Product review (5 stars): Use genuine Essick Air 1041 Wicks
This wick absorbs water right to the top in a matter of minutes. No need to soak before installation.

Prior humidifiers I've used the wicks typically stay dryer at the top then lower down the wicking material.

Not so with this wick. It stays just as wet at the top as at the bottom.

I have never tried using aftermarket wicks since this works so well.

I have very hard water so I had to fashion a quick connect water filter to my sink to remove the solids from the wick so it doesn't clog up. My water will ruin a wick in about 20 days without filtering the water. But that will happen to every wick no matter who makes it.