Why are people so obsessed with Stanley tumblers?

From stampedes at Target to resale mania, the Stanley fever is real. Discover the story behind the legendary brand and why everyone is going crazy over their bottles.

What would you do to get your hands on a Stanley water bottle? What if it was the limited edition Stanley/Starbucks collab cup sold exclusively in Target?  

Fans of both brands proved they’d do just about anything - including scrambling like it was Black Friday a decade ago - to get their hands on the 40 ounce Winter Pink Stanley Quencher 2.0.  

Stores reported seeing customers camping out overnight to ensure they were first in line to get the elusive tumbler. It retails at $49.95 but is already popping up on resale sites for as much as $300.  

Stanley is the latest water bottle of choice for influencers. There is overwhelming demand for the oversized cup and not enough of them to go around. The company releases them in limited batches… prompting eager customers to sign up for notifications and when new colors come out- they quickly vanish from shelves.

But what you might not know is that Stanley has been around for over 100 years. In 1913 William Stanley invented the all-steel, double-wall vacuum bottle and since then Stanley has been a go-to brand of thermos and lunchbox for blue-collar workers and campers who want to keep their food or drinks hot or cold all day long. 

It has a reputation for being indestructible. A viral video from November shows a car completely destroyed in a fire, but with a Stanley bottle totally in-tact, still full of ice. 

@danimarieletteringThirsty after you catch on fire? @Stanley 1913 is like no problem i gotchu #fyp #carfire #accident #stanleycup

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Psychologists and marketing experts say getting a Stanley is a flex, a social currency - it’s a chance to be a part of the “Stanley club.” It's like having a collection of Webkinz back in the day. But there's a risk – once everyone has it, it might lose its appeal. 

Do you have a Stanley? Or do you not understand the hype?

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