A person’s choice in a water bottle seems to be a polarizing topic here at Oakdale. The recently famed Stanley and Owala tumblers have taken the nation by storm. Countless reviews and critics of both brands are all over the internet, and these same opinions have made their way to Oakdale. 

Stanley 1913 is a brand founded over a century ago, and invented the all-steel vacuum bottle known and loved today. Since the craze of the iconic tumblers started, almost every Oakdale classroom has at least one Stanley sitting on a students desk. Sophomore Olivia Nicodemus, a longtime user, said that her favorite things about having one is that, “They keep your drinks really cold, they come in a bunch of different colors, and are easy to drink from.” 

Despite their crazy popularity, the company  has faced allegations regarding their cups containing lead. In a recent flurry of social media posts, Stanley customers are using at-home tests to assess whether there is any lead in their products. Many customers have become wary of the bottles, and even stopped using them completely. 

Oakdale students, however, are not so concerned. Sophomore Elianna Milliken simply stated, “I don’t really care, I’ll still use mine.”

Because of these reports, the online water bottle community was searching for a new product to enjoy. They landed on the brand Owala.  They claim to be a durable, clean, and stylish hydration solution. The Owala’s are making their mark in Oakdale, fighting their way through the sea of Stanley tumblers. 

Owala has recently gained TikTok fame from their “cute” aesthetic. People have realized when the cap of the bottle is in use, it makes the user look like they have a koala nose. They also have other perks that seem to be making them a nice alternative for Stanley users. 

“Owalas can fit into backpack pockets, and you don’t have to hold them constantly like Stanley Cups unless you have the smaller Stanley Cups,” sophomore Heather Twum commented.

“I don’t think there are many disadvantages in having an Owala, but if I had to name one it would be the fact that it doesn’t hold hot water,”Junior Mikayla Sando shared. 

Although the Stanelys seem to be harder to carry around in comparison to Owala, Stanley’s have their infamous ability to keep drinks cold, but also insulate hot drinks for over 20 hours. This insulation ability is something that the Owala cups can not compare to. 

Oakdale students are conflicted on their opinions, as each brand has their own advantages and disadvantages.