With our oceans filling with plastic, avoiding single-use products is increasingly important. We should all have long since switched to reusable water bottles.
But you can go one step further. Larq manufactures reusable water bottles with UV-C LED technology on the cap to disinfect the water and the bottle itself. They're not cheap: The 17-ounce model costs $ 95 and the 25-ounce model costs $ 118, but for that price, you get a mini cleaning system.
According to Larq, the small UV-C LED light on the cap can remove 99.99% of biocontaminants from the water and the bottle when activated. Most stainless steel bottles need frequent washing to prevent mold and bad-smelling bacteria from growing inside. And as we've all seen before, cleaning a bottle is quite awkward.
Larq's UV-C technology prevents these bacteria from growing, which means you will have to wash your bottle less frequently and drink cleaner water. It also has double insulation to keep the drink cold for long periods of time. (Larq does not recommend putting hot liquids in the bottle, as the UV-C LED can overheat.)
After spending time using the bottle, we have become huge fans and we are convinced that it is worth investing in such a device.
The technology
You have probably seen and heard a lot about UV-C technology lately. Larq employs UV-C LED lights inside the water bottle, giving you a safe and effective disinfection experience. We did some research on the science of UV-C LED lamps, and found that studies show that UV-C light breaks down the DNA and RNA structures of harmful bacteria that can survive in water.
Unlike a carbon filter system, with Larq there is no need to replace anything. Once the lamp reaches its maximum usage, which will take over 100,000 cycles, you can purchase a new Larq cap for $ 60.
The top of the water bottle has a built-in 900 mAh lithium polymer rechargeable battery, and the bottle comes with a micro-USB cable that connects to the top for charging. Like any lithium battery, after prolonged use, the battery capacity will decrease. For typical use, you should only load your bottle once a month, and our experience confirms this. We gave the battery a full charge and used the bottle in normal mode every day for a month. It took almost the whole month, 28 days, to get a flashing light that our battery was low. A charge doesn't take long either. If you use the bottle in adventure mode (we will explain it in a minute), the charge will last from 10 to 12 days. Still, the charging process is quick and easy.
The Larq bottle is double walled with stainless steel. Larq says it will keep cold liquids cold for up to 24 hours. We left ice in the bottle overnight and when we opened it the next morning, there was still solid ice left, so this statement seems quite true.
Although the bottle is self-cleaning, you will want to wash it from time to time. Larq recommends washing when loading the bottle cap. The bottle itself never smelled musty or metal during use, so Larq Bottle's UV-C LED technology appears to work. However, the rim of the bottle does not see the light from the UV-C LED lamp and will occasionally start to smell. We gently wash this part of the bottle about once a week (an especially good idea if you use lip balm). Once you have loaded the bottle cap, you can wash it with soap and water to keep it clean as well.
Using Larq
The Larq bottle is extremely easy to use. We wash the bottle with soap and water when we first receive it, and then follow the instructions for loading the top. Once the light ring at the top of the cap indicates that the bottle is charged, it's ready!
Larq technology has two different disinfection modes: normal and adventure. In the normal disinfection mode, the bottle will turn on the light for 60 seconds. In adventure mode, the UV-C LED light will work for three minutes. The other difference between normal and adventure modes is the strength of the UV-C. It uses a lower level of UV-C light in normal mode, while in adventure mode it is amplified. Use normal mode if you get water from a source that you know provides drinking water (think of the tap water in the sink). Adventure mode can be used for non-potable water sources. Larq specifically states that UV-C light will not decompose heavy metals or other sediments in drinking water. We think Adventure Mode is ideal for water sources in parks and places where you are unsure of the filtration system.
When you fill your bottle, leave a little space at the top. Once you've screwed the cap on, press down on the middle of the top of the cap to sanitize, once for normal mode or twice for adventure mode. The light at the top will start to glow blue. Once it lights up blue three times quickly, the bottle will be disinfected. It is safe to unscrew the lid and drink. Larq recommends that you gently rotate the bottle up and down while running the disinfection cycle so that light reaches each part of the bottle.
If you let your bottle run in self-cleaning mode, the Larq bottle will automatically run a quick cycle every two hours. With the self-cleaning cycle activated, you'll still get a month of battery life. This is optional, and you can always activate travel mode to stop self-cleaning cycles.
The price is worth it?
There is no doubt, $ 95 is a lot of money to spend on a bottle of water that only contains 17 ounces. But the Larq bottle is an excellent choice if you are looking for peace of mind when it comes to the purity of your water. If you are a hiker or traveler and use water from non-traditional sources or public water sources, the Larq bottle is a great investment. But even if outdoor activities aren't your style, the bottle is still great for everyday use. You can use it with tap water sources from anywhere and know that you are getting clean purified water.
While the bottle does need to be hand washed occasionally, it is not as frequent as a normal reusable water bottle needs to be washed. Plus, since Larq Bottle is a reusable bottle, you're reducing the use of single-use plastics and ultimately spending less than you would spend on endless disposable water bottles.
If you're looking for Larq technology but at a lower price, consider this $ 79 Larq Move bottle. This is a single wall insulated version of the Larq bottle. It maintains the Larq bottle's UV-C LED lights but is lighter and designed with travel in mind. The bottle is available in more colors and comes with a silicone grip instead of a solid exterior.
For each purchase, Larq will also allocate a dollar to clean 100 plastic bottles from the ocean.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of article posting.