This article originally appeared on Business Insider.
Did the teenagers in your life request 40-ounce water bottles as Christmas presents?
I’m going to guess the answer is yes.
If not, then maybe your TikTok has become flooded with videos of people stampeding Target stores for pink and red cups.
Whichever way you were introduced, Stanely-branded drinkware is now ubiquitous on social media. If you’re wondering why giant water bottles are so important, read on.
What are Stanley cups?
We’re not talking about the giant silver trophy won by a National Hockey League team each year. That’s the Stanley Cup.
The portable cups in question are insulated tumblers with giant side handles and plastic straws, created by the 111-year-old drinkware brand Stanley.
They’re basically just convenient (and large) water bottles. The biggest selling points are the small base that can fit into a car cup holder, the rotating lid, and that it can keep drinks cold for hours.
They’re sold at stores like Target in dozens of colors, from classic neutrals to trendy shades of pink and green, or you can order the cups online through Stanley’s website, where you can also customize them to be engraved with text or images of your choice.
Price-wise, they typically range from $35 to $45 depending on the size and style.
Why you’re seeing these massive water bottles everywhere
Stanley has existed since 1913 when founder William Stanley Jr. “fused vacuum insulation and the strength of steel” to create the first Stanley-brand bottle, according to the company’s website.
Though the brand has been popular for decades since then, Stanley’s 40-ounce tumblers reached a new level of cool in January of last year when they began appearing in popular TikTok videos or the hands of influencers.
The hype hasn’t slowed down.
In November, a woman went viral on the social-media platform after revealing that her car burned down with her Stanley cup inside — and it survived with ice remaining.
Stanley then gifted her multiple cups and a brand-new Mazda vehicle.
The woman’s original video has been viewed more than 92 million times since then.
@danimarielettering What a journey, thank you all sooo much for being here for it. I cant say it enough, this wouldnt have happened without every single one of you. Love you and @Stanley 1913 ♬ The Champion – Lux-Inspira
TikTok then exploded last month with videos of young people receiving Stanley cups as holiday presents.
The search term “Kids Getting Stanley Cups for Christmas” results in dozens of videos with more than 32.2 million combined views.
In many of these clips, children and teenagers are seen screaming, crying, and embracing their family members after receiving one of the 40-ounce tumblers.
@youforgotaboutdre Idk which is worse, the actual screaming or the shocked silence #christmas #tween #preppy #stanleycup #stanleytumbler ♬ 22 (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
The cups don’t seem to be going anywhere in 2024.
Over the weekend, pink and red Stanley cups were released at Target for Valentine’s Day.
Various TikTok videos show shoppers rushing into their local stores for the chance to buy them, with employees heard in the background enforcing limits on the number of cups they could purchase.
Representatives for Stanley did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider on its products and these recent videos.
@victoria_robino_26 #fyp #fypシ゚viral #target #targetfinds #stanleycup #stanley #stanleytarget #valentinesday #stanleyvalentinesday ♬ original sound – Victoria Robino
So yes, Stanley cups are durable and multiple coworkers can confirm that they keep your drink cold for hours.
They’re also cute and, as evidenced by this unofficial fan club of young people, extremely trendy.
But ultimately, they’re just really big water bottles.
