I will be honest: I did not expect much from a cup holder gadget. I have bought car accessories before, and most of them ended up rattling around in my glove box.
But my car’s cup holder had been driving me nuts for years, so when I heard about CupStation, I decided to give it a fair shot.
My Cup Holder Problem (Maybe Yours Too)
My cup holder is just too small. I tend to go for the extra-large drink, and I never leave home without my hydro flask. Neither one fits in my cup holder, or in any cup holder I have ever seen.
It is also surprisingly slippery. Even when I manage to squeeze something in, one little bump in the road sends it flying.
So I stopped trusting it. My food and drinks ended up balanced on the passenger seat, the dashboard or between my legs. The cup holder became the spot for my phone and wallet, and they still wiggled out constantly.
Did I spill things all the time? Yes. Was it messy, stressful and even a little dangerous? Also yes.
Then I came across CupStation, which claims to put an end to messy spills while keeping drinks, food and your phone within arm’s reach. It has thousands of 5-star reviews, but I still had plenty of questions. So I bought one and tried it myself.
What CupStation Actually Is
CupStation is a 2-in-1 cup holder expander. It fits snugly inside a regular car cup holder and expands to hold pretty much whatever you need.
It also turns one cup holder into two. It adds an extra holder on top, and you can still use the original one underneath.
The top part has adjustable “arms” that expand up to 6 inches wide, with grips that hold on tight. That is how it handles large coffees, super-sized cold drinks and even lunch.
It is not a replacement, it is an extension. There is nothing to install. It simply upgrades the cup holder you already have.
How I Tested It
Test one: setup
Nobody wants a gadget that needs a mechanic or changes to the car’s interior. Thankfully, this part took me seconds.
You just place it into your current cup holder and the foam spacers create a tight grip. That was it.
A side note: it works on other types of cup holders too, not just in cars. I tried it on my buddy’s boat and it held on tight, even in choppy water.
Test two: what it can hold
With CupStation in place, I went to pick up a burger and fries with an extra-large soda. My usual order, and normally a recipe for disaster.
At first I was not sure where to put everything, so I started playing with the arms on the top holder. Each arm adjusts on its own, so I could secure a large, awkward box of fries and snack on the go.
The extra-large soda went into the bottom holder, which fit it well thanks to the wide space at the top.
When the fries were gone, I moved my burger from the passenger seat into the top holder. Calling it a “cup” holder feels a bit wrong. It is really an “anything” holder.
Test three: how secure is it really
By now I was pleasantly surprised. But holding things on a smooth road is one thing. I wanted to know if it would hold on when the ride got rough.
So I took it off-roading in my buddy’s Jeep.
We snapped CupStation into the cup holder and hit the trail. Then we hit a large rock a little too hard, and the whole Jeep jolted back and forth.
CupStation held on tighter than I did. I was testing my hydro flask, a large metal water bottle, and it did not budge.
I will be fair, though. I think a fast-food cup with a loose lid might have spilled at least a few drops on a jolt like that. The holder stayed put, but a flimsy lid is a flimsy lid.
What I Like After Using It
CupStation turned out better than I expected. Since getting it, I have found all sorts of uses beyond big cups and awkward food boxes.
It even holds my phone, so I can quickly answer a call or change the music without picking it up and getting distracted.
If you are thinking about getting one, here is what else you should know:
- It fits any vehicle. The adhesive foam spacers can be adjusted to sit snugly inside any car cup holder, or a boat’s.
- It handles heavy drinks, not just big ones. I tried a hydro flask, a Big Gulp and a super-sized milkshake. All fit securely.
- It rotates up to 360°. You can swivel it to the perfect spot so your stuff stays within reach.
- It is ready right away. Place it in your cup holder and the foam spacers grip the edges.
- It is built to last. The rugged materials are designed to withstand years of regular use.
No more food on the passenger seat, no more phone sliding around, and a lot less stress behind the wheel.
Price And Where To Get It
I only recommend buying from the official CupStation site, since that is where the current deals are.
When I checked, there was a limited-time offer: $10 off when you buy one, plus bigger bundle savings when you buy three, with up to two extra units included. These offers change, so check the official site for the current price before you order.
They also say this is the lowest price you will find for CupStation, so it is worth a look while the sale is on.
FAQ
Do I need tools to install CupStation? No. You place it into your existing cup holder and the foam spacers grip the edges. It is ready right away.
Will it fit my car? The adhesive foam spacers can be adjusted to sit snugly inside any car cup holder. It works in boats too.
How big can my drink be? The arms on the top holder expand up to 6 inches wide. I used a hydro flask, a Big Gulp and a super-sized milkshake, and all fit securely.
Can I still use my original cup holder? Yes. CupStation adds a second holder on top, so you end up with two instead of one.
Can it hold things other than drinks? Yes. I have used it for a box of fries, a burger and my phone. Each arm adjusts on its own to fit awkward shapes.
Does it move once it is in place? It stays put, but it rotates up to 360°, so you can turn it to wherever is easiest to reach.
My Verdict
I went in sceptical and came out a fan. CupStation does what it says: it turns a small, slippery cup holder into two secure holders that fit oversized drinks, fast food and my phone. Setup took seconds.
One honest limitation: CupStation holds the container, not the lid. On a really hard jolt, a loose-lidded fast-food cup could still lose a few drops. The discount is also a limited-time offer, so it may not stay around.
If you are tired of balancing food on the passenger seat or fishing your phone off the floor, I recommend it.
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