Water-to-Go
We tend to drink a lot of water. Between 3 and 4 litres a day each. When we're hiking, the recommended amount one should drink is a litre every hour. In our younger days, we thought nothing of hiking for six or eight hours per day. That much water adds a lot of extra weight. As we get older, we tend to choose shorter hikes, but we've also discovered a way to carry less water than we need. The answer lies in a great little water bottle that we were asked to test. As long as we're confident we'll pass by water - a lake, river, or stream, our Water-to-Go bottle can be filled anywhere that we can dip it in the water to fill it.
The best part is, we can drink from the bottle immediately - so we can have a good long drink and refill it again before moving on. Unlike the old backpackers' filtration system we used in the past, there's no tedious pumping involved. And unlike iodine drops, the water is tasty and safe to drink immediately.
I'm inclined to use my Water-to-Go bottle as my regular water bottle all the time now, whether kayaking, cycling, or hiking, and even for short distances where we can easily carry enough water. It's just reassuring having one less thing to worry about (running out of water) in case an accident or injury holds us up.
Not Just for Hiking
As RVers, the Go-to-water bottles can help solve another common problem. When we fill our RV fresh water tank on our travels, even at a reputable water source of potable water, we're never quite sure of the water quality or taste. In some areas, especially the deserts of southern Arizona and California, minerals in the water can affect both the taste and smell. Ugh! We often say, "this water may be potable, but it's far from drinkable!"
Usually, you know you're in a bad-tasting water area because you'll see filtration kiosks all over town where you can buy filtered water. It's fairly inexpensive; we've paid $2 to $5 to fill a 7-gallon jug. There are other bottled water options, of course. Some people install in-line water filters in their RV plumbing. Like us, you may be traveling in a small RV and don't want to give up valuable space for that equipment or, perhaps, you're tent camping, so the solution needs to be simpler. The Water-to-Go bottle is just the ticket.
My Product Review
The Water-to-Go website offers the bottles and filters in two handy sizes: 50 cl and 75 cl. Filters aren't cheap but they'll go a long way.
Tip: When you first insert a new filter, or if you let your filter dry out between uses, you will need to prepare the filter for use again by filling the bottle and squeezing water through the filter. This is not a big job but it's the most tedious of the entire process. However, you only need to do it when you start with a new or a dried filter. So we keep our bottles full of water, even when not using for several days or weeks. When ready to use them again, we drain and wash the bottle, fill it again and it's ready to go.
When we first got them, I was worried that the natural flow of the bottle when drinking would not be enough but I had nothing to worry about. It's a perfect flow. And you can easily drink while holding it with one had - especially important when we're cycling.
The website mentions a time strip to help you keep track of when the filter needs to be changed. In fact, only the smaller bottle comes with this feature. It tracks time, not usage. So, unless you use the bottle consistently every day, it won't be a very accurate measure.
The larger 75 cl bottle comes in two shapes. I prefer the slimmer gray/semi transparent bottle for a few reasons: it allows me to easily see the water level, the plastic seems a bit more flexible so it's easier to squeeze when preparing the filter, and being slimmer, it can fit into more spots where I carry water - such as bottle holders on my bike, kayak, and my various packs. However, the opaque black (other 75 cl) bottle seems more durable and may hold up to abuse better.
Tip: When you order replacement filters, order several at a time; the shipping charge is a flat rate.
I don't personally have much use for the smaller bottle; it barely holds enough water for a one-hour hike. It's also clear, so if you were to fill it with murky river water and then be seen drinking from it, you might illicit some strange looks from fellow hikers. But, hey, that may just be the perfect opportunity to explain the benefits of your Water-to-Go bottle. We're pretty impressed and happy to have had the opportunity to review it.
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