Humangear GoToob Review

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As a value shopper I like to get the most bang for my buck.  I typically buy the largest bottle of shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, lotion, hand sanitizer, and camp soap because it is the best value when broken down by price per ounce.  The bad thing about buying in bulk is that when you are constantly traveling, on and off the trail, bulky items are not your friend.  Space saving travel bottles, or accumulating hotel freebies, becomes the way to go. Fortunately, the inventors at Humangear have added an incredibly valuable solution to my quandary, GoToobs!

GoToobs are easy to refill-wash-and use travel bottles made from a super soft silicone, that is easy to squeeze even the last bit of the tubes comes out.  The silicone is BPA and PC free, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the carrying of food products. GoToobs are equipped with a one way “no drip” valve which allows you to squeeze out just the amount of product that you want.  The less dense the lotion or product, the lighter I recommend that you squeeze, otherwise the product will not just squeeze out, it will shoot out!

The best feature of the GoToob is the wide mouth of the bottle and the ease of refilling the bottle with each use.  The bottles or toobs, I should say, are also super easy to clean, giving you the ability to put different products inside and not having to buy a ton of containers: the tube and collar are dishwasher safe in the upper rack, while the flip cap can be easily washed by hand in warm water. My GoToobs have been through the dishwasher 2-3 times so far and they have come out looking like new.  I was not afraid to put ketchup in my larger tube after carrying shampoo for the last 2 trips out of town. Another nifty feature to highlight is the inclusion of different labels on the collar.  Simply twist the collar to the desired label, for instance shampoo, and twist on the cap.  I loved this feature, but the lack of space at the collar does not allow for the vast number of contents the GoToob may carry in its lifetime.  I think I can live with that and use the back up color coding method, as the tubes come in 4 colors: pink/red, green, blue, and clear.

The GoToobs come in three sizes to help meet your needs (see the chart below)  Even the largest one (pictured above), which carries 3 ounces, meets the 3 ounce rule while flying.  Speaking of flying, I used the GoToobs at elevation and stowed them in my carry-on during a recent trip; I am happy to report that there was no “burping”, leaking, or exploding within the bottle, which commonly happens at altitude. The medium size, which I used for my shampoo, has a suction cup that is great for traveling and when you want to have free hands and don’t want to put your tube on the unsightly shower bottom. The suction stayed on for an entire 24 hour period, which I was pretty impressed with.  I think its’ success had to do with the bathrooms extreme humidity.

I had only 2 complaints, which were not deal breakers for me and should not be for you, the GoToobs seem to attract lint and fuzzies from Kleenex, fleece etc. and water can get stuck in the lid if not properly dried out.  I can’t do anything to fix the fuzzy problem, but placing the GoToobs in a separate stash compartment should do the trick.  Also, simply shaking out the water or using a bit of towel to dry the inside before putting it back in your pack after use in the shower is also a good idea. I did not have a leaking problem or hand sanitizer or sunscreen, which I didn’t take into the shower with me.

The GoToob is going to become a regular for my upcoming backpacking trips and out of town family visits. They are extremely easy to use, seem durable, and can be used in a variety of scenarios.  Don’t be swayed by the price tag, as you are getting a great product that you can rely on.

MSRP ranges from 6.45 for and individual small GoToob to $24.95 for a set of 3 large GoToobs.  For more information on the GoToob and other Humangear products, please visit www.rei.com/humangear.

Recommended for:

Shampoos, Conditioners, Lotions, Suntan Oil, Liquid Soaps, Condiments (ketchup, cooking oil, etc.), Hand-sanitizer, Body wash, secret sauce, magic potions, and many other low and medium viscosity fluids.

NOT recommended for:

Pressurized products like shaving cream/gels/foams (in metal or hard-plastic cans),Contact lens solution, BioSilk detangler, Moroccan Oil hair treatment, Some essential oils, “Gloss Serum” by Organic Control Systems, Clinique “Take Your Day Off” Makeup Remover, Liquid Stevia, Nature’s Gift Calendula Repair Cream, Bumble and Bumble Finishing Balm, Neutrogena Sesame Oil, Some Japanese watery-dries-to-powdery sunscreens, Charmar Land & Cattle Cowboy Magic Detangler Shine, and Hydrochloric Acid (duh).