Buy a SteriPEN Portable UV Water Purifier

Customer Reviews

• Magic Product!

  Review by Nyra Lang on 4/2/13

  Product Rating	100%

  I never really write reviews but I feel like I owe this one.
  
  I went on a 3 month trip to India and never bought a single bottle of water, I used my steripen and a reusable bottle the entire time, it was by far the best purchase I made, for my health and the environment , I did not get sick my entire trip.
  
  www.nyralang.com

• Best filter ever!

  Review by By Lanie the Explorar from Denver, CO USA on 11/28/12

  Product Rating	100%

  I used this product on a trip to Costa Rica, where the tap water isn't always safe to drink. It worked beautifully, I didn't have to set anything up or get wet. It's very low maintenance, very easy to store and clean. The only complaints I had were; that it was a bit of a chore to have to wait there, but it was nothing compared to iodine or another filtration system, and sometimes I confused how many times you pushed the button for the amount of water.

• Great when it works

  Review by Sierra Hiker from Arcata, CA USA on 11/28/12

  Product Rating	60%

  Works great, however after a couple of backpacking trips, the light would turn red quite frequently. I took it back to REI for a new one. The second one seems to turn red the first time it is turned on, then it works fine after that. Definitely bring a backup, but that goes without saying.

• Perfect Device For My Family

  Review by By Carmencita from Silver Spring, MD USA on 11/28/12

  Product Rating	80%

  I use the device to treat water at home. My water has so much chlorine that I need to let it stay to be aerated and lose chlorine, than I prefilter and treat it with SteriPen to be sure that it is safe now. Finally I have safe water with the great taste. I never had such a water in my life because previously I always used boiled water and it was bad because it had no iodine, fluoride and some other minerals that evaporate during boiling. And a filter is not enough because after few uses it becomes filled with bacteria and mold that are not good for your health. But after SteriPen the water is superb and it is much cheaper than other UV purifiers that require complicated installation. For my family of 3 and few guests SteriPen is more than enough. I just love it because I definitely have the best water in MD now.

• Great water treatment system

  Review by By Longstride from Wadsworth, Ohio USA on 9/5/12

  Product Rating	100%

  My daughter got me a Steri-Pen for Christmas last year. I used it this summer on weekend backpacking trips. It is best used when you have good clean water to start with. If water is bad, I use my filter first then the Steri-Pen. In the Mountains in Wyoming for the most part this is all you will need.

• Inconsistent but useful

  Review by By Lucky1715, from San Francisco, CA USA on 8/14/12

  Product Rating	60%

  
  CONS
  Difficult to operate
  Not 100 dependable
  BEST USES
  Backpacking
  Hiking
  Comments about SteriPEN Classic with Prefilter:
  I've had the SteriPEN Classic Bundle for over a year now and use it with packing up in the Montana wilderness. This year, three buddies and me were using different versions of the pen (the Journey, the Adventurer, and the Classic) and we all experienced similar difficulties across ALL 3 models:
  
  - The pen functions very, very inconsistently regardless of the model. When it works, it's fantastic. When it doesn't, it's incredibly frustrating and time-consuming.
  - No specific fix consistently works. You must try a bunch of things from drying the metal contacts, holding the power button down to reset it, reloading the batteries, and simply opening/closing the top.
  
  Before this year's trip I spoke with a representative for tips and advice which helped but still didn't make the pen more than 40% reliable on the first attempt. We used Engergizer LiIon batteries, we worked hard to keep the metal contacts as dry as possible (humidity and moisture build-up inside the protective cap can be a problem), and we followed the directions to the letter.
  
  The lid and pre-filter for the Classic Bundle need to be re-thought as I finally gave up trying to use it. The drinking tip never fit in properly and it leaked a lot.
  
  Overall, there is no other solution that works as well as the pen when it's working, and if you're in clean, clear water (e.g., rivers and streams). However, having a pump on hand is also a big help to have if needed (be prepared to pump a lot!).
  
  Improvements I'd love to see from SteriPEN are:
  1) Improved firmware. Make the the work more consistently - especially under outdoor conditions!
  2) Significantly improve the pre-filter system including different adapters for different sized bottles and better fitting pieces.
  3) Redesign the case to absorb excess moisture.
  4) A solution (perhaps with a 1 liter reservoir) that attaches to the various leading bladders from Camelbak, Osprey, and others.
  
  I like the SteriPEN a lot, I would just like to have a bit more confidence that it's going to work without a lot of fiddling and almost every use. One buddy almost chucked his into the river after numerous frustrating failures. Ugh.

• SteriPen Classic Philippines

  Review by By Rich from Ohio, USA on 7/28/12

  Product Rating	100%

  Everything is great about it, except the blue holder for carrying it on your belt loop. It pulled apart at the stiching the third day I wore it. The holder is just not very durable.

• So far so good

  Review by By Scott from las vegas, NV USA on 7/28/12

  Product Rating	60%

  PER TSA this can not be put in a carry on bag. It need to be checked...
  
  Tools longer than 7 inches (measured from end to end when assembled) are prohibited in carry-on baggage; these items must be packed in your checked baggage.

• Great travel companion!

  Review by By Inusch from Braunschweig, Niedersachsen on 7/24/12

  Product Rating	100%

  My partner and I used the SteriPEN classic during our travels through Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa.
  It was a wonderful travel companion that made us feel safe drinking any water available. Especially in the Outback where not much good drinking water is available and in South America where the water quality is pretty poor most of the time we never had any problems with our water supplies :) and we never got sick, because we were using our SteriPEN all the time.
  The best things about the SteriPEN are its easy handling, its small size (you can take it with you everywhere) and the pretty good battery life.
  We loved the independence of supermarkets or other stores, that our SteriPEN gave us.
  If you like backpacking and adventure travels it is very recommendable to travel with a SteriPEN.
  

• For the serious traveller.....

  Review by By Kate from London, UK. on 7/20/12

  Product Rating	80%

  Great product. Provides certainty that water is purified in a very short period of time. Tastes so much better than tablets, which does not offer the same level of protection.
  Glass can be fragile and this is difficult to protect when hiking. Also, on very cold water ( e.g. glacial)it is simply too cold for the steripen to work.

• best method

  Review by By OldFord from Colorado USA on 7/17/12

  Product Rating	100%

  I've been travelling in the Rocky Mtn. backcountry for 50 years and used every other kind of water purification method including several filter models. SteriPen is by far the easiest, most dependable method. Batteries make it heavier than tablets, which are not as effective, but lighter than filters. A pre-filter to get the floaters out of the water is nice but not necessary. Had a little problem once with an ill-fitting cap. sent it in, got in back in a couple of weeks all better, no fuss. Great product!

• Compact, good for travel, emergency kit

  Review by By Eben from San Jose, CA USA on 7/15/12

  Product Rating	80%

  I bought this for a trip to South America, and it's small size was a real plus. Now I keep it with my emergency kit in my car. I live in earthquake country, and heard stories about people having to walk around the bay to get home after the '89 quake, spending 2-3 days walking. Given the damage to infrastructure, being able to purify water is a must.

• Death to Giardia!

  Review by By Acorn, PCT Class of 2011, from Bellingham, WA USA on 7/15/12

  Product Rating	100%

  Remember the old Scout song that went: "The coffee in the Army tastes like iodine."? Using instant coffee with iodine tainted 'safe' water is absolutely the worst! 'Good for cuts and bruises' indeed!
  After I ran out of iodine in central California I ended up in Lone Pine with an overnight stay in their four bed ER...with Giardia. Nothing like seven liters of IV fluid to make a hiker feel human again.
  In Bishop I picked up a Steripen and never looked back: quick, easy, no after taste and great for that first cup of Joe while reclining in bed come the dawn.
  Added 'Green' benefit: one liter sports drink bottles have the perfect opening to sit the Classic in...hands off operation!
  Thank you Steripen!

• Super Choice

  Review by By Alegzandr1 from Silver Spring, MD USA on 7/15/12

  Product Rating	100%

  The perfect device that changed my life. Now I can have safe water everywhere without boiling.

• Super Choice

  Review by By Alegzandr1 from Silver Spring, MD USA on 7/15/12

  Product Rating	100%

  The perfect device that changed my life. Now I can have safe water everywhere without boiling.

• One month of trial gives a thumbs up

  Review by By childless by choice from Santa Fe, NM USA on 7/7/12

  Product Rating	100%

  I spent a bit over a month traveling in Turkey and used it in all my drinking water from the tap to be safe. It allowed me to not waste money on plastic bottles that end up in the environment there too often. I carried one stainless bottle and used it in restaurants and in my bottle and never had a problem. The NiCad batteries worked great and only recharged them once before they ran low to be safe. I'd read they run through batteries fast, but that was not my experience.

• Great Device!

  Review by By Dan the Dan from Elkhart, IN USA on 6/28/12

  Product Rating	100%

  I'm very happy with the SteriPen Classic as my "drinking water solution"! I looked at all of the options (ask my wife, I'm a bit crazy when I shop for gear) and came to the conclusion that this was the best bang for the buck. Low-weight, low-risk of breakdown, no need for constant filter replacements. Pick up a set of good rechargeable batteries, and you're set. I received mine (from my wife!) as a Christmas present as a part of the "Classic System" and I've got no complaints.

• Great customer service

  Review by By a601mom from Northern California USA on 6/26/12

  Product Rating	100%

  I have usedthe Steripen for a few years now and love it-I have taken it with me to Central America, hiking and biking in the wilderness and into devastated areas as a Red Cross Volunteer- I have never gotten sick in any of these areas. Easy to pack and easy to use.

• A must when traveling!

  Review by By CKNH, from Barrington NH on 6/5/12

  Product Rating	100%

  Read directions first! IT makes life VERY EASY! I would never hike without the SteriPEN again. You will never be without drinkable water again. You can always find a piece of cloth to filter the water. Treating water with tablets is no longer an acceptable way to hike.
  I gave the second SteriPEN to a dear friend traveling to Haiti she drank questionable water with no concerns after using the SteriPEN.
  Wonderful product should be make available to countries with poor water.

• If you don't have one, get one!

  Review by By SharksFan Backpacker from Chico, CA USA on 6/5/12

  Product Rating	100%

  I use the Classic for backpacking, I like that it uses AA batteries like my other electronics.

• Awesome hassle-free water

  Review by By sierracanon from Sacramento, CA on 6/5/12

  Product Rating	100%

  After years of lugging around a heavy pump filter, I'd been thinking about Steripen for a while. So when REI dividend time came, I made the jump.
  
  After my first backpack trip with it, I am completely sold on its convenience. It takes about 30 seconds to fill a 1 liter bottle with the pre-filter attached, and then it's a piece of cake to zap it.
  
  I found I was re-filling my bottle more often on the trail, since I didn't have the hassle of the pump, so staying better hydrated through the day. Totally happy with it.

• Great product & great price

  Review by By bigmo from Chicago, IL USA on 5/30/12

  Product Rating	100%

  I've used my Steripen on a handful of backpacking trips over the last year. I've found it works great when you can find a stream that is flowing well so you don't get "floaters". I haven't found much use for the pre-filter, you really need fast moving water for it to work well. Overall, it's much easier to carry a steripen than a bulky filter. The only thing I would suggest is to bring extra batteries (just in case).

• Great in the Backcountry

  Review by By Sanddad from Orcas Island WA USA on 5/20/12

  Product Rating	100%

  have used it backpacking in the Pasayten wilderness with water sources of doubtful quality and am still healthy . . .
  I would like to see test results using the pen in hydration bags and there are times when the submersion requirement is limiting, but I think the product is great!

• Good for traveling Peru

  Review by By Nic and Ina from Chemnitz, Germany on 5/20/12

  Product Rating	100%

  I was traveling Latin America. And I used this product especially in Peru and Chile where I knew the water quality is not healthy. I did not get an infection from the drinking water, which was satisfactory. An other good thing was, that I could save money by not having to buy my water daily, I was independent from supermarkets and stores and did not have to look for supply.
  As side effect I could reduce the plastic waste - which is a big problem worldwide and in these countries especially.

• Great so far

  Review by By Pika from Traverse City, MI USA on 5/17/12

  Product Rating	100%

  Thus far at mile 200 of my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike this has been the perfect water treatment! So easy to use and I feel very comfortable even drinking from the most questionable water sources. A few people have asked me if I've had problems so we'll see as there are still 2,400 miles to go, but I feel the classic is a solid design because of how straight forward it is. It fits snugly in the standard commercial water bottle. Great so far!

• Easy to use, great product!

  Review by By TheBackpacker2012 from Orlando, FL USA on 5/16/12

  Product Rating	100%

  Works great with a Heineken 32oz can for lightweight & fast water purification. The pen does not remove debris though, so you should use a coffee filter or something similar while gathering water. Be aware that the lip of your container, if contaminated with water will not be purified in the process. I used this many times and will keep using it till it breaks, and unless something better comes up I would buy another one. Overall, great product!