Larq Review: The Self-Cleaning Water Bottle

I’m ashamed to admit that I was a constant plastic water bottle user. I just couldn’t get into reusable water bottles because they always felt a little bit… gross. The water always tastes a bit metallic. They’d smell a bit mildewy. And the thought of constantly cleaning them? No thank you.

When I first heard about the LARQ self-cleaning water bottle it sounded too good to be true. Like… how could a water bottle that cleans itself possibly be a thing!?

I’ve had this water bottle for a little over a year now. I first used it on a fitness retreat in Nicaragua and have used it pretty much every day since on long walks. I have some anxiety-related issues and find it helpful to always have a water bottle on me.

So, is this self-cleaning water bottle too good to be true? Here are my thoughts, one year later.

LARQ Review

How It Works:

The LARQ water bottle is self-cleaning and promises pure water in 60 seconds using a UV-C LED light to eliminate up to 99.9999% of bio-contaminants from your water and bottle.

It’s easy to use. Charge the cap before using it — it comes with a Micro-USB cable but if you misplace it they’re easy to find.

Once the cap is on, you tap the top button. This will start a cleaning cycle, and now your LARQ will automatically clean every 2 hours. While the bottle is self-cleaning for 60 seconds the top lights up and then flashes when it’s done.

I remember a few times when I’d be teaching in a candlelit yoga studio back in March 2020 when I’d have to throw my towel over the water bottle because it was lighting up the studio while doing its thing, but otherwise, I find it more helpful than annoying.

There’s also a 3-minute cycle called Adventure Mode if you’re not sure about how clean the water you’re using is.

I’ve only ever used the water bottle on Normal mode (although possibly should’ve used Adventure Mode in Nicaragua as I talk about below). I’m always SHOCKED at how long the charge lasts overall. I’ll forget about it for a few weeks and am pleasantly surprised to see that my LARQ is still lighting up and cleaning.

The Two LARQ Models:

LARQ currently offers two models, the original LARQ Bottle PureVis™ and LARQ Bottle Movement PureVis™. Both come in multiple colors and multiple sizes.

The original LARQ Bottle PureVis™ is a bit heavier as it also insulated to keep your water cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours. The LARQ Bottle Movement PureVis™ is lighter weight because it’s not insulated. It also comes with an interchangeable sleeve.

I opted for the LARQ Movement because it’s lighter weight to carry around in my purse all day. The fact that it’s not insulated isn’t a big deal 99% of the time minus going to the beach or a super hot day in NYC.

My Thoughts:

At first, I was not impressed with the water bottle. I brought it to Nicaragua for a week-long fitness retreat. I refilled only using designated drinking water but even so, my water bottle smelled like mildew by the end of the week. Blech!

When I got back to New York, I thoroughly washed it out and hopped for the best. Since then I haven’t had any issues with it smelling or the water tasting gross in any way.

And now? I absolutely love it. I never thought I’d be able to kick my plastic water bottle habit. But I’m proud to say I’ve just been using my LARQ ever since I got it. No more plastic water bottles for me!

It is a bit heavier than your run-of-the-mill Poland Spring plastic water bottle. I’m a weirdo in that I will only buy purses with room for a water bottle (yay, anxiety!) but the size could be a problem if you’re looking for something smaller.

When I’m back in the studio teaching yoga + fitness classes it will be awesome to no longer be constantly using plastic water bottles… which apparently you’re not supposed to refill anyway.

My big tip is to once in a while wipe down the mouth area of the bottle every few days. It can get a bit icky from lip balms and such.

What I Love:

Super easy to use
Charge lasts awhile
Keeps my water tasting fresh — even when it’s from a questionable water fountain
I don’t have to constantly scrub the bottle to keep it clean. Just once in a while.
The cap stays on! As long as I am diligent about fully screwing the cap on, I haven’t had any leaking problems
Doesn’t take up too much space in my bag

What I Don’t Love:

Mine looks a bit banged up. I took these photos over a year ago in Nicaragua (I’ve been meaning to write this blog post FOREVER clearly!) The bottle has since lived its life in my purse so looks a bit more tattered than it did a year ago. It’s not the end of the world, but just know that the white probably won’t stay spotlessly white forever.
My sleeve is now a bit loose… it’s just slightly annoying to constantly adjust it.
Heavier and bigger than a plastic water bottle (but comparable to other reusable water bottles)
The price. You get what you paid for… but it’s also not a cheap bottle!

All in All:

I never (ever) thought I’d let go of my love of plastic water bottles… but here we are. LARQ helped me kick the habit. While the water bottle isn’t cheap, I’ve never seen a product like it that not only cleans the water you’re drinking but also the bottle itself.

I highly recommend it for all fitness-y people. And friends like me that never leave home without a water bottle.