Our Final Verdict
We give Silipint’s Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl a rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 5/5
Variety: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Value: 5/5
If you enjoy taking your dog on road trips with you, then you know what a commodity space is when it comes to packing their belongings. In our family, our three dogs have their own travel bags, which can take up quite a bit of room in our vehicle. This means we all must pack as light as possible, but whether your dog is accompanying you on a day trip or an extended overnight stay, one thing you can’t do without is a dog bowl. That’s where soft foldable pet bowls come in handy. These can be made from a variety of flexible materials, and one of the safest and most durable options is silicone.
The Silipint company in Bend, Oregon is one such brand manufacturing dog bowls, human drinking cups, and other food containers out of silicone. But why silicone? Well, the answer is simple – silicone is readily available, non-toxic, and durable. And when it comes to dog bowls, it can also be used to create a foldable product that is easy to transport. Though Silipint is better known today for their creatively designed drinking tumblers, this company got its start making dog leashes and bowls over 15 years ago. Their foldable dog bowls are still a popular product today, and a great item to travel with when you decide to take your pup along. Whether you’re looking to save space on a long car ride with your dog, or you need something lightweight to carry in your backpack when you go hiking, the Aqua-Fur foldable silicone dog bowl from Silipint fits the bill. It is also incredibly durable and easy to clean, making it a fantastic product to keep in your pet supplies arsenal for years to come.
About the Silipint
Almost two decades ago, outdoor enthusiast and dog lover Rick Fredland started his innovative brand, Tazlab. His initial design was a safer dog collar made of silicone with the primary goal of preventing accidental strangulations, but he also came up with a multifunctional silicone leash, as well as a foldable silicone dog bowl. It wasn’t until he started promoting his pet products at trade shows that he got the idea to start making silicone pint “glasses” so the show patrons could be served frosty beverages at his booth. He quickly realized this was an untapped market, and soon switched gears to create his current business, Silipint, with a mission to help people live a more sustainable life through products that deliver joy.
Silipint, founded in 2010, is now a successful supplier of many silicone items, including their original foldable dog bowls. The company utilizes non-toxic silica, a naturally occurring component of sand, to derive rubber-like silicone which is both lightweight and flexible. This material is used to produce the Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl and has many benefits. It is eco-friendly, resistant to tears and leaks, and easy to clean. It is also dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe. But the best feature is its foldability! With a little practice, any dog owner can quickly fold and secure this bowl into a compact shape that is small enough to tuck away in a backpack or even a large pants pocket. Anybody who enjoys traveling with their dog or taking their pup on outdoor excursions will enjoy the convenience of including the Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl in their gear.
Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl Overview
Here is an overview of Silipint’s Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl. This lightweight foldable bowl is a great option for pet parents on the go, and won’t leak, tear, or weigh you down on the trail. It is safe for your dog and the environment and lasts for years.
Quality
The Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl is a quality piece of pet equipment designed to stand up to squished car rides, boisterous pups, and difficult hikes. It is sturdy enough to maintain its shape, thus preventing leaks and spills, while still being flexible enough to fold into a pocket. The silicone material is dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe, and unlikely to fatigue with normal use and maintenance. Cleaning is also a breeze, with stains or odors removable using such everyday cleaning supplies as vinegar, baking soda, or peroxide. You can also rest assured the bowl is non-toxic, meaning there will be no harmful off-gassing or dangerous chemicals leaching into your dog’s food or water.
Eco-friendliness
The Silipint company uses silica, a component of sand, to derive the food-grade silicone used in their products. Silica is plentiful in the earth’s crust and easy to obtain, which minimizes harm done by the manufacturing process and makes this a highly sustainable product. Silipint uses no fillers or harmful chemicals, and these bowls are even recyclable, although your Aqua-Fur bowl should never wear out! Furthermore, all Silipint products are responsibly manufactured in China and then screen printed in Indiana. They are BPA-free and pass all FDA standards.
Shipping & Returns
The Silipint company will ship to all 50 states in the USA via USPS and offers free shipping on orders over $50. If you are not happy with your Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl, you can return the item within 30 days of purchase, but the brand requests that you email them first with the reason for your dissatisfaction. The website does not state which party will be responsible for shipping costs in the event of a return.
In Summary
Pros
- Non-toxic
- Eco-friendly
- Easily portable
- Highly durable
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Limited color options
- Only one size
Key Features
Durability
Silipint’s foldable dog bowl is made using a thick yet flexible silicone molding that is resistant to accidental buckling or tearing. It is not susceptible to temperature extremes and is safe to put in the freezer, microwave, or dishwasher. This high-quality bowl has a limited lifetime guarantee and should never wear out with recommended usage and cleaning guidelines.
Variety
Currently, there are four color options available on the Silipint website – Sun Storm, Marigold, Arctic Sky, and Hippie Hops—all of which feature a tie-dye pattern of different color combinations. There is only one size Aqua-Fur bowl, but it holds a generous 1 liter of food or water. The bowl’s height is approximately 3”, which might be too tall for the tiniest toy breeds but should be ideal for most dogs.
Safety
There are no additives or fillers in these 100% platinum-cured silicone bowls, and they are completely non-toxic. This means no harmful chemicals will leach into your pet’s food or water, and there will be no off-gassing of harmful airborne chemicals. But the Aqua-Fur bowl is also safe for the environment. Should this product ever wear out, the company can recycle it. But Silipint also states that if this bowl ever does end up in a landfill, it will eventually break down into the same raw materials that were used to manufacture it in the first place.
Is the Silipint Dog Bowl a Good Value?
At less than $20, the cost of the Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl from Silipint seems appropriately priced. While there are similar but less expensive bowls on the market, the silicone used in these cheaper versions is of lesser quality – either being thinner and more flimsy, or containing cheap fillers which may contain harmful chemicals for your pet and the environment. When choosing a silicone travel bowl for your pet, the Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl is going to be your best option, while still being reasonably priced for all the benefits that it offers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long can I expect this bowl to last?
With normal use, this bowl should last the lifetime of any dog and beyond. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship or materials. The silicone used to manufacture these bowls is highly durable against cracks or tears and resistant to temperature extremes. With proper care, you should expect your Aqua-Fur bowl to last for many years without showing any wear and tear. Silipint states you should not expect this bowl to ever wear out!
Can my dog carry it in their hiking pack?
Yes! This silicone dog bowl is both lightweight and flexible. Because it can be folded into a compact shape, it can easily fit into the type of hiking pack made for your dog to wear. Other transport options are your backpack, tote bag, or even a large pants pocket, such as those found on cargo shorts or hiking pants. For people who like to keep a dog bowl in the car, it can be conveniently kept in the glove box.
How should I clean this bowl?
While these silicone bowls are extremely durable and resistant to high temperatures, it is advisable to hand wash them with a gentle detergent to ensure they last a lifetime. However, it is OK to put them in your dishwasher. Should your Aqua-Fur bowl become stained or develop any type of odor, the brand’s website recommends using a vinegar and water solution, a baking soda and water solution, or 3% peroxide to better clean the bowl. If these methods do not work, Silipint will replace the bowl.
Our Experience With Silipint’s Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl
As a lifelong dog lover and outdoor enthusiast, I have always loved taking my pups along on my adventures. And though it was over 25 years ago, I still remember vividly the very first collapsible dog bowl I ever purchased. I found it in a mail-order catalog – a vinyl-lined canvas material with a rim that folded inward to make it flat for storage. Sure, it could hold food and water, but it wasn’t good at holding its shape, meaning I had to manually keep the mouth of it open while my dog ate or drank from it. The interior vinyl also deteriorated over time until it cracked and would no longer hold water. Fortunately, it was cheap, but you get what you pay for…
Since my first collapsible bowl wore out, I’ve been traveling with just their regular bowls, or small Tupperware if I need to save space – not the most convenient option, I admit, but better than wasting money on another disappointing product. Then a couple years ago while working as a vet tech, I was given a bunch of “swag” during October’s National Veterinary Technician Week, and one of the items was a collapsible dog bowl. At first, I was thrilled, and eager to try it out on a road trip or camping excursion. The free bowl was double-sided with a clamshell design and was supposed to close into a disc shape – however, the rubbery material was extremely flimsy, and not only did it not hold a compressed shape, but it often caused spills when in use.
Fast forward to the arrival of our new Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ordered this bowl… it looked like a great product, and had great reviews, but I had been let down before by other brands. Fortunately, this perfectly designed bowl surpassed all my expectations. Right away, I could tell this was a much sturdier bowl than the others I have tried. It holds its shape very well and does not collapse under the weight of food or water. It was a little tricky getting the hang of how to fold and secure it for storage, but I found a handy YouTube video to help me out, and with a few minutes of practice, I now find folding it to be a breeze! I also appreciate how easy to clean this bowl is – I have washed it in both the dishwasher and by hand in the sink, and it still looks brand new with its vibrant blue tie-dye pattern “Arctic Sky.” Now that Fall has finally arrived in Florida, I am excited to take this handy and innovative bowl on lots of dog-friendly excursions!
Conclusion
The Silipint Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl is a practical and stylish travel bowl that beats the competitors’ designs in both durability and safety. At around $15 a bowl, it is also affordable for any dog owner, and the perfect addition to any pet-friendly travel gear for its space-saving capabilities. If you’re looking for a dog bowl to take with you on road trips, hikes, or even the dog park, the Aqua-Fur Dog Bowl is the best option available!
