At the beginning of 2025, the “straw wars” seemed settled. Then, in February, President Trump signed executive order 14208 halting a federal phaseout of single-use plastic straws, calling paper alternatives “ridiculous,” and declaring it was “BACK TO PLASTIC.”
Straws are a drop in the proverbial bucket of our plastic waste, but as a symbol of unsustainable living they’re a pretty potent example of throwaway culture. Depending on whose estimate you cite, Americans use between 170 million and 390 million single-use plastic straws a day. Too lightweight to be recycled, they mostly pile up in landfills and degrade into microplastics that wash into waterways, get eaten by wildlife, and increasingly show up in human bodies.
Paper straws, it must be said, suck. Many start to wither as soon as you take the first sip, some contain PFAS, and others aren’t even recyclable after use. But skipping straws altogether isn’t realistic: Smoothies and sodas hit better through a straw. Iced coffee tastes colder. And for people with mobility challenges or dental sensitivity, the sippers are essential.
That’s where reusable straws—intended to be carried, slurped from, cleaned, and slurped from again and again—come in. There are hundreds of options out there, made from glass, bamboo, silicone, or metal. Stainless steel is our pick because it’s durable, long-lasting, recyclable, and easy to clean. Some also include silicone tips for extra comfort and insulation.
But with hundreds to choose from, which reusable straw should earn a spot as a steadfast companion? We researched the category, landed on five popular stainless-steel straws (with cases, because who wants to put a just-used straw in their pocket or pack?), and spent several weeks sipping, slurping, and assessing how their parent companies treat the planet. Our winner is a solid straw that comes from a company that isn’t sucking every last drop outta the Earth.
Explore
one5c’s pick: OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set With Case
The OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set with Case ($14; oxo.com) is a smartly designed straw you’ll want to—and can easily—carry with you. It pulls smoothly, is comfortable against your teeth, cleans up easily, and comes with a slim case that tucks nicely in a bag or glove box. As a company, OXO gets props for environmental transparency, as it’s the only one here with a published sustainability report and set emissions-reduction goals.
Why it’s good
The OXO Straw Set nails the basics, checking all the boxes that make a reusable straw worth using: easy to sip from, easy to clean, easy to carry
The stainless-steel body has a soft silicone tip that keeps your teeth from freezing—a common pain point with metal straws. That tip is also adjustable and can extend overall straw length from 8 to 10.5 inches. It’s a useful feature, especially if you, like us, are trying to hyper-hydrate with a vessel that holds roughly the volume of Lake Erie.
OXO’s simple, extendable silicone system felt sturdy and just worked better than most other straws we tested. Fully collapsible models like the Zoku Pocket Straw ($10; zokuhome.com) and FinalStraw ($20; finalstraw.com) feature telescoping bodies that make them easy to store and carry but not great as straws: Zoku let in air mid-sip, and FinalStraw has a narrow lining that turns drinking and cleaning into a hassle.
The OXO set comes with two straws and a wire brush, all of which fits into a slim, dishwasher-safe plastic case, although it’s better to wash by hand. That case holds everything—a small but meaningful upgrade over the bulkier bamboo model that comes with the Ecotribe Stainless-Steel Reusable Straw ($8; amazon.com).
Nothing’s perfect: The OXO straw isn’t flawless. It struggled a bit with smoothies, and slurping exceptionally thick beverages created enough pull to make the silicone tip flex inward, though this was rare. The silicone tip also had a tendency to pop off when we dropped the straw—not a huge deal, but something to watch if you’re a little clumsy or hard on your stuff. And like most silicone, the mouthpiece can start to hang on to oils or smells over time, which we noticed especially with coffee and protein shakes. A scrub with unscented soap usually takes care of it, but look at all-stainless straws if that concerns you.
Why it’s sustainable
OXO is the only company we considered that has published a sustainability report, including nitty-gritty details on water use and carbon emissions. It’s also the only manufacturer with Science Based Targets Initiative–aligned goals for reducing its carbon footprint. The company is committed to cutting emissions from its operations and purchased energy (referred to as Scope 1 and Scope 2) by 46% by 2030, and all other emissions (referred to as Scope 3) by 42%.
OXO also puts cold hard cash toward improving the environment. As a member of 1% for the Planet, the company has donated millions of dollars in three areas: sustainable food systems, environmental education, and clean air, land, and water.
Nothing’s perfect: As a company, OXO could do more to report on its progress meeting emissions reduction goals. We’d also love to see it start a take-back program for recycling products like its steel straws. The packaging could also use some work: The straws came boxed in brand-new cardboard.
Runners-up
If our scores were based on performance alone, the Ecotribe Stainless-Steel Reusable Straw With Carrying Case ($8; amazon.com) would have won. It was our favorite to sip from: Its 8mm diameter (0.31 inches), the widest of the group, equaled cleaner pulls of everything from ice water to smoothies. It was also easy to clean with the included brush. Our sole issue was that the bulky wooden case made it harder to stash. It’s a great option for keeping at home, though. Had the brand been more forthcoming about its planetary impact, it would have topped the podium.
MIRA’s Set of Two Stainless-Steel Straws ($5; amazon.com) was also in the running. That set includes two stainless-steel straws, one straight and one bent. Each has a turquoise silicone tip, as well as a brush and a drawstring carrying bag. Though slightly narrower than the Ecotribe (0.24 inches in diameter), it was good for drinking. But the bent straw’s design was hard to clean, and, like Ecotribe, the firm’s lack of clear environmental transparency kept it from rising higher.
FinalStraw technically landed in second overall once we combined scores for both straw-ness and planet-friendliness, though that rank was almost entirely due to incredibly strong sustainability bona fides. The straws are designed in California but made in a climate-responsible factory in China that’s audited annually for health and safety. Their packaging is also plastic-free, and any paper is the recycled kind. But the straw itself didn’t hold up in real use: Sipping took effort, the collapsible design made cleaning a pain, and we found it generally unpleasant to drink from.
What reusable straws we tested
We tested five reusable straw sets that met a few core criteria. They had to be widely available, well reviewed, made of food-grade stainless steel, and come with a carrying case—because who wants to toss a used straw in their pocket or purse? Our lineup included a mix of fixed-length and collapsible designs; some featured silicone tips. We tested the Ecotribe Reusable Metal Straws with Case, FinalStraw Collapsible Reusable Straw, MIRA Set of Two Stainless-Steel Straws with Silicone Tips, OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw Set with Case, and Zoku Reusable Pocket Straw. At the time of publishing, all sets ranged in price between $5 (MIRA) and $20 (FinalStraw).
How we picked the best reusable straw
Our product recommendations are based on two parallel assessment tracks: one for performance and one for sustainability. These ratings combine to land on our final winner, which represents the ideal blend of a product that’s good for the Earth and for your life. Read more about our assessment process here.
How we tested reusable straws
We spent several weeks sipping iced coffee, thick protein shakes, and premium smoothies and trying the straws in various sized containers. We assessed each one’s design, the cleaning tools’ effectiveness, and carrying cases’ quality and portability. In addition, we performed the following tests:
- Drinkability test: We timed how long it took to finish a thick smoothie, noting any resistance or drag.
- Cleaning test: After each use, we rinsed and brushed the straws to assess how simple or difficult they were to clean.
- Cold transfer test: We submerged the straws in ice water to evaluate how cold they felt during use.
- Durability test: We dropped each straw five times from a height of 6 feet onto tile. Because if we’re calling it a “straw for life,” it better earn the title.
How we scored sustainability
Our sustainability ratings take into account three factors: a product’s environmental impact at its production, what happens at its end-of-life, and the manufacturer’s environmental behavior. Production factors in where, how, and with what a product is made—as well as how it’s transported through the supply chain. End-of-life takes into account the quality of the materials used, the product’s warranty, and any repair, care, or recycling options for consumers. The final factor involves actions the company takes outside the life of a product to minimize its footprint or benefit the environment, and we award bonus points for transparency, as well. These scores are informed inferences based on available information, not full-blown life-cycle analyses.
Jesse Will is a writer based in Austin, Texas. His work has appeared in Men’s Journal, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, Pitchfork, Popular Science and Road & Track.
Tyler Santora is a freelance science journalist, editor, and fact-checker. He’s written for publications such as Undark, Scientific American, and Popular Science.
one5c does not earn a commission on any product purchased through our reviews.