The 5 Best Metal Straws

Number of Straws: 4 | Length: 10.5"

The OXO Good Grips Stainless Straw Set comes with a well-designed hard case that fits two straws and a brush, making it our favorite product for taking with us when we're on the go. The case is durable and keeps everything needed ready to go in a small package, making it easy to grab and toss in a bag. The silicone tip is long and more substantial than many other options, making it pleasant to sip from. The end of the straw is slightly bulbous, so the silicone tip stays in place when fully extended but slides off the bottom of the straw easily to make cleaning a piece of cake. This is one of the most durable well-designed straws in the test. We reviewed the six-piece set, which comes with four straws, one case that fits two straws, and a brush. But this is also available in a four-piece set which contains one case, two straws, and a brush. The straws are 10.5 inches long, and the silicone tip extends, making it versatile for a range of cup sizes: from pint glasses to 20-ounce travel mugs. OXO is a member of 1% For The Planet, so 1% of profits are donated to environmental non-profits.

The only downside we found to this product was that it is the most expensive straw sets in our lineup — but to be fair, only by a few dollars. It is important to consider how much you will use these straws, especially outside of your home, to decide if this product is worth the investment. But you get what you pay for, and the OXO Straw Set is ideal for anyone looking for a durable, pleasant-to-use product that packs into a compact case for regular use.

Number of Straws: 12 | Length: 8.5" and 10.5"

The Hiware 12-Pack Straws in rose gold was one of the most visually appealing sets of straws. And with 12 straws of different shapes and sizes, the set offers an outstanding value. The 5 mm diameter makes them perfect for thin drinks, like iced tea, but they are a little too narrow for drinking smoothies. Of the thin straws, these were some of the easiest to clean, because of the gentle bend of the elbow. This set comes with two different lengths: 8.5", which is perfect for pint glasses, and 10.5", which works well with jumbo travel cups or bottles. In each length, half are straight, and half have a bend.

This product does not come with any silicone tips, so it is important to drink carefully, especially while walking or driving. It also means the straw can feel cold against the lips and teeth when drinking ice-cold beverages. This straw also did not score well in the durability test, denting significantly when hit with a hammer. It comes with 12 straws, two cleaning brushes, but only one bag, which hinders the ability for multiple people to stash their straws in a bag when on the go. This set is ideal for those looking for a large pack at a good value to use straws mostly at home, or for hosting events.

Number of Straws: 4 | Length: 8.9"

The Klean Kanteen Steel Straw Set was another tester favorite. It is the most ergonomically designed, with a long, flexible elbow-shaped silicone tip that extends past the metal, and feels pleasant against the mouth. The silicone portion starts the lowest, which means the silicone sits against the edge of a 16-ounce glass, so it clanks less than all of the other straws. Its 8 mm diameter made it one of the best straws for drinking smoothies, and it is still very easy to clean. This product also held up best against the hammer in the durability test. Klean Kanteen is a Certified B Corporation, is Carbon Neutral Certified, and a member of 1 % For The Planet. So purchasing this product reduces the number of plastic straws contributed to landfills, while also being manufactured 100% carbon neutral and with a commitment to social accountability.

This product is on the slightly higher end of the price range but is one of the best-quality products in our lineup. The pack includes four straws and a quality brush, but it does not include a case or bag, which is the biggest downside for taking it along to use while out and about. Even though this product does not have a bag and has a slightly higher price point, it is one of the best quality straws and one of the nicest to use.

Number of Straws 5 | Length: 11.5"

The Senneny 5-Set is one of the nicest straws to use with large travel cups or bottles because of its longer length. The 8 mm diameter, and long, flexible bent silicone tip feels nice against the mouth. The stainless steel portion of the straw is 8.5" long with a 3.3" silicone tip, making it the longest straw in the test. This makes it a little big for use with 16-ounce glasses, but it works great with larger vessels. The slightly wider diameter is outstanding for drinks of a variety of consistencies, including thick beverages like smoothies, as well as non-viscous drinks like water. This product comes in either a 6 mm or 8 mm diameter and is offered in a nice array of color options.

The metal straw has an indent and the silicone tip has a ridge, which fits perfectly together. This design keeps everything in place when in use, but is still easy to remove for cleaning. This area collected smoothie gunk, and although it wasn't hard to clean, it was harder to clean than others with a removable tip. It is important to keep this in mind to ensure it gets thoroughly cleaned and does not grow bacteria. But this minor criticism aside, this product is ideal for those looking for a comfortable drinking straw to use with large travel cups.

Number of Straws: 2 | Length: 10"

The Hiware Angled Tips Jumbo Straw is perfectly designed for boba and also works great for thick smoothies and milkshakes. The 12 mm width is by far the widest tested, and this, combined with the angled tip, makes slurping up boba bubbles a perfectly enjoyable experience. This also makes for easy smoothie drinking, no matter how thick the texture. The wide width and straight style, combined with the wider brush provided, make it easy to clean and look through the straw to make sure no residue is left behind. Along with the two straws and brush, this kit comes with a travel bag.

This product does not have a silicone tip, and the metal can be quite cold against the lips and teeth. The wide width is perfect for thick drinks but is excessive for thin drinks like water or tea. With its wide width and angled bottom, this straw is ideal for boba and smoothie enthusiasts looking for a jumbo straw that is easy to use and clean.

Number of Straws:2 | Length: 8"

The Doboli Collapsible Straws is one of our favorites for taking everywhere, thanks to their compact size and included case. This set comes with two telescoping straws, brushes that collapse and fit inside the straw, and metal cases for each straw, with a carabiner to attach to a keyring or bag. The compact package makes it easy to throw in a pocket, keep in your glove box, or stash in a purse, ensuring you always have a straw on hand for beverages while out and about.

The telescoping straw has two joints where the segments meet, which makes it hard to ensure cleanliness. This, along with the narrow width, makes it less than ideal for drinking smoothies, as it is hard to guarantee all residue gets cleaned out. We found that cleaning this straw straight away after use, before anything had time to dry or harden, was essential. This straw was also the one that suffered the most damage in the durability test. After hitting it with a hammer on the widest, lowest segment, it got dented so badly that the smaller segments would no longer slide into the largest one. This set is ideal for those who want a compact straw with them on the go, but are willing to be vigilant on promptly cleaning the straw, and can treat it with care.

Number of Straws: 16 | Length: 8.5" and 10.5"

The StrawExpert 16-Pack offers variety to choose the straw that best fits your preferences, with half the pack made up of 8.5" straws that work great with 16- and 20-ounce cups, and half the pack containing 10.5" straws that work with travel mugs or bottles up to 34 ounces. Of these, half are straight, and half have an elbow bend. The set also includes 16 small silicone tips in a rainbow of colors to provide a barrier against the hot or cold metal. Of all the narrow straws, this one was the least dented in the durability test.

The narrowest straw tested, at only 4.5 mm, is great for thin beverages, like an iced coffee, but is not ideal for thicker beverages like smoothies. The bend in half the straws is quite tight and was harder to clean. The silicone tips were moderately challenging to remove and put back on when cleaning. Again, this large set only comes with one travel bag. This set offers 16 straws in a few different shapes and sizes and is ideal for those looking for a large value pack in bright, cheery colors.

Number of Straws: 4 | Length: 8.46"

The SipWell Stainless Straw is a no-frills basic straw set that comes with the essentials and one of the lowest price tags in this test. It includes four straws, one brush, and no other accessories. The 6 mm diameter is great for thin beverages like sodas, and the shorter length works perfectly with a pint glass. SipWell also makes a version of this straw in a 9.5 mm diameter which would be a good choice for frequent smoothie drinkers. There is also a 10.5" version in both diameters for those looking for an option for a straw to use with larger travel vessels.

This set does not come with a bag, so if you want to take it with you, you may need to get creative on how to keep it clean while on the go. The narrow diameter and sharp bend make it a little hard to keep clean. This pack is ideal for an individual or small family looking for a few simple straws that fit well with a pint glass and are affordably priced.

Number of Straws: 4 | Length: 10.03" and 10.5"

The VEHHE Stainless Steel straw is a great option for those looking for a long, narrow product to use with 20-30 ounce travel mugs or bottles. This simple set comes with two straight straws that are 10.5" in length and two bent straws that are 10.03" in length. The set also comes with one bag and one brush. The 5 mm diameter makes them ideal for thin iced beverages.

The longer length is an exceptional match for larger bottles or mugs but is too long for a pint glass or to fit into a lunch box. It is one of the products that dented badly in the durability test. This set is ideal for an individual or small family looking for a simple set of long straws for a reasonable price.

Why Trust GearLab

After extensively researching the best reusable metal straws available on the market, we selected the most promising products, ran them through a comprehensive set of side-by-side tests to evaluate the pros and cons of each item, and tabulated the results to present a thorough review.

Our beverage expert, Jessica Albery, has a degree in journalism; she values the importance of checking facts, conducting thorough research, performing consistent tests, and compiling the results into a thorough review. Over the last few years, she has been making an effort to cut down on single-use plastics, including straws, cups, and utensils, so when the opportunity to test reusable straws came up, Jessica jumped on it.

Analysis and Test Results

Our review results are based on our extensive, hands-on testing. This testing regime includes a set of objective, laboratory-style tests as well as normal use of these products during our everyday life. We evaluated these straws based on quality, pleasantness of use, ease of cleaning, durability, travel-friendliness, and versatility. We test all of these products side-by-side to score them relative to one another. The result is an in-depth review that helps you easily find the best metal straw for your needs and budget.

Pleasantness of Use

To determine how pleasant each product was to use, we utilized these straws day in and day out, at home, at work, on the road, and out on adventures, with take-out coffees, copious amounts of water from every type of vessel, cocktails, and everything in between. We considered how the straw felt against the mouth. Did it conduct the temperature of the drink and feel cold against the lips? How was the texture? Was it comfortable to use? How was the angle of the straw? Did it clank against the glass? Across the board, our testers found the straws with silicone tips the most pleasant to drink from, with the flexibility and texture feeling most like plastic straws, and feeling most comfortable against the lips. The silicone tips are also gentler on teeth, whereas the metal can feel unforgiving and clunky, and if not careful, the metal can damage tooth enamel. Of the straws with silicone tips, our favorites were the ones with longer tips, as the longer length tip was more comfortable in the mouth, and the silicone was higher quality, which also felt more pleasant against the lips. And lastly, the silicone stays at a more consistent temperature, whereas the metal transfers the temperature of the liquid to your lips, which can be unpleasant with an ice-cold drink. We also found that straws with a gentle bend were the most ergonomic to drink from.

The Klean Kanteen straw was the most pleasant to use, with a long, smooth silicone elbow tip sitting at just the right angle against a glass. It's the perfect height for a pint glass or a 20oz travel mug, and the medium diameter is easy to drink out of. The OXO Straw Set is also nice to use, the silicone tip feels outstanding against the mouth, and the design is clever and easy to extend or retract. The only downside to comfort is that it doesn't have a bend, but we think that's worth it fitting into its slim case. The Senneny 5-Set was the most pleasant long straw to use with larger travel mugs or bottles, thanks to the flexible silicone tip with a bend and slightly wider diameter.

Ease of Cleaning

Reusable straws can potentially harbor bacteria, so we evaluated how easy each product was to clean. Besides cleaning after every use, we also tested how easy each straw was to clean after drinking a thick smoothie. For the most part, we found that basic straight, wide straws were easier to check whether they were completely clean, as you can look through the straw. The Hiware Angled Tips Jumbo Straw scored the highest in this test, coming with a slightly wider brush that fits the straw perfectly, and the wide width made it easy to check for residue. The narrower straws with tight bends were hard to get the brush through. Of the straws measuring 6 mm or less with an elbow, the Hiware Reusable Straws was the easiest to clean because the bend was the most gentle.

We also took the silicone tips off any straw that came with them to ensure that no smoothie residue remained inside. Some tips were challenging to take off, or collected residue in the crease or where the two pieces joined, and if this was the case, they lost points. The OXO Straw Set was the easiest silicone tip to clean and remove, as the tip slides off the bottom of the straw with no resistance, the top of the metal portion is slightly bulbous to ensure the tip does not slip off the top, but this came clean easily with the brush. The Klean Kanteen Steel Straw Set's silicone tip was also easy to remove and clean. The Senneny 5-Set collected the most gunk in the indent where the metal straw is ribbed to keep the silicone tip in place.

Durability

To assess the quality of materials and manufacturing, we went over each product with a fine-tooth comb, checking to see if straws were consistent, have smooth edges, and how well they are manufactured. Some products just offered the basics, a hollow tube to drink out of, while others clearly showed better engineering, with a well-thought-out design. Besides repeated use, we also hit each product with a hammer to test durability.

The Klean Kanteen straws showed the least damage from the hammer test, are made of quality materials, and are well designed. The OXO Straw Set was the second least dented straw and scored major points for its clever engineering, with the extending tips and well-designed carrying case. The Doboli Collapsible Straw was the most damaged from the hammer test; the dent prohibited the straw from completely collapsing.

Travel-Friendliness

Many plastic straws get used with purchased beverages, like iced coffee, tea, and sodas, and bringing a reusable metal straw along is a great way to cut down on the use of plastic straws. Half the battle is remembering to bring along a reusable straw, so with this in mind, we evaluated each straw on its carrying case or bag, the ratio of straws to cases, convenient size, and ease of use on the go.

The OXO Straw Set was a tester favorite for taking everywhere, with its plastic case that fits two straws and a brush inside. The silicone tip easily retracts to fit inside the case. It is small enough to fit inside your favorite lunch box but big enough to easily find in the bottom of a backpack. The whole set is well-designed and functional. The Doboli Collapsible Straw's three segments telescope to extend to a full-length straw and collapses to fit into its small carrying case. The small brush also collapses and can be stored inside the straw. The case comes with a carabiner to easily attach to a keychain or bag, so it can always be in the same spot, making it easier to always have it with you for beverages on the go.

Versatility

When evaluating versatility, we considered what size cups or bottles each straw is best for, and how each product performed with thick and thin beverages, and their lengths and diameters. We found that straws around 8.5 inches were, in general, the most useful, working well with pint glasses, slightly shorter cups, as well as big 20 oz travel mugs. The longer straws, around 10.5 inches, worked with the biggest bottles and mugs but were awkwardly long with pint glasses, and even pretty long with the 20oz travel mug. We also found that a medium diameter, about 8mm, was the most versatile for drinking thin and thick beverages. Straws with only a 5mm diameter worked great for iced tea or water but were hard to drink a thick smoothie out of, as chunks would get stuck, and a lot of suction was needed.

The two products we found to be the most versatile were the Klean Kanteen and OXO Straw Set, both having moderate diameters and length, making them great to use with most cups in the 12-20oz range, as well as with thick and thin beverages. The StrawExpert also scored well: their 16 packs contain a mix of long and medium straw lengths and include both straight and bent straws, offering a range of sizes and shapes to fit a wide variety of cups and preferences. Both of these sets have a slightly narrower diameter, so they are not as great for thick beverages like smoothies or milkshakes.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking for a large value pack of metal straws to keep the whole family sipping on lemonade all summer or a trusty travel kit to go everywhere with you, our experts did the research and ran every product through a meticulous set of tests to help you find the perfect reusable straw for your needs.

Our culinary experts have tested a wide array of the best kitchen gear on the market. Whether it's committing to a new set of flatware, wanting to try out an at-home soda maker, or looking for a simple staple like a new iced tea pitcher, our in-depth reviews have you and your beverage needs covered.