This is my favorite water bottle I’ve ever had. Period!
Ever since high school, I carry a water bottle. It doesn’t matter if I’m at the movies or grocery shopping. I have one.
After a decade of trying different types and styles of water bottles, the Stanley Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler is the best I’ve had. (Even if the name is a bit of a mouthful.)
Almost Everywhere
My typical day starts with time in the gym, then a lot of sitting at work, and ends with random tasks. Tasks like making dinner, doing the dishes, going shopping, washing a car, etc.
Things we all do.
And for the last few weeks, I’ve swapped out a 32 oz Hydro Flask for the 40 oz Stanley. It’s the biggest bottle I’ve had and miraculously fits in a regular cup holder. This is fan-freaking-tastic! (Something I’ve never been able to do with my Hydro Flask.)
The transition to it was easy and natural. I never had to get use to the larger size and weight either, because it has a solid handle on the side. The only real difference that I’ve had to get used to how long I can go before my water runs out.
I can easily go 4+ hours without needing to refill my water or ice, compared to past water bottles that would run out after ~3 hours.
The only downside is that I can’t take the Stanley on hikes. This is the only place where the size and shape make it less desirable.
The Competition
In a world of endless trends that come and go, I try to stick with what I have. This translates to me keeping the same bottle for at least a couple years. The only exceptions are when the bottle breaks, or I’m gifted a new one.
(I don’t care so much about the color or how well it hides dents and scrapes. I just want it to work.)
The truly great ones last me ~4 years.
After trying brands like Contigo, Hydro Flask, Nike, Nathan, Fitly, etc., I’ve learned what I like and don’t like. And nothing against the current social media favorite, Owala, but the button flip-lids usually go out on me within the first year. Plus, they’re a pain to clean; especially if you can’t put the whole thing in a dishwasher.
Meanwhile, soft and uninsulated water bottles are great for an hour or so, but it’s not long until they’re covered in condensation and/or the water is lukewarm.
Aka insulated bottles work best for most environments, lifestyles, and activities. Leaving it down to the shape and lid design to differentiate the best from the worst.
The Lid to Rule Them All
Lids range from simple screw-tops, to overly complicated mechanisms. In my experience, those that “keep it simple stupid” are the best.
These are the most reliable bottles that work seamlessly 99.9% of the time.
As soon as you start making things move, you open the door for problems.
That is unless you’re okay with replacing your lid or bottle every 6-12 months, then this probably doesn’t apply to you. But for me, I want to set it and forget it.
And so far, this Flip Straw Tumbler from Stanley has done a phenomenal job at that!
It has a moving straw mechanism, and thankfully Stanley kept it basic. Making it great when it’s tipped, dropped, or simply help slightly upside down. (If the straw is down and prevents any spillage.)
The one worry I had, based on my Hydro Flask’s flip straw lid, is if it would have weird problems when going up and down in elevation while driving.
Weird problems like water shooting out when the straw is lifted up after being closed for a 2+ hours. Or water leaking up and through the top when the straw is down, after it’s been sitting in the sun for 30+ minutes.
Neither has happened! Hopefully this continues over the coming years.
The Recap
The real reason why the Stanley Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler is my favorite water bottle is that I don’t have to think about it.
After I got it, I threw it into the dishwasher, waited an hour, and haven’t stopped using it.
We all have enough things in our lives that we have to plan and work around. So anytime I find something that just works, I can’t recommend it enough.
This Stanley Tumbler is more than what I hoped it would be.