LOS ALAMITOS, CA — In many high schools such as Los Alamitos High School, students walk onto campus each morning with a new trendy item – Stanley cups. They have been more noticeable since the new school year began. What is the new upbringing of Stanley cups?

What is the story of Stanley cups?

In 1913, inventor William Stanley wanted to create something that could keep his coffee hot all day. He attempted to develop the cup by creating an “all-steel vacuum bottle,” states the official Stanley website, and as the cherry on top, he wanted to put his family name, “Stanley,” on it. People were excited and curious about how the cups functioned when released.

How Did Stanley Cups start getting popular on social media?

Stanley cups gained their popularity from hockey due to its history of having the oldest trophy in North America, where teen audiences saw them. Their unique designs and handles grabbed people’s attention. Stanley cups are loved by the younger audience of TikTok and there have been videos of parents fighting over Stanley cups in Target for the new release of the Valentine’s Day Stanleys.

“I love my Stanley Cup; it holds lots of water and has a handle, making it convenient. I decided to buy it because it was trendy,’’ said Kaitlyn Castro, a freshman.

The pros and cons

The pros of the Stanley are that they keep drinks hot or cold for long periods, which can come in handy. They also come in lots of different creative sizes and designs that can stand out more than the regular Tumbler cup.

“I like my Stanley. My sister bought me a mini, and I liked it, so I decided to buy a bigger one,” said freshman Taylor Murphy.

When it comes to the cons of Stanleys, the price of the cup can be considered expensive, with prices ranging from $20 for a 14-ounce cup, $40 for a 30-ounce cup, and $50 for a 40-ounce cup, as seen on the official Stanley website.

Many people have also reported that it is sometimes hard to clean, and like most cups, it spills when you accidentally knock it over or don’t put the lid on all the way.

“I very strongly dislike my Stanley Cup compared to my other cups. Every time it falls, all my water spills, which is not very convenient for me because I’m pretty clumsy,” said math and skills lab teacher Mrs. Brodt. “The reason I decided to buy one is because I have a Toyota Forerunner and none of my cups would fit in my cup holder, and they were also big enough for me to bring to school.”

I think Stanley cups are good if you want a cup to pop out and grab people’s attention and be on trend with the latest thing, but I think some cups could be made with better quality at a more inexpensive price.