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Larq Water Purification Bottle Review

The Larq Water Purification Bottle uses rechargeable UV-C LED lighting to quickly purify water of viruses and bacteria, making it a useful accessory to carry along on hikes!

By: Neonconflagrations + Save to a List

Specs:

Built-in UV-C LED light that purifies water in 60 seconds

Materials: BPA-free 18/8 Stainless Steel

Carrying capacity: 17oz (500 ml)

Dimensions: 9.6" tall, 2.7" wide

Double-walled insulation

Where To Get It:

$95.00 • Larq | Amazon     

Our Experience:

Larq water bottles incorporate the technology of UV light technology powered by a USB rechargeable lithium polymer battery constructed into the cap of their water bottles to create a bottle capable of purifying the water inside. Boasting of the ability of killing 99.9775% of E.coli at 1 minute of light treatment inside their bottle, and killing 99.9998% at 3 minutes, Larq's portable and filterless treatment of bacteria and viruses seemed like an incredibly useful item when carried into the outdoors.


I looked into the Larq Bottle's ability to treat water gathered in outdoor settings - streams, creeks, even standing water in the event of an emergency. Their literature mentions that water that is clear and with no heavy sediment can be reliably treated by their bottles. 

First, the basics: The Larq Bottle carries 17 ounces of water (they have another model that can hold 25 ounces of water as well) in a double-walled vacuum-sealed container, so it will keep hot liquids hot and cold liquids cold. It is the size of standard thin water bottle, so it fits fine in car cupholders or backpack bottle pockets. All of the purification technology is contained in the bottle's cap. It should be mentioned that this is the first water bottle I've ever owned where I needed to consult the instructions the first time to figure out the right way to use it. 



The bottle is charged via an included USB cable, while a ring on the top of the cap lights up to show you whether it is charging, treating, low on battery, and which of two treatment modes it is currently functioning in. Once in the habit of using it, it becomes easy, with a standard mode where for purifying water from a source such as a tap or faucet, and the 'adventure mode' for water from sources such as streams, which receive 3 total minutes of treatment. The bottle will also pulse once every two hours in order to self-clean.

Overall, it's a well-made bottle that looks sleek and flashy straight out of the packaging (a trip or two into the mountains will change that quickly as the finely finished metal surface is prone to scratching). I've been using my bottle in place of previous filtering systems that I've carried, as well as in place of a Steripen, which uses a similar concept but is more energy intensive for obtaining clean water. With the Larq Bottle, you fill up, cap it and hit the button, and three minutes later you can pull it from your pack and it's good to drink!



Essentially being a "Smart" water bottle, a single charge on the Larq bottle will provide 4-8 weeks of treatment in normal mode (10-12 days in adventure mode), and can be locked in order to conserve power while traveling for instance. While in use, there is no audible noise during charging, only the indicator light showing its function. I can't attest to the purity of water after use, however I've been consistently using my Larq Bottle while on hikes, filling up from streams and lakes. With treatment killing 99.99% of viruses and 99.9999% of bacteria, the water doesn't have any odd taste.

Two questionable aspects are the lack of any type of seal for the charging port, although the company claims it is waterproof. It may be, I just get nervous testing that out on a water bottle that carries the price tag that the Larq has. (The bottle does come with a 12-month warranty in the event it stops working, however I still tend to be careful and keep the lid away from water sources when filling my bottle.) Second is that for hiking and situations that might be a little more demanding than usual, I would've gone for the larger size if I could do it again - only because it's easy to chug 17 ounces quick and then have to  find a source to refill from.



But in all, my Larq Bottle has been a simpler option compared to other water purification methods. This bottle is easy to bring with you daily as well, although for my uses, it tends to be overkill as a daily bottle. But for hikes, camping and situations where there will be a water source en route, it's great to be able to confidently fill up and let the bottle do the work. With this in my pack, worrying about water purification is one less thing to think about outside.

Larq Bottles are also a member of 1% for the Planet.




We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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