There are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing a new showerhead. Do you want a fixed showerhead or a a handheld one? How many settings do you want it to have? Are you concerned about finishes? And, of course, what’s your budget? Modern showerheads can cost upwards of $200, but the Kohler Forté Single-Function Showerhead comes with a modest price tag. It also promises a powerful, rainshower-like flow thanks to Katalyst air-induction technology—which basically means the showerhead intensifies each and every water droplet by infusing the flow with two liters of air per minute. Seems fancy, right? Well, we wanted to see for ourselves, so we installed the Kohler in our own home and took a few weeks to determine if it really heightened our shower’s sensory experience as much as the brand said it would. Read on for our verdict.
Setup Process: Pretty self-explanatory
The Kohler Forté was incredibly easy to install and can be done with or without the included instruction manual. Since the showerhead is wall-mounted, the only tool needed was an adjustable wrench. Attaching the showerhead to our existing water spout took just a few minutes and we had no issues with the fit or water pressue.
Performance: High pressure and wide coverage
The Kohler Forté is a fixed, single-function showerhead, but we found its spray far from basic. In fact, its single setting is packed with power, delivering a strong flow that we found pretty similar to rainfall showerheads we’d used in the past. With a flow of up to 2.5 GPM and 66 spray nozzles creating a wide area of coverage, the showerhead guarantees apt pressure. At the same time, the brand ensures that its optimized spray face minimizes overspray so you don’t have to worry about wasting water. Kohler also employs patented Katalyst technology which infuses the water with two liters of air per minute. Basically, this creates a more intense spray by utilizing larger water droplets. The larger droplets not only make the shower experience more luxurious, but they maintain their warmth better than smaller droplets. While you can’t change the spray setting on the Kohler Forté, the nozzle itself is fully adjustable; you can aim the showerhead up, down, right, or left for more targeted water flow. We were a little worried about only having one setting but we were so pleased with the water pressure and pattern that we didn’t even think about it after our first shower.
Design: Sleek and Modern
There are two main design considerations to make when selecting a showerhead. First, does the size of the nozzle match the size of your space? And second, does the finish match the aesthetic of your bathroom? Since the Kohler Forté has a middle-of-the-road, 5.5-inch diameter, a durable, solid metal build, and a variety of luxe finishes to choose from—brushed chrome, polished chrome, oil-rubbed bronze, vibrant French gold, and vibrant brushed bronze among them—we think the showerhead will check both boxes for most everyone.
Price: You get a lot of bang for your buck
Considering most modern showerheads go for upwards of $200, we found this hybrid standard/rainfall fixture to have a very reasonable price point. The exact cost of the Kohler Forté varies depending on which finish you choose, but it generally runs from roughly $70 to $95. For quality performance and build, we’d say it’s well worth the price.
Competition: More settings but lower-quality build
AquaDance 7-Inch 6-Setting Showerhead: If you’re looking for a fixed showerhead with more settings, check out the $25 AquaDance. The 7-inch fixture offers wide coverage just like the Kohler Forté, but with the added benefit of six different water settings, including power rain, pulsating massage, power mist, rain massage, rain mist, and a water-saving pause mode. The therapeutic water patterns offer more variety, but the showerhead isn’t constructed from the same quality material as the Kohler. The AquaDance is made from ABS plastic which, though durable, won’t have the same longevity as solid metal. SparkPod High-Presure Rain Showerhead: Like the Kohler Forté, the single-function SparkPod is a fixed showerhead that offers a high-pressure, rainfall-esque flow. Since the SparkPod costs just $30, though, it’s not as high quality in build as the Kohler. Rather than solid metal construction, the SparkPod is made of durable ABS plastic. With a one-year free replacement warranty, the SpakPod is a low-risk investment, so we’d say to go for it if you’re trying to stick to a budget. Despite being a single-function showerhead, the Kohler Forté checks a lot of boxes. The water pressure is phenomenal, the design is sleek and modern, and the patented Katalyst technology is a major game changer.
