Top pick
These stainless steel straws have a durable metal base topped with an extendable silicone tip that’s comfortable (and safe) to drink from, and they come with a case and a brush.
Out of all the straws we tested, the OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set with Case has the best design and is the most ideal option for on-the-go use.
These straws combine a sturdy stainless steel base with a removable silicone tip, so you can bite down on them without fear of hurting your mouth. The tip also slides along the base so you can extend the straw from about 8 to 10½ inches to work with taller drinking vessels. The set comes with two straws.
The silicone is durable and comfortable. Drinking from the OXO’s silicone mouthpiece is significantly more comfortable than drinking straight from a metal straw. It’s firmer than other silicone straws we tried, which means it won’t collapse when you try to suck thick liquids through it. But it’s still soft enough to bite down on if you usually chew straws or like to create a narrower opening to drink from.
The silicone doesn’t conduct temperature as well as metal does, so it won’t be uncomfortable to drink hot or iced beverages from these straws.
Drinking from the silicone part of the straw is also safer than drinking from an all-metal straw—you don’t run as much risk of jabbing your mouth, teeth, or other parts of your body while you’re walking or driving.
Almost all of the metal straws we tested were indistinguishable from each other but equally unpleasant to drink from. The metal tubes rolled and clanked around our teeth, felt clammy, and added a slightly metallic taste to beverages.
It’s easy to clean. The OXO straw separates into two pieces for easy cleaning. You can easily push the included straw brush all the way through both the silicone and metal sections to make sure all gunk is cleaned out.
This was difficult to do with taller curved straws, especially ones that came with shorter brushes. We ended up just pushing and pulling a brush through the same spots—like mopping a floor with water that’s already dirty.
You can also look straight through both pieces of the OXO straws to see if they’re clean, which you can’t do with longer, curved, opaque straws. Although you can just put the straws in the dishwasher, we recommend separating them and giving each section a good scrub to get everything out.
It’s easy to carry on the go. This was one of the few sets to come with a carrying case and a brush, so it’s the best option if you want to bring your straw with you. We appreciate that the brush has a T-shaped plastic tab on the end so it’s easy to hold onto. Most of the other brushes included with the straws we tested (including Klean Kanteen’s) just have thin, slippery wire handles.
When fully extended to 10½ inches, these straws should work with 16- or 20-ounce cups. As with all metal straws, these will be easier to push through the opening of a plastic to-go lid than a flimsier, all-silicone straw.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Oils and scents cling to silicone. This can make cleaning the OXO’s mouthpiece difficult. If you start to notice an off flavor, we recommend using hot water and unscented soap to remove oils, then baking the silicone part to deodorize it.
They’re thinner than our other picks. We found the 6½-millimeter-wide OXO straws ever so slightly more difficult to drink from than the 8-millimeter-wide Klean Kanteen straws, our also-great pick. OXO doesn’t offer wider options.
The included case makes this set expensive for two straws. For about the same price, you can get four straws from Klean Kanteen. If you don’t need to take your straw on the go, we recommend saving a few dollars and going with the Klean Kanteen set.
