The BPA-free, made-in-the-USA, carbon-filtering Bobble water bottle is made of recycled plastic and fights the good green-lifestyle fight by saving you from buying bottled water and tossing the empties.
Gadget name: Bobble
Price: $8.99 to $12.99 (it’s available in three sizes: 13-oz., 18.5-oz., and 34-oz.)
It looks like: The Bobble has a slim waist that’s easy to grab without slipping, and it’s eye-catching: a simple, crystal-clear bottle that displays the neon-hued plastic filter holder and sports cap.
How it’s supposed to work: The Bottle has a built-in carbon filter designed to remove chlorine and “organic contaminants” from drinkable water (it can’t do anything about making non-potable water safe, however). Simple translation: It’s supposed to take the yucky taste out of tap water.
How it actually works: Well, it does make tap water taste neutral, even after sitting out overnight.
Drawbacks: We like the idea, and the basic concept of removing unpleasant flavors seems to work, but there are a few negatives that must be mentioned. First, the bottle itself is thin and feels flimsy; after just a few days, one tester found hers creased by the impression of her fingers. Tiny floating black flakes of the carbon filter can turn up in your water, and while they’re not harmful, they’re unappealing. And because the water must be drawn through the filter, it’s not easy to get a good flow of water to drink without effort. Finally, the slightly too-fat base doesn’t fit well in some car cup holders—our Bobble topples when we take a sharp turn.
Good to know: Filters (replacements are $6.99) must be changed about every two months. (If you buy them from Bobble’s website, they’ll send reminders.)
Best for: Those with bad-tasting tap water and the willingness to keep replacing filters.
Overall: Mixed feelings.
What’s important to you in a reusable water bottle?
About the Author: Lisa McManus
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It worked great at Disney World where I had heard the water tasted horrible. I tried the water with and without the bottle and it really did work. The problem is the curved design won’t stay well in backpack pockets. Twice it fell out. The second time I didn’t notice until it was too late to find it so the $7 bottle only lasted half the day.
BE SURE to flush the filter before you use it the first time. Some bottles don’t come with packaging to tell you that.
I have also read that it’s very noisy when in use.
I filter water at home and put it in a reusable water bottle.
I like a wide mouth, so that I can easily put in ice cubes and for easier cleaning with a bottle brush.
I like a sturdy bottle with a flat base that fits in the cupholder in my car. I also like a smooth interior for easier cleaning. Some bottles with molded grips are harder to keep clean. I frequently put flavoring, such as crystal light, in the water and find it leaves a residue on the bottle. My current bottle has a straw attached to the top and a flip up mouth piece which seals pretty well when flipped down.
It needs to not leak and I need to not care if I lose it or break it. Therefore, I won’t pay much for a bottle.
I have two Brita water bottles with built-in filters. The plastic is opaque and considerably thicker than the Bobble, and the filter/nozzle setup is sturdy and well-constructed (which is why I chose Brita over the flimsy Bobble.) Though the thicker plastic takes effort to squeeze, I’ve had no issues with my Brita bottles. They fit very well in my Civic’s cup holders, and the loop/ring that comes with it makes carrying them easy. I’ve had mine about a month and use them regularly. The only “complaint” I have about my Brita bottles are that they’re too tall for the top rack of my dishwasher, and that’s not even much of an issue.
They’re about $7.95 each at my Walmart, or a two-pack can be purchased for $15. They’re roughly the same price at Target. There are 4 colors (green, teal, purple, and blue). I recommend them over the Bobble to people (like me) who dislike the taste of regular tap water, but refuse to pay out the nose for bottled water.