Here's My Verdict on the Stanley vs. Yeti Tumbler Debate
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As a shopping editor, I like to use and recommend the best products on the market, from pieces as big as U-shaped sectionals and platform bed frames to much smaller goods such as super-soft sheets and air purifiers. This month, I turned my attention to perhaps the Internet's most hotly contested debate: Stanley or Yeti tumblers? Is one better than the other, or are they both virtually the same, enormous insulated cups that keep your beverages cold for hours on end? I spent two weeks using both brand's popular products to settle this debate once and for all.
For this experiment, if you will, I used Stanley's IceFlow Flip Straw tumbler and Yeti's Rambler tumbler. Both come in various sizes, but I went with 30 ounces, which I consider a respectable size for people who don't want to get up once every hour to refill their reusable bottles. Below, you'll find a few things to consider, including the brands's similarities and differences and a few factors that helped me determine which is better.
The Tumblers' Similarities and Differences
Both cups are made of puncture- and rust-resistant stainless steel, which is a good material if you are accident prone and tend to drop things. Full disclosure: because they're so heavy (four pounds when full) and made of metal, they're loud when they hit the floor. They're also both 30 ounces and won't erode in the dishwasher. Both cups can also keep your cold drinks cold for more than seven hours. In fact, Stanley claims that ice can last up to two days in the IceFlow, which is perhaps how the cup earned its name. Lastly, both Yeti and Stanley have recently added an array of funkier, bolder hues to their repertoire of previously dark, simple shades.
As for the differences, there are a few worth noting, starting with the drinking method. The Rambler has a lid with a little hole that can be covered with a sliding magnetic piece to prevents spills, while the IceFlow comes with a flip-up straw that won't spill when it's knocked over—even if it's flipped up. The next major difference, though? The size. Technically, both the Rambler and the IceFlow boast a 30-ounce capacity, but the latter is significantly taller at 9.8 inches (compared to the Rambler's 7.8 inch height). The IceFlow also comes with a convenient handle for easy carrying.
Yeti Rambler Details
I have to admit that I knew I'd like this cup because I have the same one in a smaller size, the 20 ounce. I got it in 2019 and still have and use it every time I go to the office. I bought it because I like to make cold brew at home, work out at the gym, and then enjoy my iced coffee at the office about two hours later. It got the job done. I am definitely not drinking 30 ounces of coffee concentrate, so I used my new Rambler for water and tea.
Pros:
Spill-proof and removable magnetic slider
Easy to hold
Cup holder compatible
Keeps cold drinks chilled, and hot drinks heated, for up to seven hours
Pull-off plastic lid
Available in 12 colors
Cons:
Expensive
Stanley IceFlow Details
This was my first Stanley, so I was beyond excited to see what all of the fuss was about. Full disclosure: I was a bit worried about the straw situation because this is where these types of cups tend to grow mold, but I ordered a silicone straw cleaner the same day I ordered the IceFlow for peace of mind.
Pros:
Available in 14 colors
Spill-proof straw that flips up and folds down
Handle for easy carrying
Good value
Keeps beverages cold for up to 12 hours
Cons:
No customization options compared to Yeti (where you can add your own color or monogram)
Need to purchase straw cleaner to prevent mold
How the Cups Feel in My Hands
I would not consider my arms particularly strong, so the idea of investing in two cups that weigh a pound and a half when empty was a bit daunting. In terms of getting around, the Stanley tumbler is definitely the better pick because you can carry it by the more narrow base or the handle. Every time I reach for my Yeti, I have to hold it from the thicker top of the cup because it feels a bit shaky when I hold it from the base, especially when it's full and weighs four pounds.
Ease of Cleaning
The Yeti, however, wins the cleaning contest. I am a bit of an anti-dishwasher user, so I wash all of my utensils, dishes, and cookware by hand. All I have to do to clean the Yeti is pull the top off and remove the magnetic lid slider. I thoroughly wash each of the three parts with dish detergent and a silicone sponge. As for the IceFlow, I unscrew the lid, pull out the detachable plastic straw and use the silicone straw cleaner on both the lid and the straw before using the bigger sponge on the cup itself. All in all, it takes about five minutes. The Yeti takes no more than one.
My Final Verdict
This may be a hot take since the iconic Stanley cup seems to have captured America's hearts by way of TikTok, but I stan the Yeti. Personally, I don't love the idea of a straw, so drinking from the hole in the lid feels a bit more comfortable. I also find it easier and less time-consuming to clean, which is another plus. Lastly, I like that it's not such an imposing unit on my desk or nightstand. It's definitely big, but not so big that it's the first thing you see when you look my way. I can also stick it right in my work purse and still squeeze in my wallet, keys, and headphones.
That said, I do love my Stanley and will use it all the time at home. Since it feels a bit too big to lug around with me (I live in New York City and often walk from point A to point B), enjoying it at home seems like the perfect way for me to get some good use out of it.
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