Sorry, but Stanley Tumblers Leak Too Much. These 4 Dupes Are Superior.

Stanley has been dominating social media over the past few years. Would-be competitors have clearly been taking notes.

Two years ago, when I tested the first (even leakier) iteration of the Quencher H2.0, no comparable 40-ounce tumblers were available for sale.

But since then, well-known and generic brands alike have been making their own versions of the gigantic, handled cup.

To assess the copycats, Wirecutter purchased five tumblers in-store, all of which are dishwasher-safe. I tested one per day, using a testing rubric similar to our approach in evaluating smaller-capacity tumblers, including spill tests and temperature-retention checks. (We don’t include the Stanley tumbler and its ilk in that guide because most outdoors enthusiasts tend not to want such a large, heavy, handled tumbler that can’t fit in a backpack pocket.)

All six of the tumblers are excellent at keeping liquids cold, preserving the iciness of a beverage for over 24 hours. But many of these copycats are much better than the Stanley tumbler, improving on the Quencher H2.0 with design tweaks that make them less frustrating to use and actually worth the cost.

Here are four Stanley dupes that are better than the actual Stanley tumbler—models that you won’t have to fight for a chance to buy.

Owala may be poised to be the next big name in water bottles and tumblers. If you care about being in on a new trend early, this may be your moment.

If you love that Stanley often releases limited-edition colors and patterns, Owala does too, all while offering a tumbler that outperforms the Stanley model in every category.

• Owala tumblers are sold in exclusive colors that you can buy only from certain retailers. Some of the stores carrying the Owala 40oz Tumbler, including Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI, Target, and Whole Foods, offer their own colors and patterns—which gives the Owala tumbler the same collector’s feel as the Stanley model.
• Owala typically drops limited-edition bottles and tumblers twice a month. The company’s Color Drop program features special-edition colors sold in limited quantities; you can see past drops on the website to get an idea of the bright, funky patterns. The Color Drop mainly applies to Owala’s FreeSip water bottles, though an exclusive tumbler appears in these drops occasionally. So while collecting dozens of tumblers feels egregious, the good news is that if the colors don’t speak to you currently, you can wait until the next drop brings you one that does.
• The lid doesn’t leak, despite having an extra opening to sip from. The screw-top lid makes a tight seal at the mouth of the bottle and has a rubber gasket to stop leaks from around the straw. Like the Stanley model, the Owala tumbler has another small opening for sipping if you’d prefer to forgo the straw—but unlike the Stanley design, Owala’s sliding mouthpiece covering has a rubber stopper that fits snugly in the opening, which makes it more leak resistant.
• The top of the handle includes a depression for your thumb. It’s a small design touch that stands out and makes the Owala tumbler’s handle one of the most comfortable to hold.
• The lid has a lot of pieces, but it all comes apart for deep cleaning. Cleaning your reusable water vessels thoroughly is extremely important to ward off dangerous mold and bacteria buildup. The Owala tumbler’s sliding mouthpiece cover pops off the tumbler easily, and you can also remove the fitted rubber gasket for extra cleaning. The rubber gasket along the underside of the lid comes off as well. The first Owala tumbler I tested had a faulty mouthpiece cover, but after investigating the other Owala tumblers on the shelves at Target, speaking with Owala PR representatives, and trying another tumbler, we’ve chalked it up to a one-off manufacturing error.
• Of all the copycats we tested, the Owala model was the closest in physical shape and size to the Stanley tumbler. The two tumblers have similar proportions, which makes this Owala version a good option if you especially like the look of the Stanley Quencher, though the Owala model’s lid has a flared lip that differentiates it.

There was a brief period of time when Hydro Flask water bottles in pastel hues reigned supreme among a subset of teens who called themselves VSCO girls. It may be time for a comeback.

Of all the dupes I tested, the aesthetically pleasing Hydro Flask 40 oz All Around Tumbler was by far my favorite to use because of small design choices that ended up making a big difference.

• The Hydro Flask All Around Tumbler doesn’t leak—even when it’s full and knocked over on its side. Hydro Flask’s press-in lid fits snugly into the mouth of the tumbler, creating a tight seal that keeps liquid in, and its straw nestles into a silicone mouthpiece with a flared base that eliminates splashback. Only a few drops of water fell from the straw when I turned the tumbler upside down, so I was confident that it wouldn’t flood the room if I accidentally kicked it over at the gym.
• It has the most unusual, comfortable-to-use lid-and-straw system of all the big tumblers. Anyone who has stabbed the roof of their mouth with a hard plastic straw knows how painful that tiny indignity can be. You won’t have that problem with the soft, flexible Hydro Flask straw. Hydro Flask straw lids are distinctive among the tumblers we tried in that they come in three parts rather than two, consisting of a press-in lid and a hard plastic straw that fits into a gentle, silicone mouthpiece that won’t wreck your palate.
• It’s the same price as the Stanley tumbler. The All Around is on the higher end of the reusable-tumbler price range. But this virtually leakproof Hydro Flask model excels where the Stanley Quencher struggles, and it shines in ways that make this supersize cup worth the price.
• It’s easy to take apart for deep cleaning, and it’s dishwasher safe. The entire cup, lid and straw included, can go through the dishwasher. We like that the lid and straw come apart easily, and the rubber gaskets inside the lid are also removable.
• It fits in most cup holders. The standard car cup-holder size can vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle, so this may not be true for everyone. But I didn’t have any trouble in my Subaru, and the Hydro Flask model fit into treadmill cup holders, too.
• It’s available in seven gorgeous hues. And you get more custom color options to choose from for an additional $5. You can also opt to have yours engraved with text or a graphic from Hydro Flask’s extensive library for an extra $6.
• It’s more compact than the Quencher H2.0. Though both have a 40-ounce capacity, the Hydro Flask tumbler is a bit shorter than the Stanley model. For folks who find the Stanley Quencher to be too much tumbler, the All Around might feel easier to manage.

The downside to trend-following is that, eventually, everyone ends up with the same thing. If you prefer to stand out—or, at the very least, want to be able to pick out your cup in a lost-and-found lineup—consider the Simple Modern Trek Tumbler.

• The Simple Modern Trek Tumbler comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. With more than 20 options to choose from, you’re likely to find a Trek that speaks to you—whether you lean toward earthy, muted tones or prefer bright colors and loud patterns. Simple Modern also offers a few Disney-themed Trek tumblers for an additional $15, or you can use that $15 to add custom text to your tumbler.
• It’s the sleekest of all the big tumblers we tested. This 40-ounce tumbler is just as tall as the Stanley model, but the body is slightly thinner, giving it a daintier appearance that some sippers might prefer. Its tapered bottom also makes it cup holder compatible.
• The quarter-turn lid keeps liquid inside, where it belongs. The Trek’s lid screws in to create a tight seal that doesn’t leak, even when you knock the tumbler on its side, and it includes a rubber gasket that seals snug around the straw to prevent splashback.
• It keeps ice frozen for over 24 hours. All the tumblers I tested, including the Stanley model, had impeccable temperature-retention capabilities. But the Simple Modern tumbler kept ice solid the longest.
• Its ergonomic handle makes it comfortable to hold. The design of the handle accommodates the natural way your fingers curve as you grip.
• It’s mostly easy to clean. Most Trek tumblers are dishwasher safe, though some of the patterned options are hand-wash-only to preserve their design. Be sure to check your unit’s care instructions to confirm. We especially like that the lid is one piece, with no nooks and crannies for grime to collect in, and the rubber gasket inside the lid pops out for deeper cleaning.
• Of all the giant tumblers out there, this one gives the best volume value. The Simple Modern tumbler costs less than 75¢ per ounce of capacity, while the Stanley Quencher and the Hydro Flask All Around each cost over a dollar an ounce.

If you’re prone to knocking things over, finding a tumbler with built-in anti-slip measures is probably high on your list. The Takeya Straw Tumbler with Handle, which does just as well as its competitors in keeping cold beverages cold, could be your saving grace.

• The Takeya model is the only tumbler that has a removable rubber boot on the bottom to keep it from sliding around. Other brands, like Hydro Flask and Simple Modern, sell anti-slip tumbler bottoms for an additional price.
• It’s the easiest tumbler to open. That’s thanks to the grippy rubber bumper along the edge of the lid.
• It leaks more than the other dupes I tried, but way less than the Stanley model. Fortunately, you’re less likely to knock it over, thanks to the anti-slip bottom. The lid screws into the mouth of the tumbler to create a tight seal, but the rubber gasket around the straw is leakier than on the Simple Modern tumbler, which has a similar gasket on its lid.
• It comes with two straw options, one standard and one jumbo. The larger straw accommodates thicker drinks, such as smoothies. Both straws are hard plastic and labeled with the ounce size, a small detail that can come in handy for folks who have an excess of reusable straws.
• It isn’t the splashiest tumbler, but it does its job well. Takeya tumblers don’t have the same recognition as Stanley’s fleet of drinking vessels, but that might be a good thing, depending on who you ask—not everyone wants to be in the center of the conversation.
• It comes in fewer colors than other tumblers in its price range. The $40 Takeya tumbler is available in five colors, including solid white and solid black.
• Despite all the rubber parts, the lid is still easy to clean. You can fully disassemble the parts of the lid for deep cleaning, and the entire tumbler is dishwasher safe.

We also tested the Yeti Rambler 42 oz Straw Mug. We love Yeti’s insulated wine tumblers and the company’s other, smaller-capacity tumblers, but we didn’t like this handled, supersize version.

The main issue concerned the thin handle, which dug into my fingers when the tumbler was filled to the top and proved to be uncomfortable to hold.

I also wished that the lid included a gasket around the straw opening to keep the straw in place while I was sipping.

This article was edited by Annemarie Conte, Ben Frumin, and Catherine Kast.