water bottles boasts a stainless steel interior with double-wall vacuum insulation. Meaning, the bottles keep hot and cold liquids at the optimal temperature for several hours.

I’ve used an 18-ounce Yeti water bottle (not the tumbler style) and a 32-ounce Hydro Flask for years. The only big difference between each of the three bottles is the overall design and special features. The sturdy handle, straw and slim profile that fits in car cupholders are what sets the Stanley apart—and for the better.

Final Verdict

Since December 2022, I’ve relied on my Stanley Tumbler for (almost) all of my hydration needs. Though it’s not my preferred companion while walking or hiking, it’s still the one I grab every single day while working from home, running errands in the car or on road trips. What’s more, I didn’t know a handle was an important water bottle feature until now. Little miss Stanley is basically my best friend at this point.

Where to Buy the Stanley Quencher Tumbler

Find the 40-ounce Stanley Quencher Tumbler on the brand’s website where it goes for $45. The tumbler is also available at Amazon, Target and Dick’s Sporting Goods in limited color options.

As the internet’s most coveted water bottle, we recommend claiming yours before it goes out of stock! Trust me, drinking eight glasses a day has never felt better. Don’t forget to snag these water bottle-cleaning tablets to keep them fresh all day long!