SteriPenAdventurer Opti UV Water Purifier

I added this to my filtering system - I do a lot of hiking in the high peaks in the Adirondacks. Recently I did a solo backpacking trip - and camped out for 2 nights. I wanted to make sure there would be no reason I would fall prey to some kind of parasite from a brook or stream. I coupled this with another filtering system and really felt this to be a great solution. It was compact and simple to use. I will be using this for a lot of trips ahead. Great solution!

I bought this for a trip to Guatemala as a backup in case we needed it. It came in handy when we travelled to Tikal and didn’t want to buy a bunch of overpriced water at our hotel. It’s a bit of a leap of faith when you start using it and I’ll admit, I ran it twice over everything for good measure. No one got sick, it really does work. I highly recommend it.

I bought this SteriPEN specifically for backpacking and camping. I first thought about purchasing one when I was taking my Wilderness First Responder course, and my instructor demonstrated how one worked. I've spent a lot of time drinking iodine over the years while hiking, and I'm quite relieved those days are over. This product sterilizes your water using modern technology, and doesn't affect the taste of the water one bit. The button is easy to press and you can press it once for 1 liter, or tap it twice for .5 liter. This SteriPEN is durable and the batteries are secured nicely using a wide screw on the bottom that also helps keep the cap secured so water doesn't get inside. Well manufactured, great concept, perfect for the outdoors. Besides, you never know when you might need one! This would also be great during any kind of disaster, so having one handy is comforting. I would recommend this product!Pros: Lightweight, durable, effective, no bad taste!Cons: It will be a little pricey to replace the batteries.

We bought this for our trek up to Mt. Everest and used it the whole time, never got sick. Easy, intuitive, 10/10 would recommend. We even had it up in some pretty cold temps and it was just fine.

This is a really great product but I would suggest getting the rechargeable style instead.Because of this product, I will never go back to pumping water again. This product saves time and energy while hiking and camping. But I would not recommend getting this particular steripen. I wish I had gotten the one that comes with rechargeable batteries and recharges via USB. You may be perfectly fine with this product if you have easy access to CR123 batteries, but amazon won't ship such batteries to hawaii, and they are hard to find in stores here. So if you are like me and you travel with some kind of usb-charging device, it's clear that the best option is the usb-rechargeable style. Then you can charge it up before you go camping and you don't have to wonder if it's going to die on you half-way thru the trip.Another important point is that I could only get the steripen to work half of the time with the pen cover on. The other half of the time the cover had to come off in order to get the water to make contact with the leads. For a long time I didn't realize I could take the cover off (it doesn't suggest taking it off anywhere in the instructions), so I spent a lot of time being frustrated trying to get the water inside the cover. Now that I know the cover comes off, it's easy.Lastly, I agree with the suggestion of others that it's best to have a clear bottle cuz it's quite difficult during the day to know if the pen is working inside an opaque bottle.

I initially debated this purchase, as it's not inexpensive, but it's a total win. My debate centered around version, price, weight and fragility. I trust the science behind it.I'm notoriously sloppy with water purification, drinking tap water in Mexico, ice cubes in Myanmar and river water in Colombia. In preparation for an expedition to cross Madagascar, where water sources would be unknown, I decided it was time to consider my health. My last big gear-buying spree was in 2005 - it's pretty amazing the advancements since. For any hardcore trip where you risk destroying water tablets, using up iodine on other activities or serious dehydration...get a SteriPEN.Key moments I was particularly thankful for SteriPEN:1) When porters topped off a group pot of water we'd boiled the night before, which we realized as we went to tank up for the day. Wait 30 minutes for purification tablets, or, re-purify starter bottles with two wands for immediate consumption? Easy.2) When I ran out of water and found a river an entire village used to wash dishes, laundry and bathe. I ran through the purification process twice, just for fun, drinking within five minutes.Since returning from this trip, I've undergone multiple blood tests- the only bacteria strain found was contracted pre-SteriPEN. Having this, I am much more likely to drink wisely on future trips.The weight was nominal and, while you certainly want to use the included case, it's sturdy enough. I had it in the outer pocket of my pack much of the trip. I used it in multiple 40oz Kleen Kanteen metal containers, which the math was a little tricky on, but I just over-purified when in doubt. Also "works" on Camelbak sacks. I do agree with various other reviews noting it's a little awkward to ensure the wand is submerged while you're stirring (otherwise it shuts off), but it's not a big deal. The signal light is easy enough to keep an eye on, but it would be nice if placed at the end of the handle. A lot of folks warn of contamination around the lip or mouthpiece of your container. Slosh it around while you're purifying or rinse your mouthpiece off with a purified bottle. At the end of the day, my bottles were being dragged through rivers and muck so there are really only so many preventative measures one can take.Like any tool a life might depend upon, I tested it before departing to at least verify the light remained on through a full cycle, etc. I would encourage anyone to do the same.October 2016: I still recommend SteriPEN as your primary method of water purification. Also great for extended trips or living abroad.