Reviews > Water Treatment > Ultraviolet > SteriPen > Owner Review by Mike Lipay

SteriPEN - Owner Review

Background: I've been camping, hiking, and backpacking since the '60s, mostly with the Boy Scouts though I've put on quite a few miles solo, and with my kids. I am, by no means, an ultralight camper, my pack weighs in at 29-33 lb (13-15 kg). I prefer an external frame pack because I like to have places to attach "things". I prefer a hiking staff to trekking poles, compass to GPS, film to digital, fire to fuel. My backpacking is pretty much limited to weekends, and one full-week per year (usually in the summer). I pretty much stick to the Allegheny Mountains (Pennsylvania and West Virginia), although it has been a dream of mine to do a trek in Alaska.

Equipment Info

Manufacturer	Hydro-Photon
Year of Manufacture	2002
Website	http://www.steripen.com
Weight Listed
Without batteries	3.7 oz (105 g);
With batteries	(4-AA) 6.5 - 8 oz (181 - 227 g)
Weight Delivered
Without batteries	3.7 oz (105 g);
With batteries	(4-AA) 6.7 oz (190 g) - ships with 4-AA
MSRP	$149.95 US

General Data: According to Hydro-Photon the SteriPEN "sterilizes clear water by destroying viruses, bacteria, and protozoa in seconds." The SteriPEN is different from other purifiers that I've used in three ways:

1. It requires relatively clear water to start with, this is not a filter, only a purifier.
2. It works by using UV light to sterilize the organisms, thus preventing them from multiplying.
3. It works in less than two minutes on up to 1 qt (1 L) of water, 16 oz (0.5 L) at a time.

Description: The SteriPEN measures 7.6" x 1.5" x 1.5" (19 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm), which is still less than the purifier that I use to carry. The handle area measures 5" x 1.5" x 1.5" (13 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm) and contains the batteries and the switch. The "business" end, which contains the UV tube (protected by a plastic cover) measures 1" round x 2 1/8" (2.5 cm round x 5.4 cm). Hydro-Photon ships the SteriPEN with 4-AA batteries, refreshing not to need to buy batteries before I can use it (see the table below for estimated battery life).

Field Information: I was introduced to the SteriPEN while doing wilderness survival training at my local Air National Guard (ANG) base. For the last several years the SteriPEN has been standard equipment in their survival packs. With all of the different biologicals out there a single method of handling everything quickly and safely was needed, this product fit the bill for the ANG. Boiling requires a fire and time; iodine tablets are very effective at killing anything in the water, but they have a short shelf life even when new, and rapidly lose potency after opening, the tablets also give the water a nauseous taste and can be harmful if used over an extended time period; standard purifiers require assembly in the field and can become clogged. The SteriPEN suffers from none of these problems.

Field use of the SteriPEN is simple, but does not work with all hydration systems. The SteriPEN must be inserted into the mouth of the bottle/pack (requiring a minimum 1 1/4" (3 cm) opening) so that the contacts touch the water and make an electrical connection - this prevents the SteriPEN from activating accidentally and possibly damaging the UV tube, and to prevent harmful exposure to UV light. The SteriPEN also has built-in child safety circuitry to prevent children from exposing themselves to the UV light.

When I use the SteriPEN I first fill my bottle with clear water (relatively speaking) to a level that will assure that the SteriPEN contacts will be immersed; then I remove the protective cap that covers the UV tube; press the on/off button once; when the green light comes on I press the button a second, then a third time (this is the child safety system). The green light then begins blinking, I then have 15 seconds to immerse the SteriPEN (not more than 4 1/2" (5.7 - 11.5 cm) - immersion deeper than that this will cause water to enter the circuitry). Finally, I gently agitate the water by stirring it with the SteriPEN until the UV light goes out, or the green LED goes out.

If I have to treat more than 16 oz (0.5 L) all I have to do is push the button a second time without removing the tube from the water (at no time should more than 32 oz (1 L) be treated at a time). If I need to do more than that I treat the water in 32 oz (1 L) batches. The issue is with assuring the proper amount of light reaches the biologicals, not with the actual amount of water being treated.

There is a lifetime to the UV tube of approximately 9,000 treatments, although the company recommends replacement of the tube after 5,000 treatments. I average about 50 treatments per year, so I figure when I reach 148 years old it will be time to replace the tube.

Water where I live (Pennsylvania) is largely crystal clear and fast running, leaving most people to feel that it is safe to drink straight from the stream. Every year dozens of people find out just how wrong that assumption can be; even clear, fast running water can contain dangerous biologicals which can disable a backpacker in a few hours.

I lead people on day hikes and backpacking trips several times per year, I can't take the chance that one of my hikers, or I, becomes disabled on a trip. I have been using the SteriPEN for three years now without a single case of illness. Two of the things I enjoy are the speed and ease of use of the SteriPEN. The first time I introduced it to one of my groups was at a stream in Roaring Run. We had stopped for lunch, and a chance to refill our bottles, while some of the hikers were still busy filling their bottles while I was cooking and drinking. I offered to share my SteriPEN with the rest of the hikers who were waiting for their chance at the pump; by the end of the hike no one was using the pump and, since then, many of the group have bought their own SteriPEN. I do still carry the pump as a backup, but haven't used it since.

Conclusion: At $149.95 this is an expensive purchase, but when I consider the cost of a trip to the hospital it's quite reasonable. What also helps is that there are no filters which need to be replaced and that helps with the price. Since I use rechargeable batteries the cost of battery replacement is close to nil.

Reviews > Water Treatment > Ultraviolet > SteriPen > Owner Review by Mike Lipay