Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Introduction
Last month, I took Max on that 12 hour road trip, to visit my parents. And you know what happened, with the water bowl? I put a regular plastic bowl, on the back seat, filled it with water, and then I hit a bump, on the highway. Suddenly, the whole bowl tipped over, and there was 24 oz of water, all over my leather seat. I had to pull over, at the next rest stop, to wipe it down, and I spent 20 minutes, drying my seat, with paper towels. Then, every hour, I had to stop, to give Max water, because I couldn’t leave the bowl in the car, without it spilling.
I was so tired of that, I started looking for something else. That’s when I found the Kurgo Splash Free Wander Water Bowl. It was $11.7, it was supposed to be no-spill, it was supposed to work, on road trips, it was supposed to hold 24 oz of water, so I didn’t have to stop, every hour. I ordered the coastal blue one, because it matched my car’s interior, perfect. After using it for three weeks, and testing it, on that same 12 hour drive, I put together this full Kurgo Splash Free Wander Water Bowl review to share everything I learned, the good, the bad, and the annoying little things that no one tells you about.
Kurgo Splash Free Wander Water Bowl: A Kurgo Splash Free Review of Its Design
So, what is this thing, anyway? It’s a travel water bowl, for dogs. It has this unique wedge design, right? So it lays flat, on your car seat, it doesn’t tip over, when you drive. It has high sides, and a tapered lip, to prevent splashing, right? So when your dog drinks, or when you hit a bump, the water stays inside, the bowl.
It’s made of food-grade silicone, right? So it’s safe, for your dog, no weird chemicals. It’s non-slip, the bottom, has this rubber, non-slip, so it doesn’t slide around, on your car seat, when your dog drinks. And it’s dishwasher safe, which is perfect, because I hate washing things, by hand, after road trips.
It holds 24 ounces of water, that’s almost 700 ml, right? That’s enough, to keep Max hydrated, for 4 hours, of driving, without me having to stop, to refill it. That sounded like a dream, to me. No more stopping every hour, no more wiping water off my seats, no more pulling over, at rest stops.
The whole point of it, is that it’s splash free. You don’t have to worry, about spilling, when you drive, you don’t have to worry, about your dog splashing, water, everywhere, when they drink. That sounded perfect, for my road trip.
My Story: Putting the Kurgo Splash Free Wander Bowl to the Test
When the bowl arrived, I was so excited. I opened the package, and… the smell. Oh my god, the smell. It smelled like, peanut butter dog treats. Like, the kind of smell, that hits you in the face, when you open a new bag of dog cookies. I guess that’s supposed to help, get your dog used to it? But it was so strong, I had to wash it, immediately, before I could put water in it. I threw it in the dishwasher, and it took one wash, before the smell went away.
Then, the first test, I filled it, with 24 oz of water, and I put it, on my back seat, right where Max sits. I tightened the seatbelt, around it, just to be safe, and I started driving. We hit a few bumps, we went over some potholes, we even took a sharp turn, on the back road. And… nothing. No water spilled. I couldn’t believe it. My seat was clean, the bowl didn’t tip over, the water stayed inside.
Then, Max got thirsty, so I let him drink. He stuck his whole muzzle, right in the bowl, like he always does. And… splashes. A lot of splashes. Some of the water, came out, over the tapered lip, and onto my seat. I looked, and there was a small puddle, on my leather seat, right next to the bowl. It wasn’t as bad, as the regular bowl, but it was still a mess. I had to wipe it down, with a napkin.
And then, when we got to my parents’ house, I tried to empty the bowl, to wash it. I turned it upside down, to pour the water out, but the tapered lip, it trapped the water, inside. I couldn’t get all the water, out. I had to pull the lip, out, with my fingers, to get the last of the water, out. That was annoying.
Then, I washed it, and I put it away, for the next trip. A week later, I took it out, to use it, again, and there was mold. Inside the bowl, in the corner, where the lip meets the bottom. I couldn’t reach it, with a sponge, to clean it, so I had to scrub it, with a bottle brush, for 5 minutes, to get the mold off. That was so gross.
And then, my friend, she has a little terrier, 15 lb, she tried it, too. And it worked, perfectly for her. No splashes, no mess, no nothing. Her dog has a tiny muzzle, so he can drink, without splashing, the water out. But for Max, with his big, wide labrador muzzle? It just didn’t work. He splashes, too much.
But the best part? For the first hour, of driving, it worked perfectly. No spilling, no tipping, I didn’t have to stop, to give him water. That was the whole reason I bought it, and that part worked, for a little while.
What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About the Kurgo Splash Free Bowl
After using this for three weeks, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.
What I Liked
- The wedge design works: It lays flat, on your car seat, it doesn’t tip over, even when you hit big bumps. I didn’t have to worry, about it tipping over, anymore.
- The non-slip bottom: It doesn’t slide around, on your seat, when your dog drinks. It stays, right where you put it.
- It holds a lot of water: 24 oz, that’s enough, to keep your dog hydrated, for 4 hours, of driving. I didn’t have to stop, to refill it, as often.
- It’s cheap: $11.7, that’s nothing, compared to the other no-spill bowls, that are $20, or $30.
- It’s dishwasher safe: You can throw it, in the dishwasher, which is easy, if you don’t have time, to wash it, by hand.
What I Didn’t Like
- Wide muzzles still splash: If your dog has a big, wide muzzle, like Max, they will still splash, water out of the bowl. There will still be a puddle, on your seat. A lot of people have this problem, their labs, or goldens, they splash, too much.
- It’s hard to empty: The tapered lip, it traps the water, inside. You can’t just pour it out, you have to pull the lip, out, with your fingers, to get all the water, out.
- It’s hard to clean, and it gets moldy: The corners, where the lip meets the bottom, they’re hard to reach, with a sponge. Water gets stuck, there, and it grows mold, if you don’t dry it, completely.
- It’s not 100% splash free: It stops most of the splashing, but not all. If your dog is a big drinker, there will still be a little mess.
Is the Kurgo Splash Free Wander Bowl Right for Your Dog?
So, is this thing right for you? Well, that depends. If you have a small dog, with a narrow muzzle, like a terrier, or a chihuahua, and they’re calm, in the car? Then yeah, this is perfect. It works, it stops the spilling, it cuts your stops, in half, it’s cheap.
But if you have a big dog, with a wide muzzle, like a labrador, or a golden retriever, that drinks, like a maniac? Then no, this is not for you. Because they will splash, water out of the bowl, and you’ll still have a mess, on your seat.
And if you hate cleaning mold, then no, don’t buy this. Because if you don’t dry it, completely, after every use, it will grow mold, in the corners.
Also, if you’re going on a long trip, make sure you dry it, completely, after you use it, so it doesn’t get moldy. And if you have a big dog, you might want to size up, but wait, they only have one size, 24 oz. So, if you have a big dog, this is too small, anyway.
Common Questions About the Kurgo Splash Free Bowl
I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here.
Does this work for large dogs?
It works, for large dogs, if they have a narrow muzzle. But if they have a wide muzzle, they will still splash, water out, so it’s not as good.
Is this dishwasher safe?
Yeah, it is, but you have to make sure, you clean the corners, really well, because water gets stuck, there, and it can grow mold.
Does this stop spilling completely?
It stops most of it, yeah. If you hit a bump, it won’t tip over, and the water won’t spill. But if your dog drinks, too fast, and has a wide muzzle, there will still be a little splashing.
How much water does it hold?
It holds 24 oz, that’s enough, for a medium dog, for 4 hours, of driving.
Can I use this for food, too?
Yeah, a lot of people use it, for food, too. It works, the same way, it stops the food, from spilling, in the car.
My Top Takeaways on the Kurgo Splash Free Bowl
At the end of the day, this thing works, for what it is. It solved my biggest problem—the tipping over, and the big spills, for a little while. That part worked, the first hour, of driving, my seat was clean, I didn’t have to stop, every hour, I didn’t have to wipe my whole seat, after a bump.
The smell, that was annoying, but I just washed it, once, and it went away. And the mold, that was annoying, but if I dry it, completely, after every use, it doesn’t grow mold, anymore.
The splashing, that’s the biggest problem. But if I just hold onto the bowl, for a second, while Max drinks, then it’s fine. He doesn’t splash, as much, if I hold it, steady.
It’s not perfect, but it’s the cheapest option, for a no-spill dog bowl. If you’re like me, and you were completely tired of the road trip water mess, this is a great way to do it.
Final Thoughts on the Kurgo Splash Free Wander Water Bowl
All in all, the Kurgo Splash Free Wander Water Bowl has been a mixed bag. It solved my biggest problem—the big spills, and the tipping over, for a little while—and it came with a few annoying little problems, but nothing that was a dealbreaker. The weird peanut butter smell, the hard to empty lip, the mold, it’s all a little much for $11.7, but honestly, it’s still way cheaper than the other options.
If you have a small dog, with a narrow muzzle, that doesn’t drink, too fast? It’s worth it. But if you have a big dog, like Max, with a wide muzzle, that drinks, like a maniac? Then you have to watch them, while they drink, so they don’t splash, too much.
If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: Check Price on Amazon
You Might Also Like
- Prestige Pets Road Refresher Review: Does It Work?
- MalsiPree Dog Water Bottle Review
- Kurgo Core Cooling Vest Review: Is It Worth $35?
A Quick Disclaimer
I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.