When I lived in Minsk, I didn’t really worry about the quality of the water I used: there was a good filter at home, there was a plastic bottle for the city, and everything was great. But there was a move to Kyiv to a rented apartment, where, unfortunately, there is no such joy as a filter.

Drinking tap water is scary, and constantly buying half-liter bottles for the city is not very environmentally friendly: you need a lot of them, recycling containers are not everywhere, and nature needs to be protected and loved. And I encourage everyone to reduce their plastic consumption wherever possible. No need to go to extremes and refuse water or some kind of snack if it is packaged in plastic. But if possible, it is better to eat in an establishment with plates, rather than disposable utensils, or pour water into your own container – in general, you can get used to it.

Of course, you can order water at home or buy a filter jug, but I was looking for a more portable option so that I could have clean water everywhere and not think about it. Friends at Bag & Wallet recommended trying the smart LARQ bottle with a UV filter in the cap, and I don’t mind!

Appearance

The manufacturer has both a regular bottle with a UV filter and a thermos that keeps cold for 24 hours or warm for 12 hours. I have the second option.

The base material is electrically conductive stainless steel. Top with plastic insert for comfortable grip.

A bunch of colors to choose from: blue, black, white, pink and mint in two shades. Two volumes: 500 and 740 milliliters.

This personalization does not end there: you can buy a carabiner or a case to definitely stand out from the rest.

How it works

A UV-C LED is hidden in the cap to purify the water and the inside of the bottle. You can start cleaning by pressing a button, but if the lid is charged, then everything will happen automatically every two hours.

UV light lasts 40 times longer than mercury-based technology. In addition, it is completely safe and destroys up to 99.9% of bacteria and viruses in just 60 seconds.

The only dissatisfaction is charging via the microUSB connector. In 2021. And also a complete cable without USB Type-C. If you are progressive and there are no adapters with USB Type-A left, you will have to buy more, because there is no such thing in the kit.

A full charge will last for one month of sensor operation. It is, logically, protected from moisture: it can be washed, but only by hand – it will not survive the dishwasher.

Outcome

For those who doubt the quality of the water they consume or want to reduce the amount of plastic in their lives, this is an indispensable accessory. Durable, beautiful and thoughtful (I will not say anything about microUSB).

If you lead an active lifestyle and often go hiking, this is also a great option. They took water from the stream, cleaned it of excess and are not afraid that you will catch some kind of sore.

There is a visual experiment on the LARQ channel that shows what happens to water in a regular and smart bottle after 72 hours:

In the Bag & Wallet store, a bottle costs 11,990 rubles . Don’t forget to use promo code WYLSA – get 8% off all products.