You can totally use a stir straw especially if you’re unsure about taking that leap with the singing straw just yet. I myself, used to use a stir straw before I finally invested in the singing straw. From personal experience the singing straw definitely is better. It’s not only durable but it’s made with singers in mind with the different diameters and levels of resistance for your unique voice. I use my straw alot throughout the week with rehearsal / practice so getting the singing straw made sense for me. I found that getting it actually saved me money in the long run because with the stir straw it would either get lost or damaged and then I’d have to get a new one. I’ve had my singing straw for over 2 years now and never had any issues only results! It’s worth it especially if you use it for warmups or for trying to find the right placement for signing a specific phrase. Hope this helps!
