Kohler K-10282-AK-CP Forte Showerhead Review

If you are in the market for a new showerhead then one excellent option is the Kohler K-10282-AK-CP Forte. The interesting thing about this showerhead is that it’s often ignored because people opt for its much more expensive cousin, the Kohler K-22169-G-CP Forte.

Kohler K-10282-AK-CP Forte Basics

The Kohler K-10282-AK-CP Forte, which obviously has a terrible name that can only serve to confuse buyers, has the following important specifications:

• 2.5 gallons-per-minute (gpm)
• Single-function
• Katalyst Spray technology
• Wall-mounted

That is to say that this is a high-flow showerhead which operates at up to 2.5 gallons per minute and it does not have adjustable modes or settings. This showerhead only has a single spray mode, and its mode can’t be changed into a massage or other function.

The is the most affordable showerhead with Kohler’s Katalyst Spray technology. This is a method by which the showerhead adds air to the water, increasing the volume of water coming at you and making it seem like you are in a higher flow shower than you actually are. It’s sort of like showering in seltzer water, with a slightly odd sound to the shower (almost like a fizzing), but it’s generally quite nice.

Kohler K-22169-G-CP Forte vs Kohler K-10282-AK-CP

If you are reading showerhead recommendations, most of them will be for the $100+ Kohler K-22169-G-CP Forte instead of the $50-ish Kohler K-10282-AK-CP. By the way, you can ignore the “-CP” at the end, that’s simply the finish, in this case Chrome Plating.

The Kohler K-22169-G-CP is a 1.8 gpm showerhead with Katalyst Technology and 3 modes: full spray, “pulsating massage,” and “silk spray.” The faceplate of the showerhead spins in order to change modes. Because this showerhead is under 1.8 gpm, it is eligible for sale in California.

Kohler Forte Performance

The Kohler Forte single-function is an excellent showerhead that offers great value. Installation is easy thanks to a relative light weight (not like the Shower Clear) and cleaning is a breeze because of the flat face with very small protrusions from the nozzles. The small nozzles mean hard water deposits are less likely to cling to them as well.

The Katalyst technology adds an impressive 2 liters of air to the shower water every minute, so instead of getting 2.5 gpm, it’s like getting 4.5 gpm of coverage. The water has a clingy, fizzy feeling that is like showering in seltzer water, but I really like it and I think most other people will as well. You get excellent body coverage, so this is the best showerhead for cold weather that I’ve used.

The tradeoff of the Katalyst technology and the full-coverage spread of the head is that you lose water pressure, so the water — which is infused with air — comes at you with less pressure than a comparable showerhead.

So this is a great showerhead choice if you want full water coverage but not the best if you want high water pressure, say if need to get conditioner out of especially thick hair. This K-10282-AK-CP is also missing out on multiple modes, so you need to upgrade if you want the K-22169’s “pulsating massage,” which frankly sounds a bit off-putting.

Ultimately, this is a very good showerhead and a great deal at an expected online price of $48-$55.

Price and Availability

The Kohler single-mode 2.5 gpm shower head sells for about $50 and is widely available online as well as in-store, so long as you are in an area that permits it’s flow rate.

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