We’ve been needing a new shower head to replace the ugly basic one that’s been in our guest bathroom since we bought our house.
So, I’ve been keeping my eyes open for the best new shower head – but one that’s not too expensive, since it’s only used occasionally for guests.
…and when I saw a commercial recently from Delta Faucets highlighting their Delta In2ition line of dual shower heads (overhead and handheld wand combo), it caught my attention.
So, I dove headfirst into researching them to see if they’re the best fit for our bathroom.
Little did I know, though, that since Delta first launched the In2ition shower head in 2012, they have added a number of models & designs of shower heads to the In2ition line of shower heads.
TL;DR We’ll go into more detail in the article about Delta In2ition shower heads, reviewing various models & options, their features, prices, pros & cons, and even how to install your new shower head…but if you simply want our top choices, here they are in a nutshell:
Budget Choice: Delta 4-Spray Touch Clean 2-in-1 Shower Head, Model #75486
Standard Choice: Delta 5-Spray Dual Shower Head w/ Magnetic Docking, Model #58480
Premium Choice: Delta 4-Spray Venetian Bronze 2-in-1, Model #58471
Modern Choice: Delta 4-Setting Two-in-One Shower, Model #58473
Without A Hose: Delta HydroRain 2-in-1 Shower Combo, Model #58581
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But first, a few Delta terms to understand
- In2ition® – a two-in-one shower that has a detachable hand shower wand that can run separately from or simultaneously with the shower head
- H₂Okinetic™ – a technology inside the shower head that creates the feeling of more water without using more water. Special chambers inside the shower head sculpt water into a unique wave pattern, giving you more coverage, intensity, and warmth.
- MagnaTite® Docking – a powerful magnet inside the back of the hand shower wand guides it into its proper position when docking the wand inside the middle of the shower head, and holds the hand shower firmly in place once docked.
Key features of the In2ition line of shower heads
- The pause feature allows you to temporarily stop the water flower for things like shaving, by pushing a button on the handheld wand without having to turn off the shower completely
- The hand held shower head docks perfectly inside the horseshoe shaped overhead shower head and snaps tightly into place with the aide of the built in magnets
- Touch-Clean soft rubber spray holes allow any mineral residue to simply be wiped away for an instantly refreshed look
- Multiple settings for various spray patterns (full body spray, massaging spray, full body + massage, etc.), as well as combinations of hand held wand and overhead water flow
- Color options including polished nickel, chrome, stainless steel, matte black, and champagne, and venetian bronze
Which Shower Head Is Best?
I’ll walk you through some things I found out in reviewing the various In2ition shower heads Delta offers, and which one fit our situation best, but which one is right for you ultimately depends on your budget, style & quality preference, taste, and such.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Weight & construction – These shower heads are very lightweight, which could be considered a positive if you want something light and easy to handle, but it’s thanks to its mostly plastic construction.
Of course, this is not a high-quality “luxury” shower head – you can buy much more expensive shower heads – but it’s got a mid-range price for sure, and for that price one may expect better quality construction.
What you’re really paying for in these models is the flexibility and adaptability you get with having multiple spray patterns and the easily docked & undocked hand held shower head/wand.
If you want higher luxury-level quality, you’ll want to look at higher end shower heads than what In2ition offers.
Flexible hose – The hose is 60 inches long, which is very nice for being able to reach quite a ways away from the actual shower head, if you are cleaning a large shower, for example, or bathing a dog down at floor level.
But it adds bulkiness and takes up some space dangling so far down below the shower head, so wouldn’t make it a good fit for a minimalist-style shower.
Price – Ranging anywhere from $50 to over $200, depending on the model you choose (based on your choice of design, color finish, features, etc.), it’s one of those “get what you pay for” kind of things.
What you get for the price is reasonable and about what should be expected. You can spend less than $50 and get a quite low quality, but serviceable, shower head, and you can spend well in excess of $200 (some luxury shower heads we’ve reviewed are over $1000) to get that luxury spa-like shower experience…but if your budget falls in this range of say, $100 to $200, In2ition models are a reasonable choice.
Here’s a short little promo video from Delta…
One shower head owner’s video review…
If you’re like me, you may want to see one of the shower heads in action, to see how all the features really work. This homeowner did a video review and demo of her Delta In2ition #75591…
Detailing Our Top 5 In2ition Choices
As I mentioned earlier, there are quite a few shower head models to choose from in the Delta In2ition line, so it could be overwhelming for you to pick the best one, even if you know a shower head and hand held wand combo like In2ition offers is what you want.
So many choices!
But fear not…we’ve done the hard work for you, sorting through them all, and have assembled a list of our top choices below.
How did we choose our recommended list of In2ition shower heads?
We looked at customer reviews, ratings, prices, features, their pros & cons, and more. Along with having a pulse on what trends & styles are most common in current bathrooms, we then weigh out all the considerations – so YOU don’t have to! – to come up with what we think would be the best choice for the “average person”.
While it’s impossible for us to tell you which shower head model is THE best for your specific situation, you can get a great head start with our list here, and then modify your selection based on your needs, your budget, style preference, etc.
1. Budget Option
The Delta 4-Spray Touch Clean In2ition 2-in-1 Dual Shower Head, Model #75486
This one gets the selection for our Budget Option primarily because of its quite attractive price, at around $60. It’s got less features, no MagnaTite docking, and appears to be the “cheapest built”.
But it still has the main feature of dual shower heads. So, if that’s what you want but you’re limited on cash, this may be the one for you.
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Features:
- H₂Okinetic™ – Yes
- MagnaTite® Docking – No
- Touch-Clean – Yes
- Pause Control – Yes
- Hose Length – 60 inches
- GPM Flow Rate – 1.75 GPM
- Color Finish Options – chrome, stainless
2. Standard Option
The Delta 5-Spray Dual Shower Head with Magnetic Docking, Model #58480
This is a step up from the budget option, still not “top of the line”, but has a middle of the road price and has most of the features you could want, such as the MagnaTite docking, and 7 different finishes to choose from.
Average Customer Rating: 4 out of 5
Features:
- H₂Okinetic™ – Yes
- MagnaTite® Docking – Yes
- Pause Control – Yes
- Hose Length – 60 inches
- GPM Flow Rate – 1.75 GPM
- Color Finish Options – matte black, champagne bronze, black stainless, chrome, polished nickel, venetian bronze, stainless
3. Premium Option
The Delta 4-Spray Venetian Bronze 2-in-1, Model #58471
A key feature of this model that many buyers like is the higher flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute, compared to 1.75 of the previous models we’ve covered.
It’s also got a longer, stretchable hose, and it too has 6 different finishes to choose from.
Average Customer Rating: 4.3 out of 5
Features:
- H₂Okinetic™ – Yes
- MagnaTite® Docking – Yes
- Pause Control – Yes
- Hose Length – 60 to 82 inches stretchable metal hose
- GPM Flow Rate – 2.5 GPM
- Color Finish Options – matte black, champagne bronze, chrome, polished nickel, venetian bronze, stainless
4. Modern Option
The Delta 4-Setting Two-in-One Shower Head, Model #58473
If it’s a modern look you like, the square/rectangular design of this model is the one for you. Choose something like a matte black or stainless finish, and you’ll be as trendy as trendy can be.
Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Features:
- H₂Okinetic™ – Yes
- MagnaTite® Docking – Yes
- Pause Control – Yes
- Hose Length – 60 inches
- GPM Flow Rate – 1.75 GPM
- Color Finish Options – matte black, champagne bronze, black stainless, chrome, polished nickel, venetian bronze, stainless
5. Hoseless Option
The Delta HydroRain 2-in-1 Shower Combo, Model #58581
If you like the dual shower head feature In2ition is known for, but you don’t want the clunky hose hanging down and getting in your way, this could be what you’re looking for.
With its “rain can” shower, this HydroRain model also has a modern flare that will fit many bathroom renovations today.
Average Customer Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Features:
- H₂Okinetic™ – Yes
- MagnaTite® Docking – No
- Pause Control – Yes
- Hose Length – None
- GPM Flow Rate – 1.75 GPM
- Color Finish Options – matte black, champagne bronze, chrome, polished nickel, venetian bronze, stainless
How to Install a Delta In2ition Shower Head
Installation of a shower head from Delta is pretty straightforward and simple.
Tools and supplies you’ll want to have handy:
- Your new Delta In2ition shower head (of course!)
- Teflon tape
- Channel locks
- An old rag
First, you’ll want to remove the existing shower head. Grab your pair of channel locks and twist counterclockwise on the base of the shower head where it connects to the shower arm. Just loosen it enough with the channel locks to where you can finish unscrewing the nut the rest of the way by hand.
Once you’ve removed the prior shower head, take off old teflon tape if there was any, and clean up the threading on the shower arm.
Then, wrap teflon tape 3 or 4 times around the threading of the shower arm.
Now you’re ready to install the new shower head onto the shower arm. Tighten the nut onto the shower arm as much as you can by hand…in most cases, this is enough, as the rubber washer inside helps seal off the junction from leaking. But if you’re not able to get it tight enough by hand, use your channel locks and an old rag (to protect the surface of the new shower head where you’re tightening) and finish tightening it.
So, by this point, you’ve got the new overhead part of the shower head attached. Next. you’ll want to add on the hose & handheld wand.
To do so, simply hand tighten the end of the flexible hose onto the connection point behind the shower head, next to the built-in diverter valve. Before you do that though, be sure the rubber washer is inside the end of the hose…this is what seals off the connection from leaking, and also allows us the convenience of simply hand tightening the hose onto the shower head.
Once that’s connected, you can “dock” the handheld wand at the other end of the hose into its rightful position inside the overhead piece of the shower head unit.
Here is a video from Home Repair Tutor to walk you through these few simple steps to get your new Delta In2ition shower head installed correctly!
