Binchotan works pretty well. Dallas water without any carbon filtration is ...
I've ordered three of these.  Each time, you get a big piece and a small piece.  Binchotan works pretty well.  Dallas water without any carbon filtration is a bit icky-- not horrible, but certainly not a pristine mountain stream (and I *have* tasted pristine mountain streams, so I know whereof I speak).  By allowing these to soak for 2 to 6 hours, the water that you get is indistinguishable in taste from a more traditional plastic-based carbon filter.  So, it's not as fast, but if you hate the chemical and environmental and endocrine-harming properties of plastic like I do, the trade-off in speed is more than acceptable.  The calculus you have to engage in is that because of the slower throughput, the longer soak time, if you're using this to retire a 70-ounce plastic filter carafe, you should plan on having at least 140 ounces of glass/stainless steel bottles (and a corresponding # of carbon sticks) so that one can be soaking at all times.  So, it's a 2x trade-off.  But again, well worth it.
Rating: 5 stars