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SteriPEN Traveler review - using the power of Ultraviolet light to purify water
Clean and reliable water may be a given when you open the tap back home, but when you are on the road, it isn't always readily available. On some trips, you may be trying to locate clean water in the wilderness, on others it may be the tap water that needs some extra attention.
SteriPEN water purifiers use ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect water. There is absolutely no question about the effectiveness of UV light, in fact, your local water company may be using the same technology to clean your municipal water supply. At home, I use a commercial UV cleaning system in my furnace, and it has had a noticeable effect. The EPA has recognized UV light as a proven viable technology.
The SteriPEN traveler is a compact water purifying pen, operating it is as simple as turning it on, removing the protective cap and placing it in a cup or bottle of water. The pen can clean up to one liter of water at a time, in under one minute. Sensor prongs ensure the UV light won't turn on when the pen is not immersed, protecting your eyes from the UV radiation.
Before purifying water, you do need to be sure that it is free of particulate matter - UV light can kill a lot of things, but it won't remove dirt or other small debris. Commercial filters can easily take care of this, and in the worst case scenario, you can even use a piece of clothing as a filter cloth.
The product runs off four AA batteries, but SteriPEN recommends only using Lithium or Nickel Metal hydride batteries. On a full set of batteries, the SteriPEN traveler will disinfect up to 200 liters of water. I found that some brands of Alkaline batteries work in a pinch, but you will definitely want to travel with a few spare batteries you have tested with the SteriPEN.
At just $59.95, this is the most affordable SteriPEN, and if your trips take you somewhere with questionable water, investing $60 to prevent a week of stomach cramps is easy to justify. Then again, there are also times I think I'd use this to disinfect the water glass at the local budget hotel.
Filed under: Gadling Gear Review
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kraig Jul 7th 2010 11:55AM
I fully endorse the SteriPEN as well. I used their Journey model recently when I went to Nepal, and it was quick, easy, and saved buying a lot of bottled water. On top of that, I had no issues, while others in my group who were using other methods of water purification had some GI issues. They might not all have been related to the water, but I wasn't taking any chances.
Great products for throwing in your backpack too.
Scott Carmichael Jul 7th 2010 11:58AM
Excellent to hear! I've always heard good things about their products, but it is good to hear a similar endorsement from someone who actually travels to places with lousy water (unlike me, where my only case of bad water is non refrigerated Fiji water at the Hilton).
Aram Jul 8th 2010 12:33AM
My friend and I took along a Steripen with us last week for a trekking trip in the Andes. The device is definitely convenient as a water purifier when backpacking as it's much less bulkier than a traditional water purifier. That said, you definitely need to bring along a pre-filter and extra batteries. The Steripen we used was rated for 50 liters but due to the elevation and temperature, we were able to purify at most 20 liters before the batteries ran out. A couple of iodine tablets are useful as a backup, and for the occasional traveller, a much cheaper option – although you'll definitely want to bring along flavor packets to cover up the taste. That said, the Steripen is definitely a worthy device to consider for traveling in developing nations or if you'll have plenty of access to fairly "clean" water that requires little filtering.