Worried about lead in Stanley cups? Try these lead-free water bottles that make great Stanley alternatives that still keep your drinks ice cold without the risks. 

A couple of decades ago reusable water bottles were mostly popular with those trying to reduce their environmental impact. I’ve had a collection for years, including some stainless steel insulated bottles.

Over more recent years we’ve seen reusable water bottles become trendy. There was the Yeti crazy and now the Stanley cup is everywhere and you can’t watch many videos on social media before seeing one. There were even fights over some limited edition Stanley cups recently.

The recent viral news for Stanley is not as good for the brand and craze, it was discovered that the cups contain lead. This has Stanley owners now rushing to buy home lead test kits. 

The question is should you be worried about lead in Stanley cups?

That’s not really a black and white answer. They do have lead, even Stanley has come out with a statement about the lead contained in the cups.

The lead is part of the vacuum insulation process. They use an industry standard pellet to seal the vacuum insulation at the base of the the cups and that material does contain some lead. 

They say that it’s covered with stainless steel and not accessible so customers don’t need to be concerned. It is true that if your cup remains in good condition it is safe the problem is when the cup becomes damaged the lead can become accessible and hazardous. 

But what about the home lead tests people are using that show lead? 

At-home lead tests are not terrible reliable and none of the ones on the market right now are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. These tests are also generally designed to work on paint not dishes. We test dishes in a very different way that needs to be done in a lab to be properly done. 

Does that mean we should keep using the cups?

Given that there are lead-free alternatives it’s very disappointing that Stanley still chooses to use lead. If buying a new cup you should opt for a lead-free option to not only avoid the lead but to also encourage companies to use safer manufacturing. 

If you already have Stanleys be sure to inspect them closely for damage. If you find damage, especially to the bottom, it’s likely best to stop using the cup. Otherwise it is likely safe to use but when considering any new cups go with a lead-free option. 

Do other water bottles contain lead?

Yes, Stanley is not the only brand still using lead, they are just the one people have focused on because of their popularity. 

Other brands that have been shown to use lead include Miir, LifeStraw, and Yeti. Off-brands are also likely to use lead in vacuum sealed bottles. 

The Best Lead-Free Water Bottles (Stanley Cup Alternatives)

There are lead-free water bottles that make great Stanley cup alternatives. With all of these great lead-free water bottle options you won't even miss your Stanley.

These links are for Amazon but we recommend you first check a local store for one of these options.

Hydro Flask Tumbler with Handle

Photo Credit: amazon.com

Hydro Flask comes in many great colors and uses a special glass to seal their tumblers in place of lead.

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Klean Kanteen Tumbler Cup

Photo Credit: amazon.com

Klean Kanteen has many different styles of insulated bottles and is a really great brand that cares about the environment and has been a favorite of environmentalists for years.

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Simple Modern Tumbler

Photo Credit: amazon.com

Simple Modern has different styles and colors including some Disney patterns.

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Owala Tumbler

Photo Credit: amazon.com

Owala is another lead-free brand that is gaining popularity.

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The bottom line is you are unlikely to get lead poisoning from your Stanley cup but there are other options out there with no risk of lead poisoning. Choosing one of those alternatives is usually the best option.