Dometic released its GO collection in 2022, and the Hydration Water Faucet stands out in the car camping-oriented ensemble. It promised to bring home-like water delivery in a simple, compact, and aesthetically pleasing package.
The modern-looking, electronically actuated faucet pairs with the equally svelte 11L Dometic GO Hydration Water Jug. I hauled the GO Hydration Faucet and Water Jug inside a 50L Dometic GO Hard Storage box in the back of my Subaru Outback for over a year.
The faucet filled cycling and climbing water bottles and hydration bladders. I used it to rinse off after dirty mountain bike rides or wash my hands off after messy hot wings at local pubs. It also served running water during car camping outings with my dog, daughter, and climbing partners.
In short: The Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet delivered water reliably, conveniently, and, I might say, luxuriously. It brought a convenience from home to the back of my car. The electric faucet also brought running water to front-country campsites, making tasks much easier by freeing up a hand. The Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet earned a permanent spot in my daily driver, which has limited storage space. It has proven its usefulness in my active lifestyle.
- Mounting method: Magnetic base
- Water resistance: IPX4
- Power: USB rechargeable battery
- Capacity: 150 liters per charge
- Dimensions: 6.7" x 6.1" x 2.7"
- Weight: 12.6 ounces
Pros
- Provides very convenient and useful water delivery
- Magnetic base and adhesive metal plates makes faucet mounting flexible and quick
- LED light for nighttime use
- Elegant design
Cons
- Not enough water pressure for a satisfying shower or anything other than a rinse
Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet Review
Physical Details
The Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet looked elegant enough for a modern hotel bathroom but also rugged enough to be on the dirty rear bumper of my car. The 6.7 x 6.1 x 2.7-inch hard plastic faucet head has a magnetic base, so it conveniently stuck to my car’s steel body panels. Dometic includes two thin adhesive metal plates for mounting the faucet elsewhere. I put one on my rear bumper and one on the top of the Hydration Water Jug.
One 23-inch long silicone rubber hose attaches with a quick CPC connector to the Dometic Hydration Water Jug (any water container will do as long as the end of the hose is submerged), while a touch sensor on top of the faucet body turns the water on and off. To prevent accidents, turning on the water requires a double tap. The faucet also automatically shuts off after 1 minute or 1 L of water delivery.
The faucet has an LED light to illuminate the area underneath the water outlet for low-light or nighttime use.
The Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet weighs 12.6 ounces and recharges via a micro-USB cable.
It’s one thing for a product to look good enough for a three-star hotel; it has to work well to earn a spot in the cramped confines of my daily driver. I used the GO faucet for a year to gain a solid opinion on its usability and durability.
How the Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet Worked in the Field
Daily Use by a Gear Tester
I didn’t think a powered water faucet would make much difference in my daily work as a gear tester or when car camping. I’d been fine tipping a 5-gallon jug over to fill bottles or to rinse myself or other things off for my entire adult life. The GO faucet seemed like an over-the-top, unnecessary glamping addition. I suspected the novelty would wear off the first time it ran out of battery power.
But after over a year of use, it has proven itself as a worthy addition to my daily kit. It served the obvious function of filling my bottles and hydration bladders. It was also a welcome quick rinse station during the summers after dusty rides. The faucet was also greatly appreciated as a car-mounted hand washing station. After climbing, I could immediately remove chalk from my hands and fingers to prevent my skin from drying out.
To prevent staining, I also used the Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet to rinse my cycling kit after muddy rides. And always having up to 11 L of water in my car saved me and my pup a few times when I didn’t bring enough water for our outings.
Car Camping Use
The Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet was a dishwashing savior when car camping at sites without running water. It freed up a hand for more efficient washing and greatly decreased water consumption. And it limited the time my hands stayed wet, a concern for rock climbers attempting to send multiple days in a row. We can’t have soft skin!
The water pressure was sufficient for quickly filling any drinking or cooking reservoir and for washing dishes. It was also enough for light body and gear rinsing duties. But it wasn’t enough pressure for a satisfying shower.
After a year of banging around in the back of my car and no attention other than refilling the jug and recharging the faucet, the unit works as well as the day I unboxed it. I had zero issues for the duration of the test period. The only telltale signs of hard use are scuff marks on the faucet’s body from banging around inside the storage box while driving off-road.
The Convenience and Luxury Factor
All the tasks described above are possible without pressurized and running water. My trusty 5-gallon water jugs did all of that, albeit not as efficiently. The faucet made it easier to wash things and reduced the amount of water used. The Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet provided heaps of convenience. And, dare I say, it adds a touch of luxury and class to super-common, menial tasks.
It was a nice way to fill, wash, and rinse, bringing joy to something I didn’t usually think twice about. And every time I used it in front of others who hadn’t seen it, it became the center of attention and inquiry. Somehow, a running faucet that deployed out of a storage box in the back of a car always garnered admiration.
When I was thirsty, hot, and dusty, knowing that I had such a convenient water delivery system in my car brought a sense of relief in the closing miles of a balmy ride. Guzzling water and rinsing the sweat and salt off was a relative luxury that I was happy to know was waiting.
Having the faucet made washing my hands so much easier and more pleasant that I did it after every outdoor climbing session. This wasn’t the case before. And I appreciated getting in my car to drive without chalk all over my hands. I got healing ointments on my hands immediately, and gone were the days of chalk prints all over my car’s interior.
I’m not the only one gushing about the Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet. It’s also a 2023 ISPO Award winner.
Final Thoughts on the Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet
Do you need a powered water faucet? No. Do you want one if you can afford the $100 MSRP? Yes, yes, you do, in my opinion.
The Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet introduced massive convenience and a fun luxury factor to the daily tasks of an active outdoor lifestyle. The faucet quickly morphed from a want to a need. It improved the efficiency of several mundane tasks in time and water consumption.
And the usability expanded during car camping, drastically improving washing the body, dishes, and gear. It wasn’t as much pressure as electrically pumped portable showers like the RinseKit, but it was enough for lighter-duty washing.
I must carry a lot of test gear and supporting equipment in the back of my Subaru Outback. Space is valuable. The Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet moved in as a permanent resident, proving its value to me over the last year.
