The most effective promotional products are the ones that the end-user not only uses every day, but likes to use every day. Drinkware pieces, ranging from tumblers and mugs in the morning to all-day water bottles, become staples of daily life, and also statement pieces based on product trends of the moment.

Drinkware is still one of the most sought-after products from end-users. ASI’s 2026 Ad Impressions Study found that 41% of end-users would be most excited to receive a drinkware piece, placing it above other top product categories like writing instruments, mobile power banks, and buttons and stickers.

We took to the show floor at ASI Show Chicago to look at what sorts of drinkware options suppliers were offering, and how distributors can use them for maximum impact in their campaigns.

Green Is Good

There are plenty of ways that promotional products pros can approach sustainability in their campaigns. A product that makes the end-user feel like they’re doing something good in the world and, by extension, the brand that gave them the product is an ethical one, is always appreciated. Sustainability can go beyond simply recycled materials, though. Reusable drinkware is one piece of the puzzle – limiting single-use plastic and cutting down on waste.

But some drinkware pieces can take things a step further by limiting just how many reusable pieces you need in the first place.

Ocean Bottle Ltd (asi/74713) was onsite in Chicago to discuss how its bottles’ modular construction can turn one vessel into a multitool depending on the desired function.

The 17-oz. Ocean Bottle from Ocean Bottle Ltd. (asi/74713) has interchangeable lids for different functions.

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“The reason we did modular, especially for promos, is that it makes sense as a gift,” said Doug Logan, U.S. promo lead for Ocean Bottle Ltd. “Drinkware can be expensive. So, let’s say you’ve got your standard bottle, then you’ve got another bottle for sport and then one you’re using for coffee.”

The pieces, like the 17-oz. Ocean Bottle, can use three different lids – one designed for sports, one designed for everyday use and hydration, and another one designed for coffee.

Each bottle also has an NFC chip in the base for added promotional engagement.

Ocean Bottle Ltd U.S. Promo Lead Doug Logan says that the interchangeable lids make for a good gift set.

All Shapes & Sizes

While the gigantic 40-oz. Stanley tumbler was the drinkware piece du jour for a while, drinkware is far from a monoculture. Yes, stainless-steel tumblers designed to keep drinks hot or cold are still all the rage – influenced by rugged outdoor brands like YETI in the consumer space and in promo. But you don’t have to focus only on large pieces to create a successful drinkware campaign.

“As far as the hype around Stanley in the past, like for the last year and a half, it has sort of transitioned away from that,” says Anthony Monroe, CSR for Diamondback Branding (asi/49546). Monroe says that name brands are still popular in drinkware, though.

“Right now the big one is Owala,” he says. “I think it’s the same situation as Stanley was – all because of social media engagement. It went from Stanley to Owala, so we’ll see what next year everyone wants.”

Keeping the outdoor look with something delicate like a small coffee cup, Diamondback was showing off items like the YETI 4-oz. Stackable Cups (YETI-DTC4-2), which appeal to end-users’ outdoor lifestyle without sacrificing sophistication.

Diamondback Branding (asi/49546) showcased items that blend outdoor lifestyle with the comforts of home, like the YETI 4-oz. Stackable Cups.

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Room for Fun

Staying hydrated is no laughing matter, but a good drinkware piece doesn’t have to be so serious all of the time. It doesn’t have to purely be utilitarian.

Drinkware items can incorporate some fun gimmicks or features that make the product more than just a means of staying hydrated or caffeinated, like the 30-oz. Tally Tumbler (DKW1000) from Ball Pro (asi/38120), which makes for a humorous gift for a golfer.

Incorporating unique elements in a drinkware item, like the 30-oz. Tally Tumbler (DKW1000), can make them stand out as gifts and novelties.

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A drinkware piece could also bring in other product categories entirely, like apparel, as seen with the Stuffed Tee inPACK from Stuffed Tees (asi/79662), which is designed to fit around the neck of a bottle.

Added features to a drinkware promo can include other products entirely, like the Stuffed Tee inPACK from Stuffed Tees (asi/79662), which combines apparel and hard goods.

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A drinkware item isn’t limited to a traditional bottle, mug or tumbler. The SWIGGIES Wrist Water Bottle (11301) from HydroSport USA, LLC (asi/90409), could be an apt giveaway for run clubs, fitness centers and more.

Some drinkware items can be novel and functional, like the SWIGGIES Wrist Water Bottle (11301) from HydroSport USA, LLC (asi/90409).

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Drinkware is a wide-ranging category with end-users across virtually every vertical known to distributor. All it takes is choosing the right piece for the job, and the branding and brand visibility will do the rest.

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