What's the best fizzy water maker?

[bif]

Thinking of getting one for my daughter for X-Mas.

[MiddleFingerMom]

1. kick -- anyone with any info or personal knowledge of home soda-makers?

.
.
.
I drink a LOT of diet soda and soda contributes a significant amount of weight
to my bags when I'm traveling home on the bus -- making it at home would
relieve me of a lot of physical stress.
.
Thanks.
.
.
.

[Buck Turgidson]

2. I have the Soda Stream Fountain Jet

and I love it. I use it everyday to make fizzy water from tap water. The starter kit is about $80.00.

http://www.sodastreamusa.com/Fountain-Jet-Seltzer-Starter-Kit--P149.aspx

I buy the large replacement CO2 cartridges down at Bartell's drug store for $30.00 exchange. Or SodaStream will deliver it to your door for a fee.

The economics vary based on your usage. If you drink about 1 liter a day of fizzy water with no flavorings and use about 3 large cartridges per year. That works out to about 30 cents per liter. Not bad considering there is no recycling necessary!

[MiddleFingerMom]

4. I shop via bus with my walker and soda is a huge share of my groceries, both volume and weight.

.
.
.
I usually buy the store-brand soda at about 40-50 cents per liter, so the savings wouldn't
be THAT much -- but the convenience would be incredible.
.
Barring hearing about something else much better, I may very well go with that.
.
.
.
Thanks.
.
.
.

[Graybeard]

3. I have a SodaStream.

Had it for 9 months and am very satisfied with it. Not having to lug cases of bottles or cans and then recycling is worth it alone.

Easy to use, no batteries or plug in. Start-up kit will include samples of flavorings. Some are better than others depending on your tastes of course. (I personally prefer just plain seltzer). CO2 cartridges are costly so don't think it will save you a lot of money.

[bif]

5. That's the one I went for. It was $99 plus a $10 rebate and a 20% coupon.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

6. I've had Soda Stream for many years - at least 5

I grew up on carbonated water and I consume it in large quantities, the fizzier the better. When I was living in NC, it was very hard to purchase good carbonated water that didn't break the bank and didn't go flat a second after opening.

I've had all models of Soda Stream, from the 'ancient' one that had the large CO2 canister to the ultra-fancy one that I bought a couple of months ago, which plugs in. This particular one has four buttons to select the level of carbonation you want. You press the button and it does all the carbonating and releasing on its own. As I like my water throat-burning carbonated, I repeat the cycle.

I don't drink sodas, so I can't say what the soda syrups taste like, but I have saved money - considering how much of the stuff I drink. For instance, I have four bottles that I carbonate in one time. They are usually gone and consumed in a matter of a few hours.

[Buck Turgidson]

8. That's some hardcore soda drinking.

I like mine with extra shots, too.

[Graybeard]

11. Do they break easily?

Why such a frequent turnover? I realize that you have used the crap out of yours (more than normal) but are they prone to breaking?

[LynneSin]

7. MFM in the bathtub

Just saying.....

[MiddleFingerMom]

9. SpitSpray!!!!

.
.
.
I almost missed this.
.
.
.
Brava!!!! Brava!!!!
.
.
.

.
.
.

[nolabear]

10. Soda Stream changed my life.

We got one more than a year back and it is fan-bloody-tastic. We opted for the glass bottle variety but almost everyone goes with the cheaper plastic bottle one. Honestly, it's one of my favorite things.

[luv_mykatz]

12. I also have a Sodastream.

I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would happily replace it if it broke, just for the freedom of not having to return bottles to the store for refund/recycling.

And, I can have fizzy water whenever I want, as long as the cartridge is charged and I have tap water (I filter the tap water, mainly to remove the chlorine taste.). This reduces the need for late-night trips to the store.

I saw another thread on DU (can't remember which group it was in) where someone asked this question. A number of folks had the Sodastream. One person gave a great tip. They said that you get better carbonation if you chill the water first, before carbonating. I've begun doing that, and the person was right. Chilled water seems to hold more carbonation than room temperature water.

I can recommend the Sodastream.