Addie Woltil

Just some of the many photos from the news and videos showcasing the obsession over Stanley cups

Every few years, there is a new “It Girl” water bottle that makes its rise and fall. Previously, it was the Hydro Flask that dominated schools all across the nation and could constantly be found in the hands of teenagers. As all trends do, the Hydro Flask quickly faded from people’s minds when the newest water bottle trend arose: the Stanley Cup.

At first glance, I thought these cups looked pretty dumb; they are impractical to carry around, and—despite what they claim—they’re nowhere near spill-proof unless you buy additional add-ons, which shouldn’t be necessary for an already exorbitantly expensive cup. For the price of $45, it’s expected that it would be the best water bottle I’ve ever seen, and quite frankly, it’s just an average cup. 

In the average classroom, there would probably be at least five sitting tall on people’s desks or in their backpacks, all in different sizes and styles. While I can understand the appeal of a cup that can hold 30 or 40oz of water and still fit in cup holders, recently, the craze over it has grown beyond rationality at a scarily exponential rate.

Recently plaguing the internet have been videos of people camping in line outside of Target for hours in order to buy a limited-edition Starbucks and Stanley collab cup. They have such limited stock that most locations received less than 50 cups for the angrily awaiting Stanley enthusiasts. In fact, this happened in so many locations that it even made national news. People have brawled, screamed at, and fought with others over a shiny pink cup.

If this sounds like a pretty insane thing to do, it’s because it is. I can appreciate being excited about your favorite brands collabing with the release of something you love, but being so passionate about it to the point where people are willing to fight with 12-year-olds just for the opportunity to own a cup is far past where the line is.

These limited-edition cups are now going for up to $500 on resale sites, and people are more than willing to pay these prices. Seen across the Christmas lists of thousands were Stanley cups in every color and variety they sell. Now that these cups have become associated with an “It Girl” lifestyle and trend, the brand is capitalizing on the demand and releasing more and more that the public will yet again fall in love with.

More videos that are spreading like wildfire are the end-of-the-year hauls people do where they showcase the dozens of Stanleys in all varieties of colors and styles they own. Owning more than one or two of these cups completely destroys the point of it being reusable, and owning upwards of 10 is nearing a point of obsession. 

When purchasing a reusable water bottle, it should be made sure that it stands the test of time and doesn’t become a regrettable fad to look back on in embarrassment. In just a few years, when the trend cycle repeats itself, there will be a new popular water bottle sitting on everyone’s desks, and the many Stanleys purchased will accumulate dust in the back of a cabinet.