Do Yourself a Kindness and Get a Self-Cleaning, Bacteria-Killing Larq Bottle
Shop $95, livelarq.com
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The world is a disgusting place. Downright repulsive. And though our immune systems have gotten us this far, I'm willing to bet that many of you are like me: physically and mentally incapable of washing a reusable water bottle on a daily basis. And so, in our gross world, filth collects and bacteria grows, inspiring such headlines as "Just How Filthy Is Your Reusable Water Bottle?" (answer: pretty) and "How Gross is it Not to Wash Your Water Bottle Every Day?" (answer: very). It's not a new problem, and I'd heartily argue that risking E. coli is still better than wantonly disposing of Aquafina bottles every day, but there is something of a new solution in this self-cleaning water bottle from Larq.
Cleanliness is godliness.
Now, when I say "self-cleaning," I don't mean that two miniature scrub brushes extend from the outer shell of the bottle to give it a vigorous cleanse while you sleep. Obviously. What I mean is that on the inside of the cap are LEDs that shine UV-C light (like that used in some hospitals to disinfect rooms) into the rest of the bottle. Every hour, the light automatically turns on to give the water and bottle's inside walls a sweep, which kills almost all bacteria—those that can cause harm, and those that can cause that water bottle stench. You can also activate it by pressing the top of the bottle, which is one giant button. An Adventure Mode ups the disinfecting power when you're roughing it. You'll want to clean it by hand occasionally, but only occasionally.
Shop $95, livelarq.com
It's quite beautiful.
As technologically advanced as this water bottle is, it's also just nice to look at. Besides white, there are five other colorways, each giving the bottle a clean, matte look that's far more elevated than your regular reusable plastic bottle. And softly pulsing light encircling the cap—a calm blue when it's cleaning like normal, a green when it's charging, a yellow when the battery is low, and so on—is all that gives away its technical innards.
Everything works seamlessly.
Like most tech you use regularly, you'll need to charge the bottle's cap via USB, but only about once a month. Another thing to note is that due to the battery in the cap and the double-walled insulation (which is like other double-walled water bottles, in that it keeps liquid very hot or very cold for hours), the Larq bottle has a bit of heft to it. You'll get used to it quickly enough, though Larq made a single-walled bottle that's lighter with a protective silicone sleeve, too. To be blunt, this is something of an extravagant purchase. But in the months I've been using mine, it's lent some peace of mind on a small but still-daily scale. One less thing to worry about this summer, when there is much else worth worrying about.
Shop $95, livelarq.com
Prop styling by John Olson
Photography by Timothy Mulcare
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