Brita Fill & Go. Tastes like a Waterfall, Sounds like Breaking Wind
Written: Jul 27 '01 (Updated Nov 01 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Convenient, Great- tasting, and much cheaper than buying bottled water.
Cons: Slippery plastic. Sports top tends to make embarrassing noises
The Bottom Line: Great bottle to have in your car. Creates crisp, refreshing H20. Saves money. Bottle gets slippery when wet. Buy it for convenience, not for looks. Beware of strange noises.
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| scenery's Full Review: Brita Fill & Go Water Filtration Bottle |
I live in a historic district, in a registered historical landmark house. The pipes through which my drinking water travels are genuine relics. Water, when drunk straight from the tap tastes like juice from chemically-treated antique sweatsocks.
The problem is, I love to drink water. I am one of those people that you probably make fun of, because I always seem to have a designer water bottle permanently attached to my hand. I've heard what people say about my fellow water-bearers. Things like, "Who does she think she is? Tap water isn't good enough?" or "Do you know how much money an ounce of that fancy French spring water costs?" Well, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. More than likely, it's not Evian in my huge Evian bottle. It's Brita, hand poured by yours truly from the Brita Pitcher in my fridge into an old bottle from my recycling bin.
Now the secret is out. My brother already knew about my Brita bottle-filling habit, so when he found the Brita Fill & Go for me, he saw a match made in heaven. And so did I-- I thought this was the coolest idea to come along since the self-cleaning litter box.(see my litter maid review!)
What it is
The Fill & Go is a 24oz plastic bottle with a sports lid and a small carbon filter inside. The filter screws into the sports top, so when you squeeze your bottle, the water is forced through the filter and up into your mouth. During the process all chemical odors and flavors are removed, so you can have tasty filtered water anytime, anywhere- How cool is that? It's economical, too, because you don't have to spend two bucks a liter every time you want some decent- tasting water.
The Taste or Lack Thereof
I am picky. I like my water to taste COLD and WET. This means no "minerally" tasting waters- to me they just taste like dirt. ANY kind of odor or aftertaste turns me off-- I just cannnot stomach funky, skunky agua. Chlorine- smelling, swampy- tasting, H20 does not go anywhere near my mouth, so you could say Brita water's lack of taste made me a believer. These amazing charcoal filters somehow transform my horrible, smelly tap water into something crisp, refreshing, smooth, and odorless. I was already the proud and satisfied owner of an original Brita Pitcher, so I was thrilled to try the little Fill & Go.
Directions for Use
1.Unscrew top of bottle and remove.
2.Turn on tap water and fill bottle.
3.Replace top and refrigerate if desired.
4.Squeeze and drink.
The first time you use your Fill & Go(or whenever you change the filter) you must skip step 4 and squeeze the water down the drain. This is because tiny flakes of carbon escape from the filter. The directions assure that this is not dangerous, it's just not tasty.(Sounds pretty easy, huh?) Now you are ready to take your bottle wherever you want to go...
Battle with the Bottle
A few words on design The body is made of smooth, flexible medium-weight white plastic, with a royal blue top. There is a white plastic pop-up sport top to drink from. The bottle has "BRITA" printed along the side in matching blue letters. It's not the most attractive thing in the world, but I can deal.
The real problem is the smooth plastic. When filled with cold water, the bottle "sweats" and becomes very slippery. On several occasions, it has slipped right through my fingers and slammed into the ground. The good news is that it hasn't broken yet, and when it falls, the Fill & Go doesn't completely spill, it just releases a small squirt. The Brita people would be wise to take a cue from all of the other water packaging and ADD SOME RIDGES.
The fairly thick opaque-colored plastic creates another issue. You can never quite tell how much water is left. As I mentioned before, you have to squeeze the water through the filter and into your mouth. When just a small amount of water remains, and you give the Fill & Go a good squeeze, a very embarrassing sound is released. (think of a wet WHOOPIE CUSHION) The first time I made this discovery, I was standing in a long line at the grocery store. Everyone in front of me turned to look, and I wouldn't be surprised if everyone behind me chose a different line!!!!!!!! The sound was loud, gurgly, and disgusting.
Conclusion
Despite the Flaws, Brita Fill & Go is convenient, cost effective, and environmentally friendly. The bottle plus one filter costs around eight dollars, and a pack of two replacement filters is about five dollars. Each one lasts for two to three months or through 15 gallons, which ever comes first.(the water becomes difficult to squeeze through when it's time for a change) To remind you, a sticker is included to place on the outside--but don't bother, it will sweat right off within a week.
I would recommend Brita Fill & Go for avid water drinkers who prefer bottled but want to save some cash. I use mine in the car, outside, and around the house. I'm still kind of afraid to take it out in public. Just a few small design changes and I would retire my old, recycled Evian bottles forever.
**to clean, simply unscrew the lid, pop out the filter, and toss into dishwasher**
Recommended:
Yes
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scenery
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Reviews written: 25
Trusted by: 65 members
About Me:
Wading through potty reviews...
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