SteriPEN Traveler Handheld UV Water Purifier
- Compact handheld UV water purifier designed specifically for travelers
- Destroys more than 99.9 percent of harmful microorganisms, including Giardia
- Safe and effective without altering taste, pH, or other properties of water
- Purifies 200 half-liter servings of water per 4 AA batteries (not included)
- Measures 1.5 x 7.6 x 1.5 inches (W x H x D); weighs 5.7 ounces
Product Description
Possibly the best insurance policy you can take out for your travel plans, the SteriPen Traveler handheld water purifier is compact and efficient, making it an ideal accessory for foreign travel. Water systems in many countries do not adequately purify drinking water to ensure its safety, and even bottled water can come from unknown and unregulated sources. More significantly, impure drinking water can have nasty consequences: the World Health Organization (WHO) att... More >>
SteriPEN Traveler Handheld UV Water Purifier
No related posts.
Well The item operates as it states but you still have to trust the science of the product.And I am okay with that. The green light tells you it is ready and you swirl the pen in the water until the light turns off automatically and then it is safe to drink. The green light will flash again when you stop if the red light flashes then it was done completely.
You should know you cannot use Alkaline batteries with the item. You do get 2- two dollar off coupons that expire in July 2010 for Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries. I was lucky to already have some rechargable ones here from my old camera.(I did have to charge them) They recommend the rechargeable ones if using in cold climates.
Also the water has to be clear before you use the product. They say even a shirt can be used or a coffee filter. They go to great lengths to say the container must be clean and it will not sterilize droplets on the side of a glass to wipe those away.
Then they say that expensive research has been done to prove it does kill 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, protoza. The statement that gave me a bit of concern is “While carefully controlled microboiological testing of SteriPen has been conducted, use of SteriPen in the field may produce results that vary from our laboratory test data.” (ie…you may get sick)
I have a bunch of bottled water that is expired and decided to use it on them and go ahead and drink them. It takes only about 30 second and there is absolutely no leakage when you turn the bottle upside down and swirl it. I am impressed.
All that taken into consideration I would use it to drink clear stream water on a hike if I run out of my bottled water as to drinking it straight. I was a microbiologist for 29yrs so I know the science. We Used UV lights in the TB work room. Our biohazard hoods had UV lights turned on when not in use.
Just keep in mind it is not 100% that you will not get sick. If traveling to a high risk area I’d also take the tablets for the water just to be double sure. Oh you get 200 uses with the lithium batteries.
Rating: 5 / 5
As soon as the SteriPEN Traveler Handheld UV Water Purifier arrived I unwrapped it, installed the batteries and ran to the alley behind my house to scoop some feted, brackish water from a pothole…….Just Kidding, but it does beg the question; how do I test this device without spending a week in the bathroom? I often take day-trips to the Fort Collins, Colorado area and go hiking along the Poudre River Trail. Many are the times I have wanted to stop along one of the crystal clear, ice cold, streams and take a huge drink rather than pull on my lukewarm plastic tasting canteen. Last time I did. I read the SteriPEN’s instructions carefully before leaving the camping area. I also loaded the Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries the company suggests (a couple of coupons in the box). I scooped up a bottle of the water, let the pen do its thing, then drank it down. I felt no ill effects afterward and used it on the same trip several more times (three sessions and the batteries did not die).
Now of course there is no way (short of laboratory tests) for me to be sure the water was contaminated in the first place, but there are warnings there about drinking it. As far as I can tell the SteriPEN does what it says it will.
Rating: 5 / 5
OK, well here is the first item I’ve ever reviewed that I could not say would actually work as advertised! To do that I’d have to have water that had and/or bacteria, virus, protozoa in it. To have water like that I’d have to be in a chemistry lab or such that had a given bacteria, virus, protozoa (lets just say bad stuff that’ll make you sick, from now on).
Now I could of gone to a stream and tested it, but then who is to say there is actually something in that water that I’d be testing, and what exactly was it?
SO then from there we have to put our faith into the science of the product. Which even then we cannot be 100% certain as even the manufacturer states it’s not 100% perfect in killing everything as lab data varied. But then again that’s good enough for me in the field as it’s better than nothing.
So lets move on…..
The product itself is perfect to carry. Small, easy to use. Does not come with batteries, so you’ll need to buy them AA size, and my box came with two coupons. And they advise lithium as they say they’ll last longer. You could use regular batteries, but will they last as long? I cannot say. However keep in mind you’ll be now taking the purifier (leave it in the box to help prevent breaking), along with batteries and perhaps extra batteries. Weight wise, it’s very light. Batteries will be the main weight. And it comes with good instructions which would be good to read before you use it, but PUT THEM BACK IN THE BOX when you finish, because when it comes time to use it (and it may not be for a while) you’ll want them.
Oh, and I’d advise to leave EVERYTHING in the box until you use it. Get the batteries (also unopened) and string them on the box so it’s all together for when you need it. Put it all in your backpack or whatever and you’re set.
Simple to use. Just give yourself time, that is don’t expect a flood of water to come out in a few seconds.
And don’t forget, this is also handy should your home water ever not be “clean” for drinking as in the event of an emergency or such.
Rating: 4 / 5
I was looking forward to using this on a recent trip to India.
Unfortunately, the UV lamp on this device died on me after purifying 2 liters of water. The product advertises a lamp life of 3000 treatments (over 3200 liters), so I might just have received a lemon. However, that was of little consolation while I was stuck without a backup option.
For the two times that it did function, I found it rather easy to use. However, given the short product life I don’t have enough data to recommend its use.
~Damodar
Rating: 1 / 5
This seems like a wonderful device to have especially since we travel to Asia a lot. The device itself is not as small as it’s pictured, but it’s easy to use and very lightweight. I agree with some other reviewers about it needing a case, especially for the bulb. My only problem is that even after using it, how do I know it purified the water? It’s hard to let my kids drink tap water in those countries on the basis of this little device. So while I will not be wholly relying on this, it’s certainly handy and reassuring to have!
Rating: 4 / 5
Looks like a very good device that can replace water filters by far. Just by reading its description, it looks very promising and also its size is appealing for someone who is travelling or outdoors lovers.