If you’re not familiar with Stanley Quenchers, allow me to break them down for you. These ginormous tumblers in all manner of influencer-friendly colors are kind of like Pokémon cards for millennial moms: You’ve gotta catch 'em all. The search term “Stanley Quencher” has amassed a whopping 22 million views on TikTok, with users collecting shelves full of multiple colorways from “Eucalyptus” to “Fog.”

I, too, wanted to understand the obsession. I was never into Pokémon but I can get behind a stainless steel thermos that essentially doubles as a reusable Big Gulp. So, I asked Stanley to send me one (they’re quite difficult to snag unless you’re at the ready during a restock) and have been using it for the last few months. Spoiler alert: I’m drinking more water than ever, and I’m pretty sure that’s the whole point.  

The Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler is a cult favorite for its size and extensive color options. It maxes out at 40 ounces, which means it can hold up to 5 cups of water. Harvard Medical School notes that generally healthy people should drink about four to six cups per day, which means just one refill of the Stanley cup gets you well over the suggested daily intake. 

For me, this makes it an obvious candidate as a road trip warrior — and, in fact, it’s made with a narrower base to fit in a wide range of car cup holders. If you have a second (or third) container handy in the front seat, you can have ice-cold water (or another beverage of choice) for hours without stopping for a refill on cubes. 

The 40-ounce Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler will cost you $40, and you’ll pay $50 if you want one of the soft matte hues. You can downgrade to a 30-ounce version for $30.

The FlowState Quencher, specifically, is an updated version of Stanley's Adventure Quencher Travel Tumbler series (more on that later). There are also 30-ounce Adventure Quencher Travel Tumblers without handles for $30 as well as 25-ounce options for $25. The 14-ounce versions are $20.

If you’re like me, repeatedly used straws can only be taken so far in a dishwasher. Stanley sells replacement straw packs for every size of the tumbler, including a five-pack for the 40 ounce ($15) and four-packs for the 30 ounce ($12.50) and 14 to 20 ounces ($10). 

In my research for this story, I discovered people sometimes refer to the FlowState tumbler as the “Stanley thirst quencher,” and that couldn’t be more spot on. In fact, this stainless steel tumbler is equipped with two ways to quench your thirst: 1. An included straw and 2. A twistable panel that, when the straw is removed, allows you to sip straight from the cup. That panel can also be twisted further to fully close the tumbler if you’re wanting to keep your drink more secure in the car or on-the-go before enjoying.

The Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler fit comfortably in every car I put it in, including this Honda Civic.

The Stanley 40-ounce tumbler weighs 1.4 pounds and measures 12.3” H x 3.86” L x 5.82” W. The base is 3.1 inches in diameter and fits easily in my Honda CR-V’s cup holder. When it was totally full (and weighing 4 pounds), it did feel like a bit of a lift from that center console up to my mouth but the sheer amount of liquid — and lack of extra stops — outweighed the occasional bicep curl.

The Stanley 40-ounce tumblers come in a wide range of colors. As part of its Adventure Quencher tumbler series, Stanley currently sells the 40-ounce version in muted and matte shades, while other retailers including Dick’s Sporting Goods offer additional hues.   

According to the Stanley team, current Quencher colors and retailers are as follows, though colorways are often out of stock:

Quencher H2.0 FlowState™ Tumbler 40 oz:

The FlowState Quencher is vacuum insulated. It's advertised as keeping drinks hot for seven hours, and cold for four more (up to 11). Stanley also says it can stay iced for up to two days. However, I had a slightly different experience. My ice cubes melted just after 32 hours, but a non-iced beverage stayed cold for well into 12 hours — and a hot drink stayed that way for nine.

The base is 3.1 inches in diameter and fits in my Honda CR-V’s cup holder. It also fit in a rented Chevy Equinox. There’s an entire Q&A section of the product page on Stanley’s website where folks are chiming in on its compatibility with specific vehicles.

Unlike previous iterations, the Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler has a “spill-proof” lid with a "splash-resistant" straw opening that's sealed by a silicone base. (You may have seen Wirecutter’s TikTok video about Quencher leakage.)

Stanley is honest about the fact that even though this iteration can help “prevent spills and splashes,” it is “not designed to be 100% leak-proof.” And it’s true: When the lid is flipped closed, water still leaked out of the side of my tumbler. 

I, too, had the exact same question when faced with awkward sips in my car. Here’s the bad news: It’s not the cup, it’s you. But there's good news: You can flip the Quencher lid into either position with a slight rotation. Check out the video tutorial on Stanley’s website.

40 ounces is a lot of water, no refills needed.

It can go in the dishwasher.

You’ll impress millennial and Gen-Z friends and co-workers.

There are two immediate benefits to owning a Stanley Quencher: You become well hydrated and own your own little piece of TikTok cred. My younger sisters were definitely impressed when I picked them up at the airport with this tumbler in the cupholder. All popularity contests aside, the Quencher is now my road trip go-to thanks to its large volume, lack of a condensation, and long-lasting insulation. 

The Quencher is heavy when full. 

The lid is not leak-proof.

You’ll likely need to buy replacement straws.

Here’s what the Quencher is not: an all-around water bottle. It’s not the container you're going to throw in your gym bag, backpack, et cetera. The lid does leak when tossed around, making it less versatile than, say, a Larq or a Hydro Flask.  

The Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler (right) alongside a Larq water bottle for comparison. While the Larq is much more versatile and does not leak, the Quencher is a better road trip warrior thanks to its hefty size.

This is not your take-it-everywhere tumbler, but the Stanley Quencher shines as a true road trip warrior thanks to hours of insulation for both cold and hot beverages that can help limit your stops and make long drives more of a breeze. And if you care about keeping up with the latest trends, it’s kind of a no-brainer. The expansive colorways and coveted novelty will have you saying, “I choose you" (Pikachu).

The best way to know when the tumblers will be restocked is to sign up with your email to be notified about new launches. If it's sold out on the brand's website, the team also recommends looking at Dick's Sporting Goods for the 40-ounce Quencher H2.0 FlowState™ Tumbler; you can find other Adventure Quencher Travel Tumblers at Amazon, Lowe's or REI. 

For those of you who may have purchased tumblers without the FlowState technology, the Stanley team says it plans to make these improved lids available separately early in 2023.