Stanley cups have gained almost mythical status in recent years courtesy of viral social media videos and practicality – in a world where most of us don’t drink enough, there are obvious merits to keeping an absolutely massive cup on hand at all times.
The brand has now turned its attention to gym-goers, and the result is the best protein shaker I’ve ever used. Given I’ve been a fervent lifter for more than a decade, this means it sits atop a considerable (and slightly smelly) pile. But I still wouldn’t buy it.
Why? Because at £60, it’s incredibly expensive. And while it clearly has many advantages over a standard shaker – including several non-spill contingencies, temperature-regulating properties and an in-built compartment for stashing a serving of the best protein powder – I just can’t validate the 1,150 per cent mark-up.
There will be people out there who can justify this purchase, however. To help you decide whether you fall into this camp or not, I tried using the Stanley vitalize shaker for a couple of weeks before sharing my thoughts below.
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How I tested
How else does one test a protein shaker? I whacked a serving of protein powder in, gave it a good shake then sipped away.
I also hauled it around for a fortnight, using it for most of my drinking needs – supplements or otherwise. This allowed me to gain insights into its portability, temperature-regulating credentials and, most importantly for me, whether the “leakproof” claims held water.
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Stanley vitalize shaker 0.59L
Materials: Recycled stainless steel
Capacity: 0.59L
Dimensions: 109mm x 106mm x 262mm
Weight: 610g
Why we love it
- Keeps drinks cool for hours
- Leakproof
- Robust and durable
Take note
- Expensive
- Low portability due to large size
“I have a date tonight,” a colleague moans as they slowly extract a sticky Oxford shirt from their rucksack. The pale blue fabric is marred with patches of pink, and the sickeningly sweet smell of artificial strawberries quickly sweeps through the office. His post-workout-pre-work protein shake exploded during his commute.
This is the biggest issue I’ve encountered with most protein shakers – they leak, a lot. Tops that pop off under a small amount of pressure are prone to covering your possessions in their creamy contents, while even shakers with screw tops have a horrible habit of allowing liquid to escape through loose-fitting lids.
The Stanley shaker promised to be leakproof, so I lobbed it in the bottom of my jam-packed rucksack and started my commute. I wasn’t careful with it either, chucking the bag into a luggage rack on the train and running for a couple of tubes. But when the moment of truth arrived and I unzipped my gym bag’s cavernous main compartment at my desk, my laptop was mercifully dry.
Fair play, the Stanley shaker and its marketing claims are watertight on that front, thanks to a twisty top that would look more at home on a SpaceX starship than a protein shaker.
The only drawback of this design is that it isn’t quite as accessible as the classic pop tops, making it a bit more difficult to drink on the go – you’ll need two hands free to do so.
Another design feature that separates Stanley’s offering from standard protein shakers is its double-wall vacuum-insulated frame made from recycled stainless steel. In other words, it’s made to be robust and incredibly good at keeping drinks cold. I found it delivered on both fronts, with my chilled chocolate shake staying refreshingly cool until lunchtime.
But as with the screw top, this industrial-strength build is a double-edged sword. The downside is that the cup is absolutely massive, taking up a significant chunk of my work bag, yet it only offers a 0.59L capacity – enough for most protein powders, but insufficient for certain gainer shakes in my experience.
A separate compartment that screws to the bottom of the shaker is handy for stashing another serving of protein powder, or a few nuts and berries, but only adds to its significant silhouette.
Stanley fans probably won’t mind the size – it’s part of the appeal. But I found it a tad unwieldy and sometimes struggled to make space for it in my work bag.
My final point of note is its longevity. During testing, my Stanley vitalize went through the dishwasher umpteen times with no signs of wear, tear or unwanted smells – rarely the case with most plastic shakers. It’s well made too, with the chunky metal frame more likely to dent the floor than sustain damage itself when dropped. For these reasons, I don’t think I’m going to need a new shaker any time soon, and can even afford to trim down my existing collection.
Perhaps, if you think the average five quid protein shaker starts to look a bit discoloured and smell a tad mangy after a few months of consistent use, these durability flexes could help you look more favourably on the £60 price tag (and potential sustainability perks) of the Stanley shaker. But I just can’t seem to get over this hurdle.
I’m of the opinion that fitness should be as accessible and affordable as possible. I’ve said it before on The Independent’s pages, but some of my best progress in the gym was achieved with a £20 per month gym membership, an old water bottle and a ripped up beach towel. Whatever way I look at it, I can’t bring myself to say that a £60 protein shaker hits my mission to make fitness more affordable.
Buy now £60, Stanley1913.com
Is the Stanley vitalize shaker worth it?
This is a very good protein shaker– the best, even – and if you like Stanley products you’re probably going to love it. It’s incredibly durable, leakproof and capable of keeping drinks chilled for hours on end.
So, if you want to buy the best protein shaker, I recommend this one. However, if you are simply looking for a functional bottle for mixing protein-rich drinks, a £5 shaker will do the job just fine. There is no right or wrong option, just personal preference – the choice is yours.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
The IndyBest team is a collection of shopping writers with decades of combined experience testing and recommending products. Each year they get their hands on hundreds of new releases, granting them comprehensive insights into which brands to go for, which ones to swerve, and what represents a great price for the products you’re interested in.
Each writer has a specialism, from tech to beauty to fashion. Harry Bullmore is IndyBest’s senior fitness writer, having spent the last 14 years training in gyms, gardens, parks, garages and even the occasional shed. This has given him the opportunity to test many of the best, and worst, fitness products you can buy, from the best gym trainers to the best massage guns, so he is perfectly placed to help you find what you need.
