Stanley vs. YETI: Who Makes a Better Travel Coffee Tumbler?

Stanley Vs. Yeti TMB STUDIO

In today’s tech-savvy world, there’s no reason to drag along a lukewarm coffee on your morning commute. Drinkware has come a long way since the thermoses of yore. Many modern coffee tumblers opt for double-walled vacuum insulation and spill-proof lids, among dozens of other useful features. This type of coffee tumbler locks in temperatures for hours on end, keeping your cold coffee cold and your hot coffee hot throughout the day.

“Coffee tumblers are convenient for an on-the-go lifestyle,” says Erin Doern, coffee expert and Head of Product Development at Free Rein Coffee. “Tumblers offer many features that a standard ceramic mug does not, such as superior insulation to keep your coffee hot or cold for extended periods,” “If you like a lot of coffee, make sure the tumbler’s design is comfortable to hold and fits in your bag or cup holder when you’re on the go.”

Whether you care more about aesthetics or more about functionality, two popular tumblers offer both: the Stanley Aerolight travel tumbler and the YETI Rambler. If you’re trying to decide between Stanley vs. YETI, it’s a pretty tight race. Both YETI and Stanley offer similar products with impressive insulation, according to reviews.

If you’re looking for a new tumbler for your favorite coffee subscription, you may be wondering which brand is a better fit for you. Our expert Product Testing Team decided it was time to finally end the Stanley vs. YETI debate. We subjected both brands to a series of tests to determine which features are our favorites and which are flops. Over 50 hours later, we finally have the answers we’re looking for.

What’s the difference between Stanley and Yeti?

Stanley and YETI are both rugged brands that tout the durability of their products. While the Stanley Aerolight travel tumbler and the YETI Rambler have a similar look and feel, they also have some key differences. The first difference is their capacity. The Stanley tumbler comes in 16- and 20-ounce sizes, while YETI comes in 10-, 20- and 30-ounce sizes.

The second difference is the color options. Both brands have a fleet of fun shades that add a pop of personality to your coffee bar. They also both collaborate with other brands and creators to release new colors and patterns on a rolling basis. However, the Stanley Aerolight travel tumbler rarely comes out in new shades (something Stanley does with its cousin, the Quencher). The YETI Rambler, on the other hand, currently has a number of seasonal options available in addition to its core collection.

All About YETI

Brothers Roy and Ryan Seiders founded YETI Coolers, LLC, in 2006. YETI’s humble roots began with coolers, and eventually branched out into outdoor gear. The brothers’ main focus was meeting the demands of fishermen in the Texas heat.

The brand now offers a whole host of outdoor essentials, including coffee tumblers, outdoor blankets, pet items and even apparel. All of its offerings focus on durability and longevity. Additionally, it’s built a reputation as having some of the sleekest gear around.

How We Tested YETI

Our expert Product Testing Team tested 20 coffee tumblers using the same 11 tests for our best coffee tumbler piece. They collected over 730 data points and spent an estimated 50 hours on the tests, including the time it took to research, source, intake and test the products. The Product Testing Team conducted tests on the YETI Rambler 20-ounce tumbler.

Criteria

Temperature Retention: Testers place 140-degree Fahrenheit water in each tumbler, then measure the temperature after four hours to see how much it fell. All tumblers are left in the refrigerator to simulate a near-freezing day. Testers then fill each tumbler halfway with ice and add 60-degree Fahrenheit water until full. After four hours, they measure the temperature to see how much it rose and if any ice remains. All tumblers are left outside in the sun.
Drinking Experience: Testers drink liquid from the tumbler. They evaluate the pleasantness and ease of the drinking experience, monitoring things like lip thickness, opening placement and flow.
Ergonomics and Handling: Testers attempt to place the tumbler in a standard car cupholder to see if it fits. If the tumbler has a pop top, testers open the lid five times in rapid succession to gauge how cumbersome it is to open and close and how tiring it is on the hand. Testers then carry each filled tumbler around for five minutes to assess its weight and circumference and how comfortable it is to hold.
Leakproof Capabilities: Testers shake each tumbler upside down for 15 seconds to see if and how much the cup leaks.
Durability: Testers push the tumbler from a hip-height ledge onto the pavement to see if it scratches, spills, dents or pops open.
Specs: Testers weigh each empty tumbler and note any additional features.
Cleaning: Testers wash each tumbler in the dishwasher up to three times, noting its appearance and cleanliness after the fact. They turn off the heat for all cycles to preserve the silicone and plastic parts.
Lead Detection: Testers swab the inside of each tumbler and test for the presence of lead with a rapid lead test kit.

The results informed our best tumblers piece, our YETI Rambler review, the YETI vs. Hydro Flask analysis and this Stanley vs. YETI comparison.

Temperature Retention

The cold beverage test began with each tumbler filled halfway with 60-degree Fahrenheit water and halfway with ice. Each then sat in the sun to simulate a hot day. After four hours, the ice water in the YETI Rambler measured a chilly 39.5 degrees Fahrenheit. However, all the ice had melted. The six-hour results brought the YETI’s temperature up to 44.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The YETI fared a bit better in the hot coffee test, clocking in at 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit after six hours in the fridge.

Drinking Experience

The cup has a stainless rim that meets the lips and round edges that don’t bump or poke the face while drinking. The lid is slim and comfortable to drink from, and it includes a sliding spout for sipping. A built-in tab helps lift the lid off the cup, and it’s sizable enough for easy access. The lid also glides on and off easily, as does the spout’s sliding mechanism. Overall, it’s a good drinking experience that feels more like an actual mug than a thermos.

Ergonomics and Handling

While visually appealing, we found the wide profile difficult to hold for extended periods of time. The exterior is very smooth, boasting no texture. It looks sleek, but we worry this makes it easier to drop—especially with sweaty hands on hot days or in the winter while wearing gloves. It’s also not at all suitable for small hands. Even more disappointingly, it doesn’t fit in large or small cupholders at all.

Leakproof Capabilities

Even though YETI doesn’t claim the tumbler is leakproof, it really disappointed us in this regard. It dribbles constantly when held upside down. While the lid stayed on as we shook the tumbler, the consistent spillage doesn’t bode well for bumpy car rides or long hikes.

Durability

While the lid popped off upon contact with concrete from a hip-height drop, the bottom rim only received minor damage. That’s reflective of the YETI’s reputation as a rugged, durable outdoor brand. That said, don’t expect your tumbler to keep its contents if it slips out of your grip.

Cleaning

The Rambler is dishwasher-safe with a wide mouth for easy hand washing. We didn’t notice any warping or chipping after washing it several times in cold water on the top rack.

Specs

The YETI Rambler comes in 10-, 20-, and 30-ounce sizes. The team tested the 20-ounce version, which weighs around 0.85 pounds. It comes in a variety of core shades, including pink, navy, red, black, grey, white, teal and stainless. There are also quite a few seasonal shades, which include fuchsia, yellow, green, blue, green teal, orange, light pink, lilac and dark green.

YETI also offers additional drinkware accessories for its travel tumbler, like replacement mag sliders, straw lids, bottle slings and cocktail shaker attachments.

Lead Detection

Yeti Rambler Coffee Tumbler Taste of Home

While the risk of contamination is low, YETI confirms their vacuum-insulated tumblers contain a small amount of lead inside the bottom of the cup. That said, the lead doesn’t come into contact with any exposed surfaces, and our at-home lead detection kit didn’t pick up any traces.

Pros

Nice color options
Pleasant drinking experience
Made by a trusted brand
Five-year warranty
Dishwasher safe

Cons

Leaky
Not compatible with cupholders

Our Favorite YETI Products

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Shop on YETI

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Shop on REI

YETI Rambler Coffee Tumbler

The YETI Rambler coffee tumbler is a colorful, attractive option for those who want to take their coffee with them in style.

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Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler

The Yeti cooler offers unparalleled ice retention and style. Use it as a camping ice chest for up to four folks or pop in drinks for a day on the water.

FAQ

What should I not put in a YETI Rambler?

YETI recommends against adding carbonated beverages to the Rambler. These can cause gas buildup, making the lid difficult to open or, in the worst-case scenario, forceful ejection. We recommend sticking to your favorite coffee instead (we especially like Cometeer if you’re in a rush).

All About Stanley

Stanley has been creating vacuum-insulated stainless steel water bottles since 1913. They’re one of the first brands to pioneer the technique, and the brand claims that inventor William Stanley Jr. actually created the first bottle of its kind.

Since then, Stanley has blossomed into a well-loved brand among outdoor enthusiasts. While it’s best known for the viral Stanley Quencher bottle, it also offers a range of other outdoor gear, including coolers, cookware and lunchboxes.

How We Tested Stanley

To keep things fair for the YETI vs. Stanley comparison, we subjected the Stanley coffee tumbler to the same 11 tests as the YETI tumbler. The Product Testing Team conducted tests on the Stanley Aerolight coffee tumbler.