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I’ve never really liked water. People are often surprised when I say this because it tastes of nothing. But that’s the problem. It’s the nothingness that I really can’t stand.
In my efforts to drink more water I bought a Sodastream because I really love sparkling water. However, I started to find that the bubbles were giving me stomach pain and gas.
I then decided to buy a crate of Fiji water because it’s the tastiest one out there, but buying Fiji water every month can get expensive and all the plastic bottles were filling up my trash pretty quickly. Not very good for the environment.
The water that comes out of my tap here in Jersey City tastes super, super gross, which I realized was contributing to my lack of interest in water. It has a horrible chlorine-like taste that makes me want to gag.
Since I didn’t want to keep buying water and the tap water doesn’t taste nice, I started shopping around for the best water filter pitcher out there.
Anyone who knows me will know I’m incredibly choosy when buying new products – it has to have the right aesthetic for my home as well as being the best when it comes to performance. I considered the Brita Standard Everyday Pitcher, the ZeroWater Pitcher (a favorite of my picky neighbor) and the Lifestraw Pitcher but then I finally stumbled upon LARQ.
I’ve had it for over a month now, so read on for my ultra-thorough LARQ water pitcher review.
LARQ Pitcher Review
The LARQ Pitcher PureVis™ is a water filter pitcher that eliminates chemicals, particulates and contaminants such as lead, mercury, PFAS / PFOS, pharmaceuticals and VOCs. While most water filter pitchers come in around the $30-$50 mark, the LARQ has a considerably high price tag at $168 full price.
Luckily the LARQ was on sale at the time and I used a promo code, so I ended up getting the pitcher for around $100 with the filter. It’s an expensive water filter pitcher, but I figured I’ll own it for a long time and the design is just so much more simple and beautiful than all the others out there. I’d rather invest in a product I actually like than buy something I don’t really want.
Here are some quick technical specs:
- The pitcher has an 8-cup (1.9 liter) volume
- Comes in two colors – navy blue and white
- It takes around 1 hour to fully charge
- One charge lasts for around 1 month
- Dimensions are 9.4” wide by 10” high
- It weighs 36oz without water in it
- Made from BPA/BPS free polymer
How Does the LARQ Pitcher Work?
The LARQ water pitcher features a unique 2-step filtration and purification process to ensure you’re drinking the purest water.
First there’s the plant-based activated carbon filter, which uses Nano Zero technology to effectively remove chemicals and contaminants like chlorine, lead, mercury, PFAS / PFOS, pharmaceuticals and VOCs. Through a process called absorption, the compounds are attracted to the carbon and remain in the filter instead of the water.
There are two types of LARQ filters you can buy; Essential or Advanced. I’ll explain more about the two types later on in this LARQ water pitcher review. Both types have been independently tested to NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 standards to be effective against a wide range of pollutants.
Next there’s the PureVis Wand, which blasts your water with non-toxic UV-C light and provides an extra level of purification. The UV light prevents the growth of heterotrophic bacteria that may cause odor and impact the taste of water.
The wand features a rechargeable lithium polymer battery that takes around 1 hour to charge and keeps going for about a month. Inside the wand there’s a smart sensor that tracks water filtered through and flow rate so you know when to replace your filter.
When the LARQ filter in the pitcher comes to the end of its life, it doesn’t release any trapped toxins in the water. It simply stops removing contaminants from the water. You’ll know when it’s time for filter replacement because the PureVis button on the pitcher will glow orange.
If you download the LARQ app, you can track the life of your filter based on household consumption and monitor your water intake to achieve your hydration goals.
Difference Between LARQ Pitchers and Traditional Pitchers
LARQ says that traditional filters simply trap and collect unwanted pollutants where they can quickly accumulate and multiply. This means the filter itself is an unwanted source of bio-contaminants such as bacteria.
The PureVis UV-C technology in the LARQ pitcher improves the quality of the water by preventing this bio-contaminant growth.
Which Filter Subscription: Essential or Advanced?
Essential filters out chlorine, mercury, cadmium, copper and VOCs. Advanced filters out all of those plus lead, particulates, benzene, pharmaceuticals and PFAS/PFOA. The Advanced Filter aso removes microplastic particles down to 40 microns in size.
Typically the price of the Advanced filter is $32.50 and the Essential price is $24.95 if it’s a one-time purchase. However, if you sign up for a subscription you’ll get the filter for a discounted price of 20% off.
I opted for the advanced filter, which I got for a subscription price of $26 every 2 months. When you purchase the LARQ Pitcher you’ll be asked to create an account and you can then manage the subscription in the dashboard. You can change the frequency of the subscription to one of three choices: monthly, every 2 months or quarterly.
I’ve since changed mine to quarterly because I don’t drink water as much as most people.
The LARQ filters are much more expensive than other leading brands, however, LARQ says that the filters last up to 50% longer. In total one LARQ filter replaces more than 450 standard single-use bottles and filters around 60 gallons (227 liters) of water before it needs to be replaced.
Typically the filter will last 3 months, although this will depend on your household water intake.
What’s In the Box?
Inside the box there’s a LARQ Pitcher PureVis, a magnetic USB charger, an essential or advanced filter, and a quick start guide.
How to Set Up the LARQ Pitcher
In order to make this LARQ water pitcher review as thorough as possible, I took a bunch of photos to show you the setup process. Setting up the LARQ pitcher took a bit of time at first, but now that it’s up and running it’s a breeze to use.
These are the steps to follow for setup:
- First, you must remove the PureVis Wand from the LARQ Pitcher and give the pitcher a good wash before use.
- Next, it’s time to charge the PureVis wand by connecting the magnetic charger to the gold charging pins on top of the wand. LARQ recommends giving it a full charge before use.
- Remove the filter from its packaging and soak the filter in water for 10 minutes before first use.
- Install the filter into the reservoir and put the filter lid on by snapping it into place.
- Fill up the reservoir with tap water and watch it filter.
- Pour out the first batch of water.
- Sip and enjoy!
One thing I couldn’t get my head around when setting up the LARQ Pitcher was that I couldn’t seem to get the fill flap to open when filling it with water from the tap. I had to remove the entire lid and set it aside so I could fill the pitcher with water.
After digging around on the LARQ website I found that this is one of their FAQs. The answer:
“The lid ships with a piece of foam under the counterweight to protect the fill flap during shipping. This should be removed during setup!”
Once I located and removed the foam the fill flap worked fine.
How to Use the LARQ Pitcher
The LARQ pitcher is pretty easy to use – all you have to do is fill up the pitcher with water from the tap.
When you’re filling up the pitcher the PureVis will usually turn on by itself when the water reaches near the top of the reservoir (there might be a 5 second delay). A blue breathing light on the λ (Lambda) button indicates that it’s on while the water is being filtered.
You can also manually turn it on by pressing the λ button on top of the Pitcher.
Wait for it to filter the water and then simply pour, sip and enjoy. It takes around 3 to 4 minutes to filter an entire pitcher of water which isn’t long to wait at all.
To ensure your water stays pure, the PureVis wand also has a self-cleaning mode that turns on every 6 hours for 15 seconds.
How to Clean the LARQ Pitcher
The great thing about the pitcher is it’s self cleaning so you don’t really need to wash it all that often. LARQ recommends washing the pitcher every 2-3 months when the filter needs replacing.
The pitcher itself is dishwasher safe, although LARQ recommends putting the smaller parts like the lid, hopper and filter on the top shelf of the dishwasher. Do NOT put the PureVis Wand in the dishwasher – it’s hand wash only.
Before washing you MUST remove the PureVis Wand and hand wash it with mild soap and warm water. The company also suggests that you give the wand a full charge every time you replace the filter.
Pros and Cons of the LARQ Water Pitcher
Pros
Stylish – The design is really gorgeous with clean lines. It’s the prettiest water pitcher out there and I love that you can’t see any of the inner parts.
Decent size reservoir – The reservoir is large enough that I don’t have to keep filling it up in multiple sessions.
Filters fast – The water filters pretty quickly so I’m not standing around waiting for it. You can filter an entire pitcher of water in just a few minutes.
Fits in the fridge door – The ergonomic shape means it easily fits in the fridge door and doesn’t take up much space.
One-handed fill – The fill flap in the lid ensures you can fill it up while holding the pitcher with just one hand.
Water tastes great – Honestly the water tastes delicious and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t even like water! I can’t really tell the difference between Fiji water and the water from this.
Cons
Expensive – At $168 it’s a very expensive pitcher when you compare it to pitchers from other brands. However, I know I’ll use the LARQ for years to come.
Replacement filters are more costly – If you opt for the Advanced filter with the subscription it costs around $26 every 2-3 months depending on how much you use it. Brita filters cost around $22.99 for a pack of four. Although LARQ says that their filters last much longer than other brands, it still works out more expensive.
Have to charge it – I’m someone who always forgets to charge my phone and electronics, so having to remember to charge the PureVis Wand is a bit of a pain.
Can’t remove certain things – The pitcher doesn’t remove limescale, fluoride and other things. It’s not a solution for places with hard water.
A Final Word…
To me, the LARQ water filter pitcher is worth the high price tag. The design is beautiful, it fits nicely in the door of my fridge, it filters quickly and has a large enough tank for filling up. The water that comes out of it tastes really good and I’m MUCH more willing to drink water than I was before. My tap water tastes like chlorine, but once it’s gone through this filter I can’t taste any chlorine at all. However, I do question whether the Purevis technology is really necessary and if you’re on a budget I’d say go with a Brita or ZeroWater.
While I still would rather drink a glass of wine, a juice, or a ginger beer over water, I definitely enjoy water a lot more now.
If you liked this LARQ water pitcher review and want to try it for yourself, you can buy the pitcher on Amazon here for $168. It comes with a 30-day return policy and a 1-year limited warranty to replace any defective material or component. The warranty doesn’t cover any issues related to normal wear and tear.
