LARQ – the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle. For those who’ve never heard of LARQ, please know you’re not alone. In fact, I didn’t realize such a technology even existed until about a month ago. And yes, you read that price correctly. A 17 ounce LARQ water bottle retails for $95 USD, and the 25 ounce bottle retails at a steep $118 USD.
So, I guess the obvious ask is, “What makes LARQ so special and worth nearly $100?”
I have a few answers to share. Although, I also totally understand most of us aren’t in the market for a luxury water bottle. As someone who comes from very humble beginnings, trust me when I say that I gasped and figuratively clutched my pearls at the thought of paying $95 for a literal water bottle.
Here’s the thing:
According to LARQ’s website, these bottles use a proprietary and patented PureVis™ UV-C LED technology to purify water and eradicate 99.9% of bacteria. The blue light technology itself is built into the bottle cap, making it completely portable and works at the touch of a button.
The chart below offers a side-by-side comparison between their own technology and the next best options for water purification on the go. This chart is also available on the LARQ site.
Now that we got the tech talk out of the way, let’s dive into my personal experience with the LARQ self-cleaning water bottle and whether or not I think it’s worth the big splurge. A short disclaimer beforehand: I did not spend $95 on my LARQ water bottle. I was lucky to receive a very generous discount and (including cost of shipping and CA state tax) only paid a total of $74. That certainly doesn’t make the bottle any less of an investment item, but I want to be perfectly transparent before providing my own testimonial.
After a few weeks of use and many, many shocked reactions from friends who continue to be appalled at the price tag – I’d like to give my 17 ounce LARQ water bottle an overall rating of 9/10. I would be lying through my teeth if I said I was 100% satisfied with my bottle, but it is a pretty damn great bottle.
My biggest skepticism about the LARQ brand was whether it was a total gimmick or if it would actually change my water intake experience. I can attest that water does taste and smell a lot cleaner when I drink from the bottle. The bottle temperature also maintains cool for hours – not a full day – but at least 10+ hours in 90 °F heat. I don’t think it would be a fair comparison to a Hydro Flask, as I believe those are designed with outdoor adventures in mind and LARQ is more of a day-to-day use.
Like any big ticket purchase, it should be thoughtful and well-researched to ensure it meets your individual needs. Drinking water is obscenely important to me and I know my physical and mental health suffers when I don’t have enough water. That being said, I’m not really someone who goes on spontaneous camping trips or strenuous hikes – so, while it does meet my lifestyle needs, I can wholeheartedly understand why most couldn’t fathom spending nearly $100 for a water bottle that couldn’t survive an apocalypse.
In closing, I would definitely recommend the LARQ water bottle to anyone who is looking for something chic, easygoing and a bit different from a traditional water bottle. The LARQ bottle is the most convenient way for me to know I’m drinking ample amounts of fresh water every day. What more can a girl ask for?
Thank you so much for reading and feel free to leave a comment or reach out via IG if you have any questions about my LARQ experience, or anything else!
