My girlfriend is not what you would call a recyclist (apparently, thats not a word, well it should be) and also likes to drink water from bottles. She is from a small town in the U.S. where they don't have a recycling program. I'm from Montreal and since I was born, I was instilled with the socialist blue box recycling program. Every municipality should have a recycling program of some sort. Paper, plastic, glass, and aluminium gets thrown into the bin.
The only problem is that my girlfriend drinks bottled water and has no concept of recycling. Bottled water is terrible for the environment in general and on top, how many people really recycle those bottles. Its not like they sell 100% recycled plastic bottles anyways so reducing the demand is better than recycling.
I don't mind drinking tap water since Montreal's water is very clean. Plus it tastes better than bottled water for me. My parents buy the Nestles bottled water because you can get about 40-60 bottles for under 4$. That stuff tastes terrible. I don't know if its because its source is crap or the plastic leeches into the water. When I can, I drink from tap since I don't mind it. Plus, the majority of bottled water come from water treatment plants so they're basically the equivalent to tap water.
My girlfriend on the other hand drinks only certain brands of bottled water for its taste. Its annoying plus expensive in Montreal. The state's bottled water is cheaper but still, the amount of waste created is enormous.
I wanted to find a solution for her that tastes good and is better for the environment so everyone wins! Tap water isn't great for her because she doesn't like the taste of it that much. When its cold, she doesn't mind but still doesn't like it. There are Brita (activated charcoal) filtered water but the problem is that it takes time for the filter to do its job. So while it can clean the water, it doesn't meet the needs for this generation people with 30 second attention spans.
I don't remember how I found out about Water Bobble but am glad I did. It is a reusable water bottle that has an activated charcoal filter in the spout. This solves my problem of providing the idea of clean and good tasting water without needing to wait for the filter to clean the water.
Price
So I had to buy it to see if it will get my girlfriend off her addiction with bottled water. The problem is that its a startup company and they don't sell them everywhere. I live in Canada and my girlfriend is from a small town so we had to ship ours in. I got my friends to purchase some as well and made an order of 12 ( luckily, I got a 2 for 1 discount for Earth Day).
Each bottle is about 10$ and the shipping was 20$ for 12 bottles (I bought directly from them). With my discount, my friends and I only paid 8$ a bottle in total.
The filters themselves are 7$ each and you only need to buy them every 2 months or so. I much rather spend 7$ every 2 months for a filter than spend 7$ a week on bottled water.
Also note, I don't like how we use currently use plastics for disposable goods since plastics can last forever. The point of plastic was to create low cost, long life products so throwing them away is hurting the environment since its never going to go away in a life time. I'm looking forward to the new bio plastics that have shorter life spans but really, we should move away from plastics for disposable usage.
Design
The bottle itself is made of clear recycled plastic thats been FDA approved for human consumption. It doesn't have that new scary BPA chemical too. The bottle holds just above half a liter of water.
Its a nice curvaceous design that will look pretty sitting on a table. It fits in the standard automotive cup holder so its car friendly. I took it out with me driving and saw no problem with it.
It does come with a clear spout protector but theres a good chance I will lose it soon. Its useful for transporting in your bag and keeping the spout clean. Hopefully I won't lose it but then, I have a habit of doing that with little trinkets.
I also noticed that the spout won't fit on other bottles but thats mostly because it needs to accommodate the filter. Would be useful if you have a water bottle that you like already and want to use the filter on it. I think most water bottles have bigger spouts to begin with so maybe the filter will fit on some.
Update: Most people who received the bobbles say that the plastic doesn't feel high end. I don't think this is a big issue since thinner plastic means less is used. Plus, its only 10$ and I'm assuming the plastic they used isn't cheap since its been FDA approved. The plastic is also a bit fragile. Since you need to squeeze to get the water out, some of my friends are squeezing too hard and are permanently deforming the bottles. I think its a habit from bottled water since you don't care about the bottle itself. So you squeeze it until the sides meet. It breaks on those too but no one cares since you just throw it out.
Taste Test
The moment of truth. Does it work? Yes, it does. Taste testing with the water here, I can taste a difference. It seems less harsh and more smooth than the tap water here. I have to try it when I get back to Montreal since I'm currently in Vermont.
My girlfriend is the ultimate test and she doesn't mind it at all. The point was to see if she would move to this instead of bottled water. It worked so it passed the ultimate test for me.
Conclusion
The water Bobble is low cost solution to making sure the water you drink is clean and potable. There is nothing wrong with tap water but for those with anxiety or just don't like the taste of tap water, this is a good solution.
Pictures
Hey, thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteI just got my bobble today, and i was curious about the hygiene levels, so i tested a couple different types of water with a water-toxins/bacteria-tester (basically, it came with the built-in filter in our sink, and its legit).
The number that shows up on filtered water is about 14, and the number on tap water is about 161 (the lower the better).
When i filter the filtered water with the bobble the water becomes 18, then 25 the next time i filter the same water, and keeps going up the more i filter it until about 40, when it doesnt increase any more. (oh, and i did run about 5 bottles of water before that to clear out the carbon).
when i filter the tap water with the bobble, it decreases to 157, and keeps decreasing by a margin of about 5 every time i filter it.
so if i use the bobble for clean water, it makes it worse, and if i use the bobble to filter relatively dirty water, it barely purifies it.
Im just pointing this out to you since you may want to know.
Also, i am from toronto, and i recently visited montreal, and i have to say, its a pretty cool place. haha, have you ever thought about how your name is like "j'aime you"?
Hi Sophia, Firstly thank you for purchasing bobble however we must comment on your posting...
ReplyDeleteAre the results you are reporting in mg/l, ppm, grains, or some other established benchmark for analysis of water quality? We ask because we have never heard of a “water-toxins/bacteria-tester” let alone a portable household unit. The results you report do not seem to correspond to results associated with the bobble product. Bobble has certified test results performed by NSF ( the acknowledged leader in filter testing) plus other independent certified laboratories which clearly determine the effectiveness of bobble in removing contaminants from water. The results are documented, widely available for inspection, and reported in accordance with well established guidelines that are universally accepted throughout the water industry. So we hope this puts this matter to rest. We are very proud of our product and thanks Jaime for the great review
I just purchased a bobble in a JC penney store, and when I got home, I followed the instructions to clean the filter, but squeezing it made stress marks in the plastic. I am very disappointed in this product.
ReplyDeleteI would be incredibly interested in this product if I knew the plastic was a stronger material. At the same time, buying a water bottle every couple months is better than buying a water bottle every day. Additionally, having a larger bottle option as well as more threads to hold the filter in the bottle are both desirable.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous person 2- if you visit www.waterbobble.com they have small, medium, and 1 Liter options now, you can also find $1 off codes if you google it. I just bought one and i'm not disappointed with it so far, its better than city water with loads of chlorine and who knows what else that passes through the filtration plants with our government standards.
ReplyDeleteJust an FYI to everyone. To prevent the bottle from denting or splitting, don't squeeze the bottle but suck on the spout. I know, I'm not trying to sound "sexual" but if you do that it's less strain on the plastic.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering what others think -- the instructions only talk about filling once to
ReplyDeleteclear out charcoal. I'm drinking from the
second fill, and there's an odd little taste
that I think might be the charcoal -- should
I have done more "filter-breaking-in" runs?
I've gone through two filters in three months, and I only run the water through the new filter once. After that it tastes fine to me. Our house has a whole house carbon water filter, so when using my Bobble, my water is actually being filtered twice. I must say I was very impressed with the taste of the water from the Bobble rather than directly from the tap, the second filtering really makes it taste like bottled water.
ReplyDeleteWhen I drink, I half suck, half squeeze, and that seems to work pretty well. I have arthritic hands so I can't squeeze too tightly, and if I only suck then I swallow air which isn't good. But if I do a little of both it seems to work best.
I have doubts about how the plastic bottle itself holds up, since you are only supposed to switch out the filter and not the plastic bottle. I really abuse my plastic bottles, they get left in the car, and I don't suds them out as often as I should... so I'm wondering about the integrity of the plastic when it comes to chemicals breaking down over time. I bought my Bobble in July and think it's weird to be using the same plastic bottle in September or October, so I'm thinking I will buy another one. I do like the idea of no PCBs and not adding to the landfills. I have tried the stainless bottles but they are very un-user-friendly. Still, I must admit, I am not off bottled water completely. I tend to switch back and forth, especially since it's easier to grab a new bottle of water than to wash the bottle, air dry it, and boil the filter. I do worry about bacteria... Still, it's a very clever idea, and maybe they can improve on it over time.
It's a great product and excellent idea.
ReplyDeletetwo complaints:
1) The plastic does have a very cheap/thin/bendy feeling
2) The spout closes with very little force. I'm still adjusting to it, since when I drink I accidentally close it with my mouth
Still an overall positive recommendation for anybody who likes to drink lots of water through the day and doesn't have access to a filter.
Hello, how would Waterbobble respond to this video on youtube(dot)com/watch?v=7ZzaXLyWqoU
ReplyDeleteI just bought my bobble from bed bath and beyond a few days ago, and i cleaned it as much as i thought i could when i got it. I started using it and i had this strange feeling that it was still dirty, my theory was proven when my friend accidently dropped it, showing that all the parts detach, and the dirt that it still had around it, the instructions to clean it didn't necessarily show all the detachable parts and how to clean each piece. It says the bobble likes to be cleaned in boiling water, but which part exactly? and the bobble is also very difficult to disassemble. Is there an easier way??
ReplyDeletePlease send replacement inquiries to: customerservice@waterbobble.com for a proper response. Hopefully, they will send you a new one to replace it. They're pretty nice at waterbobble and they will be able to help you out. PS. Waterbobble... get rid of that flash app on your site please! How is anyone suppose to find your customer service page in under 5mins?
ReplyDeleteNow from my unprofessional understanding of your problem...
The spout holds the filter and the bobble is the bottle itself. The bottle needs to be washed in hot soapy water and the filter doesn't need to be washed as stringent. The filter doesn't like hot soapy water so use a soapy sponge and give it a sponge bath and a good rinse. This will clean the plastic without giving the filter inside a hard time.
The filter detaches from the bottle easily (if not, get them to exchange it). The filter should also not be disassembled under most circumstances. If you're not a chemist and know how to reactivate charcoal + know how to make your plastic, I wouldn't open that sucker.
If black stuff comes out of the filter, its just charcoal which is fine in low doses (just like most things we eat). If its coming out all the time, then you probably have a bad filter and should get a new one. If your friend dropped it and black stuff is coming out, then its because your friend has slippery fingers and they broke your filter. They owe you a new one^^
@Jonsky Hey, did you send it to Waterbobble themselves? It looks like they gave you a response on your site. It also looks like you're interested in camping and I've seen those 100-150$ portable water filters that can be used for pond water. I don't think a 7$ product can truly compare to those bad boys. Heres an example: http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441777453&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302696689
ReplyDeleteIts an expensive example but a lifetime of 50,000L with the ability to drink some scummy water is pretty awesome.
was interested in this, but after drinking bottled water for years, and recently switching to my clean (they say so!) Toronto, Ontario tap water...I now fill up my Klean Kanteen every day, with basic tap water. I don't know about you, but I think most city's tap water is perfectly acceptable to drink. I would even consider myself a 'germafob', and I still drink the tap water. Basically, I think this product is for people who aren't willing to let go of drinking water from a pretentious bottle (yes, I realize Klean Kanteen is an expensive brand), but I've had mine for a year, and the durable metal stands up to 30 ft drops (from my bag onto rock floors in my past school), and other daily events. Maybe Klean Kanteen should get in touch with Bobble and make a spout that fits it. I don't think they have to be plastic to work, I think they could leave a small air hole, and the water could easily be 'sucked' out normally.
ReplyDeleteI was interested in bobble for using to purify camping water (aka Algonquin Park Lake water)..but I think I'll stick with the $70+ purify pump I'm going to buy...just to be safe (and not get beaver fever)
But ya, I do agree bottled water is a waste, harmful to the environment, and somewhat expensive. People drinking Fiji water are pretentious idiots who grew up in sheltered homes, and have no idea about anything other than what their Mercedes driving mom told them... or what their credit card says "approved".... I think I've taken this off topic... sorry.
Not true at all. I'm far from rich, sheltered, or pretentious but Fiji water is the most delicious water ever. I call it "crack water", lol, cause once you try it, no other water tastes as good. I didn't believe the hype til I tasted it. I can't afford it on a regular basis, but once in a while I'll treat myself.
DeleteI've been using my Bobble for about 6 months now, and I love it. I want to respond to a few of the concerns that people have.
ReplyDelete1. A lot of people comment on the plastic being thin and "cheap" feeling.
I, personally, like the thin aspect of the bottle. I had a Brita filtering bottle, and it was made from the high quality, thicker plastic you find in most water bottles. The problem was that it was so hard to keep any pressure behind the water, and it was VERY slow to drink. Having the thin, flexible bottle means I can easily drink the water at a faster pace. As someone who regularly guzzles a 24 oz. glass of tap water in one go, I like to drink water fast.
2. Everyone who is freaking out about the tap water, and the one who mentioned all the dissolved solids: I agree with everyone who says that most tap water is fine. Unless you don't like the taste at all, or your city does not have clean tap water, then DRINK YOUR TAP WATER. Your body is built to handle a lot of the crap that gets thrown at it, and only giving it super-filtered, super-clean products can, potentially, weaken your immunities.
I use my Bobble when I travel for work (weekly), since I don't always like the taste of the water they have there, and Bobble makes it a more consistent product for me.
I love the Bobble, because it serves the dual purpose of being environmentally friendly, and saving money (the combination that MUST be present in nearly all environmentally friendly products if they are to succeed). I plan to buy them as gifts for a number of my friends and loved ones. I also tell people about it every chance I get, because everyone who sees it says at least one of the following:
1. That looks so cool, where did you get that?
2. Really? It filters your water, how smart! Where did you get that?
To everyone complaining about the strength of the plastic, it is made of thin plastic for a reason, use your brain and do not squeeze the bottle till it stresses or breaks, I have use mine for a while and never had this problem. Great Product (if your smart enough to use it)
ReplyDeleteHas anyone else had a problem with their Bobble top getting kind of "stuck" after a while? I have to use my teeth to get it open now because it requires so much force, whereas initially it was fine. I'm wondering if that's the built-in way it's telling me to buy a new filter (since mine is about 2 months old).
ReplyDeleteYou're advised to not drink tap water from countries such as Mexico or Ecuador but can I filter the water enough with the bobble to make it drinkable?
ReplyDelete"Bobble is super effective at taking out chlorine and organic contaminants from potable water. It is not recommended for use where water is not microbiologically safe or of unknown quality." - from bobbble's FAQ
ReplyDeleteand
"NSF/ANSI Standard 42: Drinking Water Treatment Units - Aesthetic Effects
Overview: This standard covers point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) systems designed to reduce specific aesthetic or non-health-related contaminants (chlorine, taste and odor, and particulates) that may be present in public or private drinking water."
So no, its not recommended that you do that. I would go and buy a full camping/survival bottle and filter instead.
Funny question if someone has an answer, I have an african gray parrot and our city water is disgusting. I'm wondering if the bobble will filter out whatever to the point where I'm not worried about what my parrot is drinking? Giving him bottled water is weighing on my conscience a little, and it makes me wonder how good the bottled water is that I'm giving him anyway...
ReplyDeleteDepends how disgusting your city water is. If its just chlorine and all that, then the bobble is fine. I would just get a Brita instead since its move convenient for your bird. You can just make a large batch and store it. Bottled water isn't very good or in some case, dirtier. Depends if its cleaned/filtered/etc. Otherwise, its just the same as city water but in bottles instead of pipes. So I wouldn't bother unless your bird requires water that is 99% pure (which is lacking natural salts).
ReplyDeleteHi, here in NZ we've recently got them can you tell me what number recycling plastic they are i.e. 1, 2 or 5?? Hoping they're a 2 or a 5 as they are inert whereas 1's will leach into your water giving extra xenoestrogens into our body which is not what I want - grateful for a reply :)
ReplyDeleteI just got mine from Target. I only had to squeeze 1 bottle full of water through to clean the filter. However I did wash the bottle it's self ( not the filter) with hot soapy water as I do with ALL plastics since there could be oils used in the manufacturing of the product left on the bottle. Which could effect the taste of the water. I think the product is great. The taste of our tap water here is not good the bobble helps a lot. It was also appealing thinking that if your out walking/running/jogging you can stop and fill it and still get filtered water. I will admit I am/was a huge bottled water drinker and very picky about the kind. SO this is nice and will definitely be cheaper! But like all bottles I wish there was a way to get ice cubes in it.
ReplyDeleteBought mine in London, UK. thin plastic isn't an issue for me. Sucking on the spout allows constant drinkIng, and the squeezability is good to ensure a consistent flow. To the previous poster, it is recycle group 1 but the plastic is made without harmful chemicals, so leeching need not be a concern.
ReplyDeleteI think the product is brilliant. Cheap, effective, lightweight, easy to take any where. Be sensible with it, don't squeeze like a madman/woman and it will last for a while. I take mine with me every time I train, and wouldn't be caught in the gym without it.
I feel like my water bobbles don't utilize the whole filter. I will see bubbles, but then none go through the whole filter. Only at the top. Am I the only one?
ReplyDeleteBubbles are air and it doesn't matter where they enter (most likely, at the top because they're lighter than water). I wouldn't worry about it at all. You should not be able to see the filter do its job that easily. You can probably throw coffee in there and it might filter it out. Thats the only way you can "visually" see the filter do its job. Although, that might not be the best idea frankly...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the answer Tom K.
ReplyDeleteAnd @anonymous, I wish it could fit ice cube as well. Didn't think about that... I guess its cause theres so much of it outside:D
I literally just bought this product and on the back it says soak the filter in boiling water, so i did for 2 mins. was this correct?
ReplyDeleteI have yet to use it but am gym bound in 30 mins so we shall see how it goes.
thanks
This is a great product, and a new one on the market. I believe that with time, and with customer input -good and bad- the product will be improved over time. However, right now how can a water bottle made of recycled plastic with it's own carbon filter, no BPA's, and made in the USA not be a good thing? I'm happy with it.
ReplyDeleteHi, I am planning to travel to India, I wonder if I can filter the bottled water I get there with bobble, and make it safe to drink.
ReplyDeleteDepends (I don't know much about the water there).
ReplyDeleteIf its been treated and safe to drink (I guess in the big cities), then the Bobble will remove the chlorine and stuff. Otherwise, no, I wouldn't use the Bobble solely as a filter for untreated water.
You will need to buy something like this: http://www.filtersfast.com/Outdoor-Water-Filters-cat.asp
Or use an iodine alternative to make water safe to drink: http://www.amazon.com/Potable-Aqua-Water-Treatment-Tablets/dp/B000S87RGE
Those just examples, I would do some research and get the one that you need.
Enjoy your trip!
I just purchased a bobble and I am also wondering about soaking the filter in boiling water for cleaning purposes. I plan to use it for travel and I won't have access to boiling water, just hot tap water.
ReplyDeleteI drink a lot of water and work in Washington, DC. The tap water in my office has a god awful metallic taste. DC also has had well documented issues with lead levels in thier drinking water over the years. The result of all of this for me? I have been bringing bottled water in to work (by the case) for years.
ReplyDeleteEnter the water bobble. Lots of talk here about green this and recycle that. There's another aspect to the bobble that makes it a winner in my book...convenience. First off, the bobble makes DC water taste good which is a HUGE plus in and of itself. Given that, I keep a one litere bobble at the office. No more lugging cases of water into the office every week. All I do is refill my bobble and toss the used filter in the recycle bin which now does not fill up nearly as fast becasue I'm not tossing three to five bottles in it every day.
My bobble back says that it is a carbon-based filter and ive filled it to the brim and squeezed out the water to clear out the carbon filter first (as it says on the back) but now every time i fill it up there are little black specs of dust (looks like black dust) in it every time. Ive cleaned it out, i havent soaked the filter yet but it didnt say that on the package it just said fill it and squeeze out and second fill up your good but it still has black floaties. What do I doo :(
ReplyDeleteYou should email bobble and see if they will replace it. It sounds like the filter is broken and leaking into the bobble. Its not going to hurt you but its not doing anything good for the life of the filter.
ReplyDeleteHow long are you suppose to clean the bobble filter in the boiling water (ex. 1 min)? Also do you put the entire filter and spout with the cap on into the boiling water or just the filter (by detaching it from the spout)?
ReplyDeleteThanks for this review. It's the first I've seen (after maybe 8) that isn't just copy/cut from the bobble website. Most start with two lines of anecdote then just repeat the same crap about americans drinking too much bottle water, and wasting stuff, yada yada straight from the bobble site. I agree with your point on squeezing the bobble too hard, most people really manhandle plastic water bottles.
ReplyDeleteI got my first bobble today (from target, 10 bucks), have yet to try it, but I'm hoping it works as stated. We have a whole house filter system, but it still tastes a bit off to me. I've been refilling my Arrowhead sports bottles with purified Arrowhead 2 gallon containers, but it's so cumbersome (although I do like the taste).
Also, a note on cleaning the filters, the package for mine says "Show the filter some love too. Soak in boiling water, they like it hot." Doesn't say anything about soap, but maybe light soapy sponge bath then a few minutes in the hot tub?
I don't think the spout can come off the filter.
ReplyDeleteI think a few minutes in a hot bath is good enough. I'm not sure if its necessary or why other than just to keep it clean...?
I just got the bobble and really enjoy it! Here's why:
ReplyDelete- its design is really cool and everyone i see asks me about where i got it and what the little filter does.
- i fill my waterbottles with school water fountain water and it has a funny after taste but with the bobble it tastes so much better!
- I'm a cross country runner and i really enjoy the thin plastic because it is easy to squeeze and hold.
- The nozzle comes off with the filter so if i mess up the nozzle i have now by biting it on accident then in a month or two i can still get a whole new one!!!
- The nozzle comes off and when you buy a new one you can pick from an assortment of colors so you always look like you have a brand new water bottle!!!
I dislike:
- the fact that i can't fit ice into the small opening
- the hard to open nozzle. i can't open it without biting on it and pulling with my teeth.
- i wish there was a cover with a strap or a handle so i could hold it better
- if i look at the water in my bottle it has small black particles floating in it! (this has to be from the filter)
I have SMALL BLACK CARBON FLOATING in my water too, and when I squeeze the bottle the black pieces come out of the bottle so whoever has this problem is DRINKING THE BLACK PIECES.
Deletetastes like water
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it tastes good for you. Enjoy the water.
ReplyDeleteCute item but cheap quality. Very disappointing.
ReplyDeletePlease explain though. We don't know why you don't like it except that its of cheap quality (although, it was cheap to buy IMO).
ReplyDeleteLol jaime yu do you work for booble or something? you seem to be defending them on your supposely objective blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm not paid or work for bobble. I'm insulted since I have not once told anyone to buy it. I actually told people to go out and buy better and safer products in the comments.
ReplyDeleteI want the comments to be a discussion on the pros and cons of the bobble. Not the pros, otherwise, I would have deleted all the snarky or negative comments.
I don't see how I'm defending them. If it is because I asked you directly why you don't like it, it is because 2 partial sentences doesn't contain enough information for me or other readers. I want other people to read it and decide whether this product is for them. "Very disappointing" does not convey to the readers why this is a bad product. There is no context to why other than its cheap. And as I said, it is a cheap product in my opinion. But I stress, I do not want to make this assumption and correct me if I'm wrong.
If you want something better, then you would have noticed that I have recommended people to go buy professional grade filters instead. This is key because I want my readers to make informed decisions. Not because the bobble's top is pink.
There is a message behind the bobble, which is to reduce waste and that is the message I tried to convey through the review.
I hope this helps you understand why I asked you for more information. You don't have to answer though. Its alright. I hope you have a good day.
Re: the ice cube problem. I bought an ice cube tray at the dollar store. This tray makes cylinder ice cubes that fit in bottles. Try it.
ReplyDeleteAlso i fill the bobble quarter way and freeze it. When I am ready to use it, I fill it up with water and it stays cold for a long time.
Just bought a Bobble and I really like it. I actually don't have a problem with the thin plastic as it makes it very similar to the plastic bottles I am trying to replace. It's lighter weight than my Sigg and easier to see that it's clean, not to mention the filtration capabilities and cheaper price tag.
ReplyDeleteWorks for me!
Great comments! http://LetsGoGreen.biz/ carries a wide variety of Bobble bottles and filters. Use coupon code FRIEND at checkout and get 25% off your order, with Free Shipping on orders over $49! Tell your friends, and keep enjoying your Bobble (I shouldn't say this, because we carry other brands of BPA-free water bottles too, but the Bobble is becoming the favorite around our office).
ReplyDeleteI've had my bobble for about 2 months now. At first I loved it. I had no problems with the thickness of the bottle itself but between me and two other friends we've went through 5 filters in 3 weeks. They keep cracking along the top rim and leak really bad when you're trying to drink. Great concept but I'm over it.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the comments I'm reading on here... it seems like a lot of people are taking their stress out on their bobble! Maybe it isn't so great for sports and such. I squeeze lightly in conjunction while sucking on the spout. I'm guessing why they designed the plastic to be flexible is because the water must flow through all the carbon to be filtered thoroughly. I believe it has a pretty study design. Everything fits together tightly, and the spout needs a bit of force to close, which is good so that it does not close while you are drinking. Definitely have no complaints, and this is getting me to drink a LOT more water!
ReplyDeleteCan I put powerade in my bobble?
ReplyDeleteYea you could but I bet all the flavour and sugar would be lost in the filter. I think the minerals are also lost too. Actually... why would you want to put powerade in it...
ReplyDeleteAnybody thinking of not getting a Bobble - buy a bottle of 'mineral' water from your local shop and then hold it up to the bright light of your screen (this page works), you will be able to see a load of plastic bits floating in the bottle.....
ReplyDeleteThis is why i have a bobble, no plastic bits in the water, and saving the environment too :)
We have well water. They say it is safe....but we live in a rural type area and are concerned about nitrates. Does this "bobble" work for regular "well water"???
ReplyDeleteMy bobble-bottle has cracked a tiny hole in the side from repettive squeezing. Can I buy a bobble-bottle without the filter? I have already purchased 5 filters, and I don't want to buy another one. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if you can... you should contact them and see if they can hook you up. The spout isn't a common size so it would be hard to find a replacement...
ReplyDeleteI think the plastic has to be a bit thin and pliable otherwise you would only be able to take super tiny sips. Drinking does create a vacuum.
ReplyDeleteI don't squeeze mine and so far so good!
Hi guys
ReplyDeleteI am from the UK and purchased 5 x 1 Litre Bobbles for the family and have 12 550ml Bobbles for my daughters football team - I have had a couple of small issues with the Filter but must say that the customer service has been 1st class.
I am a firm believer that everyone can have a problem but it is how it is dealt with that matters and my experience here in the Uk has been excellent.
Eddie in the UK
Water bobble is great for the environment but has its shortcomings. Must buy their bobble made of thin flimsy plastic not condusive to the way we beat up our reusable water containers, filters need to be soaked through to be activated and the filters made of activated carbon are encased in plastic which can be recycled but not with the activated carbon in it, it gets tossed like a lot of the other plastic groups that cannot be recycled depending where you live.
ReplyDeleteCheck out botlfilter new product from Canada www.botlfilter.com just launched this April.
Used with your existing reusable water bottles with a REUSABLE filter and activated carbon filters that look like tea bags which can be composted and are biodegradable. No plastic waste. Sold in retailers in Toronto and online on their website.
This is the most eco portable filter in the market currently. As for the claims by many portable and non portable filters for water it all depends on how you use the product in what type of container and truthfully anything that is close to your lips in terms of a filter will tranfer into the filter unit, like lipstick, lipgloss, chicken wing juice etc...you get my idea and think about the chemicals in those products now transferred to your portable filtering water container. Botlfilter is free flowing in your reusable water container and works on motion, give 'er a shake and off you go with filtered water.
Just adding the options of reducing the impact of those harmsful single use water bottles and saving our public water resources from the corporations making over 50 US billion in Canada and U.S. and not current figures from water bottle sales????
Hey, thanks for the heads up. I will check it out next time I go to Toronto. I like the fact you don't need a special bottle to use the filter. I wonder if it's as cost effective as a Brita or Bobble filters since the botl filters are smaller and last only 3 days.
ReplyDeleteDo you know if they have passed any water purification certifications?
Thanks for the review. I just bought the Bobble.
ReplyDeleteCool. Come back and give us an update on how you like it... and whether you broke the plastic within a week:p
ReplyDeleteAsk a geek???????? Yeah whatever. Ask a wannabe geek is more like it. A geek would perform a scientific test to determine the efficacy of the filter in removing particulates, heavy metals, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and microbes. You just ramble incessantly about your girlfriend (who cares, I though this was a product review??) Thanks for wasting my time.
ReplyDeleteNo problem.
ReplyDeleteThe plastic is so thin bc it is made of recycled bottles. the point is not to squeeze it out. the filter is .. a filter. water has to be forced through it, thus creating a filter...
ReplyDeletei used to squeeze it but now i just suck it out and its much easier and i don't have to worry about putting stress marks in the bottle or breaking it. but i mud say i do love mine!
I'm a bit confused, because I just bought a Bobble. On the back of the case, it says to soak the filter in warm, soapy water. However, everyone else seems to have a Bobble that says to soak it in boiling water. I would assume that soaking it in soapy water would cause the taste to become soapy, yes?
ReplyDelete-How often would you say I should boil the filter? Should I every day? It doesn't saying anything about how many times.
-Also, does anyone know how the filter works specifically? I haven't been able to find any specific information, and I'm pretty fascinated.
Don't boil the sucker. I think they meant they boiled some water and then poured it into a container. Boiling the filter (or just about anything else) is probably a bad idea. I used warm soapy water when I clean it and I just rinse it off well. Wash as often as you want but generally, I just clean the spout and rinse out the bottle. It is a good question though, maybe you should ask Bobble what they recommend for washing.
ReplyDeleteAs for how it works, you can read a bit from the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_filtering
A quick brief explanation: Theres activated charcoal inside the filter. So when you squeeze the bottle and force the water to go through the filter. So the filter absorbs the impurities as this happens. This is why it has a life span and eventually the filter will absorb all it can and won't do its job anymore if you keep using it.
Technically, you can re-activate the carbon yourself and have a fresh filter again. Obviously, this is difficult since its inside the filter casing and you need high heat.
Love my bobble bottle and used it non stop for the first 2 weeks (i've only had it for 3). However, it now has a really funny smell that comes into the cap and around the bit that you drink from (this does not disappear even when washed in warm soapy water). As a result I now don't use it. Such a shame as the novelty was great. Having spoken to a colleague of mine who also has one, she had the same issue. Initial thoughts are it may be something to do with the charcoal filter, but not sure. Overall view - Great idea, not so great in practice.
ReplyDeleteI got a water bobble because I'm in college and don't want to buy bottled water. And our tap water tastes awful. The water bobble makes it taste very good! I'm impressed. I bought the brita water bottle wit a filter first and it leaked. It was awful.
ReplyDeleteHi! I recently bought a rubbermaid filter water bottle, and the plastic is really durable! you can squeeze it to no end and it bounces right back! :) also, it is priced at 9.99 for one. They do sell in Canada, the filters are replaceable, and the cap is attached- so you don't lose it! Here is a link: http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?Prod_ID=RP091951
ReplyDeleteNice find.
ReplyDeleteI have just bought a water bobble for my daughter and myself. My daughter only drinks water, hates tea, coffee, juice, fizzy drinks...everything! I want to buy her a few water bobbles for uni so that she can keep a supply in the fridge and hopefully last a term without replacing filters. If say she only used one a few times would it last for several months. I know they are supposed to last 150 litres of water but if it wasn't used for a while would it still be ok. I hope you understand what I mean! I am thinking it will be ok but I need to be sure as she is very picky as she would willingly admit lol!
ReplyDeleteJust to add, my bobble has started to show black bits of carbon in the water. This seems to be quite common. Will it reduce the life or effectiveness of the filter?
ReplyDeleteJust bought one can't wait to try it out.
ReplyDeleteJust popped back to ask if anyone has experienced the mouthpiece of the filter getting stiff. I have a real job to pull it up now?Otherwise still great.
ReplyDeleteBought the gift pack, from Design55 in the UK, 2 medium bottles + 1 filter a few week ago.
ReplyDeleteWe have 2 bottles in use filling them up several times a day and we love them!
Yes, the bottle itself is a bit soft, but, it is designed to be a 'squeeze' bottle. I have difficulties to understand how others squeezed the bottle so much that it left marks.... but that's just me....
It does not make any noises when we use it, we have no black bits in the bottle, nothing....
Also the mouthpiece is not stiff, I wash it every other day with soapy water, that's it.
I believe the bobble is brilliant, it definately increased my water intake, as you just 'enjoy' drinking out of a funky bottle.
The only thing I would change is maybe to have the mouthpiece cover somehow attached to the bottle.
The other thing.... it does not fit into the car cup holder.... a shame....
Hope more retailers in the UK will stock the bobble and replacement filters soon.... Boots just has black replacement filters (how booooooring....) so I have to rely on online retailers / ebay.
I got the Bobble today at Target, for $11 (and that was on sale. It was originally over $12.) I filled it up with tap from the bathroom at the library, and while I can taste a difference, there's still a bit of funny taste there. I don't know how I feel about it just yet, but I'm very picky about water tasting like anything, so I'll have to keep using it to really decide. As of right now, it's just kind of okay.
ReplyDeleteUpdate: This is making me a bit sick, actually. I don't know if I'm just ingesting air bubbles with the water or if it's the water itself, but I got pretty bad stomach cramps and major nausea in the middle of the night, having drank a little over 34 oz of tap from the bobble that day.
ReplyDeleteHey, you should definitely go to a doctor to check if you got sick from something in the bobble. I hope you're better now.
ReplyDeleteI think you should call bobble and report it to them. I'm sure they will want to follow up if you got sick off one of their products.
Can you get this at Bed Bath and Beyond for the small one in Canada !!
ReplyDeleteIf not Where , i am really intrested to buy it but need to buy it soon , i really need it for an upcoming event but all i can think of is bed bath and beyond but i want to be sure so ... any suggestions ?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gnc.com/storeLocator/index.jsp
ReplyDeleteI can only think of GNC right now. I've been there to buy supplements and I know they always have some in stock at a fair price. Good luck.
Thanks for all that info. We must have been unlucky as both bobbles have developed stiff mouthpieces. I am going to buy more as they are clearly a hit. Scarlet and Jones are where I bought them from, cheapest I've found in uk with free delivery, filters cheapest too.
ReplyDeleteReally interested in this bobble. Can I use hot/ warm water with Bobble?
ReplyDeleteHi Heather,
ReplyDeleteyou can get the filters in Boots now, GBP 7,-
They have several different colours now.
Previously I just found black filters, but they must received new stock in between.
If not in the shop, order online and get it delivered to the shop for pickup.
I got my bobbles from Design55 (as earlier posted here)
RE: botl filter, www.botlfilter.com
ReplyDeleteThis product meets NSF-Standard 42
product is sold online and at various retailers in Canada and going international including the U.S.
Most eco friendly water filter in the market currently.
As for price point, it is botl filter's recommendation to change filter every 1-3 days however I have kept my filter for a week of re-filling with cold tap water and no issues with constant re-filling. Activated carbon has a large surface area and is extremely porous good for grabbing onto those unwanted substances like chlorine.
check out www.botlfilter.com it is an awesome product.
The bobble you cannot brand your logo onto it so this product works awesome with all the brandable reusable water containers in the marketplace. contact me Soula and check us out at www.botlfilter.com
Cool, thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteHi, sorry to bother you but could anyone please fill out my survey on Water Bobble's for a school project, thanks if you can:) www.surveymonkey.com/s/HXZW8VY
ReplyDeleteHi I'm 15 and I do not want to bring this thing to my sports games I use bottled water for that it's just better for that but I do use the bobble for around the house and in my room and it is perfect for that.
ReplyDeleteLaura , you said about the filter getting stuck. I posted this some months ago but I can't find the post they seem o be all muddled up old with new etc. Anyway, I thought it was me because every filter I've tried becomes very stiff after a while and I have to leave it open. Surely other people must have experienced this?
ReplyDeleteI bought the bottle 2 weeks ago with an additional replacement filter. It's been sitting on my counter ever since. I can't get the filter to stop leaking black pieces of the filter. I flushed both filters many many times and I have boiled them both according to the instructions on the box and i can still see pieces of the filter in my water bottle. I thought maybe the pieces would be filtered when squeezed but it's not the pieces come through the filter as well. Very gross.
ReplyDeleteHi Jaime Yu,
ReplyDeletethanks a lot for your review, it was quite helpful, for I recently bought a Bobble bottle. There's just one thing, you talked about NSF ( the acknowledged leader in filter testing)and that it approved the filter of bobble. Now I'm from Switzerland and unfortunately I don't know this institution but I would like to know, how they test the filters exactly and what was the result of it? I couldn't find anything like that on the bobble website. You can't complain about the tap water in Switzerland, but out of habit you just drink bottled water and that's why I decided to change to bobble; so I kind of tricked myself, by still drinking out of a bottle, except it's filled with tap water :-).
Anyhow I would be very glad if you could help me about that test from NSF, for I'm very interested about how exactly the water is filtered with the charcoal filter and the exact result you get with bobble.
I just bought 6 of these for my family for Easter! My kids always like to have a 'cup' in the fridge with water in it but we've been finding that since all the changes to plastic cups/containers/bottles that they get kind of 'skunky' after only a month or two. They are cleaned every day...we have a filter on our sink...but there cups get gross. One day I drank out of my 6 year olds...asked him if HE thought it tasted bad and he said "No, it always tastes like that" EWWW
ReplyDeleteSo I saw the Bobbles and thought "Worth a shot".
I got 4 of the 18oz from BestBuy (or all places)...and they LOVED them!! I ended up ordering 2 13oz ones from their website as well. My family is 'colour coded' on the calendar and everyone wanted their own colour and the store didn't have all the right ones *g* So right now we have a 2 year old, a 6 year old, a 10 year old and a 16 year old using them daily and loving them!! (all boys too BTW) My husband and I just started using them, and I have to say they are pretty cool.
No issues with having to squeeze too hard, or black bits in the water, or marks on the bottle...should be great for trips to the pool this summer!! My 16 year old is taking his to school as well since the fountain water their is 'cold but gross'. :)
I just got one as a present. Was really happy with it, i had seen it a few times and wanted to buy one maybe. The tap water is clean where i live and doesn't really need filtering, but i just like the bottle and the concept.
ReplyDeleteWell, i don't like it. It will not fit my needs as a water bottle for sports, because i like to take a few big gulps. This only allows me about half of the gulp i'd like to take. One at a time, gulp-gulp-gulp is not possible. It will also not fit my needs as water bottle to take to college, be cause it makes a sound every time you drink. Obviously it makes a sound when you suck, but also the 'air refilling' makes a sound. If i would take 15 sips like that, i would annoy the hell out of the person next to me in a quiet, concentrated room.
Too bad.