#DucttapeEngineering: An Improved Stanley Classic Replacement Cup Experience

I love my 2L Stanley Classic— not the hockey Instagram trophy, known as "Stanley Cup".

Then I lost the lid. Tragedy!

Replacement? $10 plastic, often out of stock. Also: do I even want to drink hot tea from plastic?

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Problem

Without the lid, the 2-in-1 became two separate items. Carrying a bottle and a cup killed the clean, one-object workflow.

Story: where it clicked

On a cold morning, juggling bottle + loose mug at a train platform, the “integrated” setup felt anything but. That was the nudge: stop hunting a plastic part and rebuild the system around metal, one‑handed use, and not losing pieces.

Principles

Enter Van Neistat’s 5 Principles. Two that matter here:
#OneHanded and #KitYourShit.
The stock screw lid isn’t great for either—too tight, it’s stuck; too loose, it’s gone.

Fix (aka Duct Tape Engineering)

You need:

• 1× S-carabiner
• 1× stainless steel carabiner mug

Clip the mug to the bottle’s handle with the S-carabiner. It’s one unit again, metal-only at the lips, easy to grab with one hand.

Why this works (materials + ergonomics)

• Stainless steel (e.g., 18/8, 304) is a common food‑contact material and doesn’t leach organics the way some plastics can when heated. In the EU, food‑contact materials fall under Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004; industry guidance for metals sets migration limits for nickel/chromium.
• Plastics can be fine if designed and used correctly, but heat + time matter. Research and regulators have raised concerns about BPA and some BPA‑alternatives; the safest path for “hot at the lips” is metal.
• The carabiner handle turns the cup into part of the kit—visible, grabbable, and hard to forget on a bench.

Result

Insulation unchanged in my use: still keeps drinks warm for ~48 hours. The system feels integrated and loss-resistant.

Notes and small tweaks

• Add a slim silicone band where metal touches metal if you want less rattle.
• Hand‑wash the mug; avoid microwaves (metal) and harsh abrasives on prints.
• Clip orientation: handle inward for pack carry; outward for quick grabs.

Further Reading

• The Design of Everyday Things - Don Norman — It’s not you; it’s (often) the design.
• Don't Make Me Think - Steve Krug — Simplicity wins.
• Hooked - Nir Eyal — Why some products become habits.

Sometimes the right upgrade is a carabiner and a better cup.