battle of the cool mist humidifiers

I said in the quest for a humidifier that doesn't suck that I would list off the other humidifiers I tried out, so here it is.

Money was spent on all this, so if you're looking to get a humidifier or replace one, this will give you some good insight on what NOT to buy.

Before I begin, I'm still using the Frida Baby 3-in-1; that hasn't changed because it's still the best of the lot. Easy carry handle, easy refill, easy cleaning, infinite-adjust control knob, and it just works. There is however one thing that I personally don't have a problem with, but others might. Tank size. You might want something larger. If so, keep reading.

I'm going to list these off from worst to second best, being the best one was the Frida.

Equate Cool Mist Humidifier

This one literally didn't last 5 minutes before it broke.

I unpacked it carefully, filled the tank halfway with cool tap water, ran it, then the tank cracked and it started leaking all over the place.

Total garbage.

Safety 1st Everyday Cool Mist Humidifier

This one actually works, but just barely as it hardly generates any mist at all. Maybe this would be good for an office cubicle, a very small bathroom, or a baby crib, but not much else.

It is also infuriating that the front "button" isn't a button but a touch point with no tactile response at all. Also notice there is no knob present. You get 3 mist settings and that's it, and there's barely a difference from one to the next.

Not total garbage, but still garbage.

Safety 1st Easy-Fill Cool Mist Humidifier

True to its word, this is easy to fill. Also, notice it has a knob, and it's infinite-adjust. Very good.

And then things go downhill from there because it does not throw a good amount of mist. This is again something only meant for small spaces.

Vicks FilterFree Cool Mist Humidifier

Now we're talking.

Out of all the humidifiers I tried (including the Frida), this is the only one that throws a lot of mist on max setting. If you can't find this at your local department store, try eBay.

It holds a full gallon of water, and there is a space that acts as a carry handle in the back. There is a side compartment for "VapoPads" to add scent, but it's not necessary to use one. You can leave the side compartment empty and the humidifier will still work as it should, but still, nice to have the option.

The tank is made of good material and doesn't feel flimsy. Front knob is large, infinite-adjust and has a light on it to let you know the unit is on. Operation is as easy as it gets.

There are only two issues with this particular humidifier.

First, the tank is tall, so it can't be filled in a bathroom sink. You'll have to bring it to the kitchen to do that.

Second, light dripping noises are heard if you go anywhere past a 1/4 turn. This is not a flaw but rather just how the mechanism for this particular humidifier works.

The dripping noise is not loud, but there. And this is the only reason I don't use this in my bedroom. It is otherwise a solid, well-designed, good humidifier.

For a 1-gal humidifier that can truly throw some mist and can run at maximum misting for almost 3 days before needing a refill, you can't get any better than the Vicks.

However.. I'm using the Frida because it barely makes any dripping noise (basically silent), I can refill the tank in a bathroom sink, or leave the humidifier where it is, pull the top off and refill with a measuring cup, water bottle, jug or whatever.

It is convenience reasons that made the Frida win out in the end. Or more specifically, convenience for me. You might want the bigger tank and more mist. If so, then you want the Vicks. But it will make light dripping noises and there's no way around that unless you run it at the lowest setting.

Published 2025 Jul 29