Reviews > Water Treatment > Ultraviolet > SteriPEN Classic 3 > Test Report by Brian Hartman

STERIPEN CLASSIC 3
TEST SERIES BY BRIAN HARTMAN
LONG-TERM REPORT
February 02, 2015

CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT
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TESTER INFORMATION

I have been backpacking for over 20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in Western USA. In addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and being outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid-weight backpacker. I use fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more than the bare essentials with me while on the trail.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Hydro-Photon
Year of Manufacture: 2014
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.steripen.com/
MSRP: US $69.95
Listed Weight: 2.9 oz (82 g) without batteries
Measured Weight: 3 oz (85 g)

Other details:
Size: 7.3 x 1.7 x 1.7 in (18.5 x 4.3 x 4.3 cm) including lamp cover
Batteries: 4xAA lithium, alkaline, or NiMH
Battery life: Alkaline: 100 treatments (16 oz /0.5 L) or 50 treatments (32 oz/1 L), Lithium Disposable: 200 treatments (16 oz/0.5 L) or 100 treatments (32 oz/1 L), NiMH: 200 treatments (16 oz/0.5 L) or 100 treatments (32 oz/1 L).
UV lamp life: 8000 treatments
Minimum bottle diameter: 0.8 in (22 mm)
3 year limited warranty

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The SteriPEN Classic 3, (hereafter called SteriPEN, PEN, or Classic 3) arrived in a very professional-looking retail box, the front of which featured a large glossy photo of the SteriPEN with the catch phrase "Safe drinking water. Anywhere. Anytime." The box measured 8 x 4.25 x 3 inches (20 x 10.8 x 7.6 cm), almost the same height and slightly wider and deeper than the PEN itself.

Opening a flap on the front of the box revealed very simple 3 step instructions for using the SteriPEN along with a paragraph stating "Cities around the world have been using ultraviolet light (UV) to make water safe to drink for over 100 years. UV light destroys germs' ability to reproduce and make you sick. It destroys: 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses, 99.9% of protozoa." To substantiate this claim SteriPEN stated the following on their website: "all products have been tested by the Water Quality Association (WQA) against the US EPA Microbiological Water Purifier Standard. SteriPEN has received the WQA's Gold Seal, certifying that SteriPEN purifies water safely and effectively."

Needless to say, my initial impressions of the box and packaging were quite positive. Upon removing the SteriPEN from the box, it appeared well designed, with a sleek, modern, polished look. The Classic 3 was slightly larger in size and about the same weight that I imagined it would be. It appeared simple to use with a protective cap for the UV lamp, button to activate the device, and three LED indicator lights. Nestled next to the SteriPEN I found the Pre-Filter, carrying case and user manual as described on the outside of the box.

Hydro-Photon, the manufacturer of SteriPEN, offers several different models of UV purifiers, which vary based on their overall size, type of batteries used, and whether or not they include a Pre-Filter. The Classic 3 is their original model that was recently redesigned to be waterproof and function with alkaline batteries. The UV lamp on all of the purifiers is identical thus they all provide the same level of protection.

Battery compartment

Water sensor pins

Pre-filter

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

The instructions for the SteriPEN Classic 3 were simple and straight forward: 1. Remove lamp cover 2. Press activation button 3. Submerge in clear water and stir. According to SteriPEN, the length of time required for treatment is based on the amount of water to be purified. 1 L (32 oz) of water requires 90 seconds for treatment while 0.5 L (16 oz) requires 48 seconds. To treat 0.5 L (16 oz) simply push the activation button one time, wait for LED(s) to flash green and then insert the PEN into the bottle and stir. For 1 L (32 oz) simply push the activation button twice, which tells the UV lamp to stay on for 90 seconds and then proceed with step 3 above. The red LED flashes to indicate unsuccessful water treatment, no water detected, depleted batteries, or a damaged or worn out UV lamp.

LED's and activation button

LED Guide

Anatomy Chart

The UV lamp is designed to remain off until the water sensor pins are submerged in water. It is designed this way because the lamp emits UV-C radiation, which is harmful to eyes and skin. The Pre-Filter is provided to remove particles like sand and other debris from dirty water. It is critical to pre-filter unclear water because microorganisms that are not exposed to the UV light, because they are hidden behind particles, will not be destroyed. In a pinch, the manufacturer notes that the Classic 3 can treat murky water without filtering by doubling the treatment time.

TRYING IT OUT

Using the SteriPEN Classic 3 was easy. I simply loaded 4 AA batteries in the device, pressed the activation button twice and then put it a Nalgene bottle filled with water and started stirring. After 90 seconds the green indicator light on the SteriPEN started flashing at which point I removed it and dried it off.

SUMMARY

The SteriPEN Classic 3 appears to be a well-designed and well-manufactured UV purifier. Based on the manufacturer's claims and their Seal of Approval from multiple organizations that this device will make water safe to drink, I am excited to start using it on backpacking trips. Over the next two months I plan to test its packability, ease of use, durability, and battery life among other things.

This concludes my Initial Report for the SteriPEN Classic 3.

FIELD REPORT

FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

I took the SteriPEN Classic 3 on three multi-day backpacking trips and 2 day hikes in the two months since my Initial Report. The details of the times that I used the SteriPEN are as follows:

Southern Indiana (IN): 2-day backpacking trip to the Hoosier National Forest. Temperatures ranged from 65 F to 77 F (18 C to 25 C) and I used the SteriPEN to purify 3 L (96 fl oz) of clear creek water while hiking several loop trails and also doing some off-trail bushwacking. The areas I hiked were heavily forested and hilly with elevations ranging from 640 ft to 820 ft (195 m to 250 m).

I carried the SteriPEN with me on a 9 mi (14.5 km) day hike in Brown County, IN. Temperatures were in the upper 30's F (3 C) when I arrived at the trailhead in early morning but quickly rose to the mid 50's F (13 C) by noon. During this time the skies, which started out overcast, cleared up and I enjoyed sunshine (and gusty winds) the rest of the day. On this trip I purified 2 L (64 fl oz) of clear stream water.

My second overnight trip was to Oldenburg, IN where I hiked and explored the surrounding area for two days and covered a total of 12 mi (19 km). During this time I treated three 1 L (32 fl oz) bottles of creek water which was stagnant due to lack of rain in the area from previous weeks. I made certain to pre-filter this water as it had leaves and other debris in it.

My third overnight trip was to Southeastern Ohio (OH) where I spent three days camping and hiking various trails. Temperatures on this outing ranged from 52 F to around 74 F (11 C to 23 C) with cloudy skies and intermittent rain on the third day. I used the SteriPEN in camp to purify water that wasn't going to be boiled. I treated three 1 L (32 fl oz) batches of clear stream water during this outing.

Finally, I used the SteriPEN to purify creek water at MacGregor Park in Central IN on my second day hike of the test period. I covered approximately 7 mi (11 km) on this trip with time allotted for exploring nearby areas I hadn't been to in a while. The temperature was in the low 60's F (16 C) most of the day with clear skies and relatively calm winds. I purified 2 L (68 fl oz) of water in three separate batches on this trip.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

The SteriPEN Classic 3 has worked great during this test period. I have had no trouble at all using it and it seems to get the job done as I have had no ill effects from drinking many liters of stream water. So far throughout field testing the SteriPEN has proven to be reliable, easy-to-use, quick, and durable.

RELIABILITY: During this test period I used the SteriPEN to treat thirteen 1 L (32 fl oz) bottles of stream water and it worked reliably and predictably every time. In all instances I used the Classic 3 with a 1L (32 fl oz) Nalgene bottle and the included pre-filter assembly. I did this for two reasons; first, using the pre-filter base eliminated any concerns of untreated water contaminating the bottle threads and second, the pre-filter base forms a tight seal against the SteriPEN so that water doesn't leak out when flipping the bottle upside down to stir it.

The SteriPEN is still operating off my original set of four rechargeable NiMH batteries which surprised me a little given the cooler temperatures and the fact that I didn't bother to remove the batteries from the device between outings. Needless to say I carried an extra set of batteries with me on all of my trips in case I needed them.

EASE-OF-USE: One of many things I like about the SteriPEN is how easy it is to operate. The procedure for using it is straight forward and simple. The LED's are bright and easy to see in direct sunlight, and so far they have always come up green (which is a good thing). I also really like that the directions are printed right above the Activation button "press once for 1/2 L; twice for 1 L". Having said this, I am concerned however that the LED indicator guide indicates there are four conditions during which the red and green LED's can both light up - two where the water is safe to drink and two where it is not. I doubt I'll remember the sequences and don't want to carry the pocket guide with me every time I'm out. It may be that I need to do some experimenting and see how the LED's respond to different conditions such as device not submerged in water in time, low battery life, water not present etc to get a feel for what might happen in the field. I'll investigate this further during the next two months and provide an update then.

Getting back to things I like about the SteriPEN, the lamp cover is tight, and that, in my mind, is a good thing. I can't imagine it coming loose in my backpack and doubt it would come off even if the device accidentally fell on the ground. As mentioned above, I also really like that the lamp makes a tight seal against the pre-filter base while disinfecting water. This allows me to flip the water bottle upside down and swirl it, as recommended by the manufacturer, without spilling water everywhere.

QUICK: I really like how quickly the SteriPEN purifies water. It is faster and easier than other methods I've used including boiling water, using chemical tablets, and pump filters. Certainly chemical tablets and pump filters can be used to purify larger quantities of water but I think the SteriPEN is ideal when only 0.5 L (16 fl oz) or 1 L (32 fl oz) of water is needed at a time while backpacking solo or with two people. Because it purifies water so quickly I don't hesitate to get it out of my backpack and use it whenever needed. The net result is that I now bring less water from home yet am able to travel further into the backcountry without fear of running out of water.

TRANSPORT AND DURABILITY: The size and weight of the Classic 3 has not been an issue for me and I really don't mind taking my Nalgene bottle on trips as I've always done so in the past before graduating to a hydration pack.

In regards to durability, when I first got the SteriPEN a few months ago I was concerned about it being fragile and consequently was very cautious when handling it. Fast forward a few months and I treat it no differently than my GPS, cell phone or any other electronic device. I routinely stuff it in my backpack between several layers of clothes and, with the lamp cover securely fastened, I don't think twice about jarring motions or even tossing my pack from one side of a creek to the other as required.

Hydro-Photon states that the battery compartment is water-resistant but not waterproof. In adhering with their advice I have never purposely dropped the SteriPEN in a stream or water bottle, although it did receive a quick accidental dunking on one outing and was no worse for wear. I typically wipe it off with a towel or the bottom of my shirt after each use, and am always quick to put the lamp cover back on and return it to its carrying case. As a result it still looks brand new.

SUMMARY

The SteriPEN worked great during my past two months of testing. It has a well thought-out design that's easy to use and a clever pre-filter that takes the hassle out of this important first step of the process.

I'm confident in its ability to purify water and make it safe to drink. With clean drinking water from lakes and streams a rarity in the Midwest, it's nice to be able to drink safe water within 48 seconds of filling my water bottle.

This concludes my Field Report for the SteriPEN Classic 3. Please check back in two months for my Long Term Report. Thanks to Hydro-Photon and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this UV purifier.

LONG-TERM REPORT

LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

During the long term testing period, I took the SteriPEN with me on two overnight trips and a day hike. Temperatures were below freezing on all three trips and I encountered snow on two of them. Elevations ranged from 602 ft (183 m) to approximately 900 ft (274 m).

December Backpacking Trip:
Location: Hoosier National Forest - Southern Indiana
Trip Description: Off-trail bushwhacking
Distance: 16 mi (26 km)
Length of Trip: 2 days/2 nights
Weather Conditions: cold and snowy
Precipitation (snowfall): 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
Temperature Range: 18 F (-8 C) to 28 F (-2 C)

January Backpacking Trip:
Location: Franklin Country, Indiana
Trip Description: Off-trail hiking
Distance: 7.4 mi (12 km)
Length of Trip: 2 days/1 nights
Weather Conditions: Clear and breezy
Precipitation: None
Temperature Range: 24 F (-4 C) to 30 F (-1 C)

February day hike:
Location: MacGregor Park, Westfield, IN
Trip Description: On-trail hiking
Distance: 5.8 mi (9 km)
Length of Trip: Morning
Weather Conditions: Snowy
Precipitation (snowfall): 1 in (2.5 cm)
Temperature Range: 16 F (-9 C) to 22 F (-5 C)

My first trip in early December was to the Hoosier National Forest in Southern Indiana (IN), where I spent 2 days backpacking approximately 16 miles (26 km) in cold, snowy weather. Thankfully the hilly terrain and thick forest kept any wind to a minimum. During this trip I used the SteriPEN along with its pre-filter and my Nalgene water bottle to purify water. As these three items worked well for me during field testing, I continued using them on this outing as well as subsequent trips. One additional item I brought with me during long term testing, however, was a small open container for scooping up water. This container turned out to be indispensible for getting water out of low flowing streams when the water depth was only a few inches at most. A side benefit was that it kept the outside of my Nalgene bottle clean and uncontaminated. In one particular instance on this trip, the stream I planned to get water from was completely frozen so I hiked approximately 0.5 mile (0.8 km) upstream where I finally found running water, albeit not much. The small container worked great to scoop out the water and pour it over the pre-filter into my Nalgene bottle. In fact, I probably wouldn't have been able to collect even 300 ml (10 fl oz) of water with my Nalgene bottle alone. Given the frozen stream and the small amount of free flowing water available, I decided to take some extra time to fill my Nalgene bottle and hydrate myself before refilling and continuing on my way. The extra time I spent doing this only amounted to a few minutes thanks to the SteriPEN.

To keep the batteries from draining overnight in the 18 F (-8 C) temperature, I made sure the cap was on tight and then tucked the SteriPEN in my sleeping bag. That night I tossed and turned as usual but the SteriPEN still looked fine the next morning, despite me having rolled over on it once or twice in my slumber. After breaking camp the next morning and hiking for a few hours, I again went to use the SteriPEN and it powered up immediately, apparently unaffected by cold weather or the weight of a person laying on it.

In mid January I took the SteriPEN on a two day backpacking trip to Franklin County, IN in slightly warmer, though still sub-freezing weather. On this trip I didn't hike very far as my intention was to set up base camp and explore during the day, with no set distance or destination in mind. Again I carried the SteriPEN, pre-filter and my Nalgene bottle in my backpack along with a small, open container for scooping water. As it turned out, the only water I could access on this trip was in a frozen pond and I first had to break through the ice to get to it. It took awhile for me to beat a hole through the ice with a rock and unfortunately once I did the bottom was so churned up that the water was quite murky. Not wanting to wander out to the middle of the pond to deeper, clearer water and risk potential disaster by falling through the ice, I decided to scoop what I could from my precarious perch on the steep bank. Once I collected a full liter (32 fl oz) of water in my bottle I let it sit for awhile hoping the greenish yellow color, and smell, would go away. Although I waited what seemed like a long time, things did not really improve. I'd like to say that I manned up and drank the whole bottle but that simply wasn't the case. After taking a few sips I decided to hike back to my car, where I had a one gallon milk jug of water in the back seat. Thankfully it wasn't frozen!

My last trip for this test period was a day hike at a nearby park. The temperature was in the mid teens F (-9 C) when I started out and gradually increased to the low 20's F (-5 C) by mid afternoon. Not much exciting happened on this trip other than I slipped and almost broke my tail bone in the frozen creek while trying to get water; the good news was my fall helped crack the ice open.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

The SteriPEN performed admirably during Long Term Testing. During this time I used it to purify a total of six 1 L (32 fl oz) bottles of stream and pond water with no issues whatsoever. The green LEDs on the SteriPEN lit up after each treatment telling me that I had successfully purified the water. Thinking back on this test my favorite thing about the SteriPEN was how quick and easy it was to use. Of course it can't remove the smell (or color) from grimy water or force one to drink against their will, and it won't remove contaminates such as fertilizers, pesticides or other industrial or agricultural chemicals. For this reason, I plan to research local water supplies in the areas I will be traveling ahead of time and, when in doubt, bring a liter or two of water with me in case there are issues with runoff. All told, the SteriPEN performed very well and has been extremely reliable, holding up quite well to the rigors of backpacking.

SUMMARY

I have really enjoyed testing the SteriPEN during the past four months. It is lightweight, easy-to-use and has been very reliable on all of my outings. It is a great addition to my gear list and one which I'll continue to use on future backpacking trips and long day hikes.

This concludes my Long Term Report for the SteriPEN Classic 3 and this test call. My sincere thanks to Hydro-Photon and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this UV water purifier.

Reviews > Water Treatment > Ultraviolet > SteriPEN Classic 3 > Test Report by Brian Hartman