Girls holding their big water bottles, loud sips during your terrifying math test, endless variations on the same basic design. For outsiders to the ever-growing nation of people with large, nicely colored bottles, these common occurrences may come as an annoyance. But the water bottle nation is strong. The only thing better than hydration, for girls with bottles, is other people noticing you hydrate from a multi-colored, aesthetically pleasing, TikTok-famous water bottle.
However, as in many historical empires, there is schism occurring. Stanley and Owala bottles, both very popular, are dividing the highly-hydrated community. Stanley is renowned as an outdoorsy, adventure-worthy companion. Much newer to the game is the Owala brand, known for its colorful design and innovative drinking structure. Both brands carry a unique vibe and function… and their own pervasive stereotypes. Is one more aesthetic than the other? Is the price the same? What will my friends think of my water bottle? These are the important questions that we, as Americans, must ask ourselves. And which is the superior sipper?
The FreeSip bottle, Owala’s most recognizable design, blends two previously distinct water bottle features. The bottle allows you to drink through a straw, as well as to tilt the bottle and drink through a wider opening, a design that has gained popularity for being unique and ergonomic. While the function is effective, the color palette existing on the bottles is more polarizing. Although some are attracted to the eclectic and busy look, Owala often utilizes clashing colors. This raises the question: If Owala bottles can’t even complement their own colors, how will they complement your outfit?
In contrast, the Stanley Quencher, probably the most iconic bottle on the market, has a much simpler design and cleaner colors. The body of the water bottle has a thin bottom and a wider top, perfect for fitting in a car’s cup holder. Furthermore, the large handle of the bottle allows for easy transportation alongside the million other things one may carry. The Stanley is also famous for its tall straw, which, unlike the Owala, is anything but hidden. Many users state that the visible straw is what keeps them from forgetting to drink throughout the day, a key benefit of the Stanley design.
Beyond the actual design of the bottles, stereotypes and social media have lended themselves to the popularity of these two brands. Stanley has been associated with both high school and middle school girls who are trying to “be like everyone else”, as well as out-of-touch suburban moms who buy a Quencher in every color. While these stereotypes are not representative of most Stanley users, they are hilarious. SNL took part in this, with their “Big Dumb Cup” skit. Furthermore, the presence of Stanley cups in videos by lifestyle influencers, especially “Pack my Stanley with me” videos, have created a nation-wide stigma.
Contrasting to the “basic” stereotype accompanying Stanley, perceptions of Owala tend to go in the opposite direction. Associated primarily with quirky, eclectic people in Gen Z, Owala users are sometimes seen as individuals who don’t want to be like everybody else, although this stereotype is somewhat inaccurate considering how mainstream these bottles really are. Fascination with Owala also comes from the fact that when you drink from them, the cap makes you look like you have a koala nose.
One of the most important conflicts of the modern-day, the divergence of culture between Stanley and Owala has fierce proponents on either side. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to choose their stance on the battlefield, or resign themselves to dehydration.
