This or That with Ashlyn
Stanley or Owala: The Great Debate at OHS
Osborne Web Team
Ashlyn Schultze
January 23, 2024
Are you struggling to find the best cup to fit all your needs? The popular cups of today seem to be produced by Stanley and Owala. The students and staff of OHS are here to help you choose which one is best for you!
Stanley was established in 1913 by William Stanley Jr.; however, Stanleys have been growing and changing rapidly since then. The first Stanley was originally a thermos and was marketed to adventure-seekers and workmen. Oh, but how the times have changed! Almost 100 years later, the Stanley is now a rising hit on TikTok and marketed toward teenagers. The cup’s look has rapidly changed as well with the first Stanley being a thermos, and now a tumbler. These new cups come in a variety of different colors whereas the original cup had a more nature-based look.
The new cup fighting to take the place of the famous Stanley is the Owala. Owala was created in 2020 by Steve Sorensen, co-founder and CEO of Trove Brands. Like the Stanley, the Owala comes in a variety of colors but with eye-catching names; for example, Retro Boardwalk (purple) , Water in the Desert (tan), and PoolSide Punch (reddish-pink). The first Owala was the FreeSip water bottle which allows the customer to sip or use the straw. Most recently, they came out with a tumbler, much like its competitor.
As you can see, these brands have been competing for a couple years now, but the question is which one is the perfect cup for you? Hudson Wolters, a senior at Osborne Jr/Sr High School prefers the Owala - “I like that the sipper is not exposed to the outside air so bacteria can’t grow and possibly kill me. Another feature is that it doesn’t spill, so I like that I can just throw it into my bag and not worry about it spilling all over my stuff.” However, Georgia Lix, a freshman at Osborne Jr/Sr High, says, “The Owala has a greater variety of colors, but I do like that the Stanley has an easy-to-grip handle…, a bottom that can fit into your cup holder, and a wider variety of styles; therefore, I prefer the Stanley brand!” Carsyn Worley, a 7th grader at OHS, is also dedicated to the Stanley brand - “My Stanley keeps ice longer than any other water bottle I've tried, which is a big thing when it comes to school and being involved in sports.” But, Spencer Nichols, a senior at OHS who has been a lover of Stanley for two years, has recently made the switch to Owala. Her reasons are compelling as she feels they don’t spill as much as her Stanley and she has no problem with them fitting into her cupholder. Claire Mick, a freshman at OHS agrees, “Both are very trendy and cute, but more importantly, they both keep my drink cold; although, I do like how the Owala has two ways to drink out of it. So I prefer the Owala.” My pursuit for a review from a different age group came up short with principal Jason Wilson. - “I don’t even know which one is better because I don’t drink water. I'm strictly on a caffeine-only diet. When I do drink water, I prefer bottled water that you can buy at the store.”
So which cup is for you? If you want to stay with the trend, the Stanley is the water bottle for you, but if you would prefer a more practical water bottle, then I recommend an Owala. Stanley has so many great factors, but the Owala’s non-leaking lid sets it apart from its adversary. The ability to be able to toss it into your bag and not worry about it spilling is a key part of this water bottle. I hope this helps you choose the perfect water bottle to take with you on all your adventures!
Sources-
https://www.wired.com/review/owala-freesip/
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/stanley-adventure-quencher-review/
https://www.retaildive.com/news/stanley-quencher-tumblers-viral-success/699416/