Home Reviews SteriPEN – Portable Water Purification

SteriPEN – Portable Water Purification

by TerriAnn

Sometimes we take for granted just how important it is to have clean water. Many of us have water treatment plants delivering a constant stream of drinkable water straight to our homes. There are times, though, we may need to use untreated water. That’s where SteriPEN comes in.

SteriPEN uses ultraviolet (UV) light to clean untreated water by killing bacteria, viruses, giardia, salmonella, parasites, and more. Does it work? Experts have found that it does and SteriPEN has even been given the seal of approval from the Water Quality Association (see http://www.steripen.com/ultraviolet-light). You can use SteriPEN products when spending time outdoors, while traveling, and in emergency situations. Here’s a comparison of a product from each of those main categories:

steripen purify water uv ultraviolet light portable travel outdoor emergency

SteriPEN Freedom is a new item to join the SteriPEN family. It is smaller and lighter than other SteriPENs and is rechargable. A USB cable and AC adaptor are included but you can also connect to your computer or to a compatible solar charger. One full charge should be enough for up to 40 treatments.

There are no buttons. The SteriPEN Freedom automatically senses when the bulb has been immersed in water and begins working right away. All you need to do is stir the water around until the indicator light turns green, letting you know it’s safe to drink. This takes about 90 seconds There’s also an LED light (on the end where the mini USB port is) that can be used if you need some extra light. To activate that, you just hold the Freedom and twist your wrist back and forth. Do the same to turn it off. This feature is just too cool! A case is included and has a mesh pocket on the back to put the USB cable in.

steripen purify water uv ultraviolet light portable travel outdoor emergency

As you can tell by the name, SteriPEN Adventurer Opti was specifically designed for those spending a lot of time in the great outdoors. This battery-powered item is extremely portable and can be used while hiking, camping, or doing anything else that might require using river, stream, creek, or lake water. It feels more sturdy and durable than the Freedom. With the push of a button, you can purify up to 1 liter of water. Once turned on, you only need to stir the water until the light turns green.

This item uses two CR123 batteries (included) so there’s no need for an external power source. Adventurer Opti is also available for purchase with a Solar Charging Case that uses rechargeable batteries. There’s also an LED light on this SteriPEN but, since it’s on the same side as the UV bulb, the light is amplified and focused by the clear case. That means it can actually be used as a backup flashlight. The Adventurer Opti a bit larger longer and heavier due to the batteries but is still less than 4 oz. The included case has a belt loop on the back so you can bring it wherever you go.

steripen purify water uv ultraviolet light portable travel outdoor emergency

You’ll want to include a SteriPEN Sidewinder in any emergency kit you have. This system comes with a hand crank to power the UV light. After filling the bottle, screw on the crank, flip it, turn the handle for about 90 seconds until the LED flashes green. The Sidewinder will also let you know if you are not cranking fast enough. You can pause for a few seconds at any given time to switch off arms or people as those 90 seconds can feel like forever. Even the mom and daughter featured in demo video look exhausted from turning the crank. Still, it’s great to know that you don’t need to rely on electricity or batteries in such a situation. A one-liter BPA-free bottle and SteriPEN Pre-Filter (used if there are ‘things’ in the water) are included.

SteriPEN purifiers range from $50 to $120. All the items I received were very good quality and VERY easy to use. While you can always boil water to clean it, the UV light gives that extra assurance of making sure water is clean and free of harmful contaminants. I also liked that the directions were printed on the items themselves for easy reference. These were only a few of the products SteriPEN makes so make sure to check their site for more product info, including how-to videos.

Now it’s your turn to win a SteriPEN Classic Safe Water System ($79.99 value) which includes SteriPEN Classic, a Water Bottle Pre-Filter, and Nalgene® BPA-Free wide-mouth water bottle.


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81 comments

LaTanya September 24, 2012 - 10:00 am

for traveling and emergencies

joanne major September 24, 2012 - 11:03 am

i would use for emergencies and travel

Auri Lae September 24, 2012 - 11:24 am

This would be great to have in case of an emergency when we go out hiking!

Pauline M September 24, 2012 - 11:25 am

This is something I’ve been wanting to place into my family earthquake 72 hour kit!

fancygrlnancy (Nancy Partin) September 24, 2012 - 12:02 pm

I need it for travel and daily life. I travel to different classrooms at work and I carry my own water. I’d like to be sure its clean water.

Jenn September 24, 2012 - 12:09 pm

I’d like to have one for part of our emergency preparedness plan.

Kimberly Schotz September 24, 2012 - 12:19 pm

I think the Emergency one would be handy to have
[email protected]

Cindy Merrill September 24, 2012 - 12:38 pm

Would use this for travel, husband is going to Canada on business trips now, come home sick last time he went up there.

Ginger Kay September 25, 2012 - 7:15 am

The hand crank one would be perfect for Christmas stockings.

Maryann September 25, 2012 - 11:09 am

What a great product. I would love to have one just in case anything we to happen and I need safe drinking water.

K.Pugh September 25, 2012 - 12:20 pm

With 4 kids I’d use this on the go.
Thanks for the chance.

Ashley S September 26, 2012 - 12:18 pm

Everyday use on the go!

Theresa J September 26, 2012 - 6:28 pm

This would be great for emergencies and for hiking

Bryan E. September 29, 2012 - 3:47 pm

Thanks for the giveaway…would use it for travel / outdoors.

jan September 29, 2012 - 8:35 pm

What a practical giveaway! Ready to win.

Kelly H. September 29, 2012 - 8:57 pm

I’d like to have this for emergencies.

Karen Medlin September 30, 2012 - 5:25 am

traveling on our Boy Scout campouts

debbie September 30, 2012 - 5:42 am

I would want it for emergencies

Christine September 30, 2012 - 5:50 pm

the Emergency one

Pat September 30, 2012 - 8:08 pm

I’d like to have this for an emergency

Kristen m October 1, 2012 - 7:36 am

For outdoors, as we are avid hikers!

Denise October 1, 2012 - 10:42 pm

I’d keep this around for our next earthquake. Thx for the giveaway!

Tamar October 3, 2012 - 3:49 pm

I would use it for emergencies.

susan October 4, 2012 - 3:12 am

We could definitely use it for travel.

Kimberly Murat October 5, 2012 - 9:35 am

I work for an airline and I travel… a lot. Once you have been to the tourist spots, you start to seek out the mos remote places in the world, where there is not always the best quality water. I think this system will be perfect for my trips off the beaten path!

Erica C. October 5, 2012 - 10:33 am

We do a lot of camping so this is nice.

Mary Beth Elderton October 5, 2012 - 10:42 am

Certainly for emergencies! But also for hiking and biking trips.

steve brown October 5, 2012 - 4:01 pm

outdoors,, my son

Judy Chapman October 5, 2012 - 5:27 pm

emergency kit.

Heather Hayes Panjon October 5, 2012 - 6:46 pm

I Would Use It For Travel 🙂

jessica October 5, 2012 - 8:24 pm

I would use it for travel 🙂

michelle colon October 5, 2012 - 10:21 pm

my husband thinks he is suvivor man this would be a great addition to his emergency backpack! He is also preparing for the zombie apocalypse!

Claire October 5, 2012 - 11:23 pm

For travel

renee walters October 6, 2012 - 12:31 am

I’d like to have one for our emergency preparedness kit.

Valerie Taylor Mabrey October 6, 2012 - 8:21 am

travel

Karen Gonyea October 6, 2012 - 8:59 am

Would LOVE this for travel 🙂

Carrie Z October 6, 2012 - 9:03 am

I think this would be a great item to keep in our emergency kit!

Shannon October 6, 2012 - 10:23 am

I would love this for my emergency kit and for camping!

Richard Hicks October 6, 2012 - 1:37 pm

would love this to keep for those emergencies. One just never knows !

ardy22 at earthlink dot net

Daniel M October 6, 2012 - 1:56 pm

for emergencies

Jennifer C October 6, 2012 - 2:21 pm

Camping and hiking

Heather October 6, 2012 - 4:09 pm

While I am sure I would use it while camping, I think it would truly be worth it’s weight in gold during an emergency.

colleen t October 6, 2012 - 5:11 pm

i would use it for emergencies and while traveling

Jennifer M. October 6, 2012 - 6:36 pm

For travel and emergencies

Lori L. October 6, 2012 - 6:58 pm

I need it for when I go on mission trips to Central America.

Amy Lee October 6, 2012 - 7:35 pm

My boyfriend is going backpacking and this would be really useful!

meme October 6, 2012 - 8:23 pm

this would be great when I go camping with the cub scouts and now the girl scouts also

Wendy October 6, 2012 - 8:38 pm

We would use this for camping and also to have for emergencies.

myrna October 7, 2012 - 12:45 am

This would be great in the earthquake survival kit

joseph gersch jr October 7, 2012 - 2:43 am

i need it for hiking

dani marie October 7, 2012 - 3:05 am

all of the above, though i am a huge fan of camping.

Jill Miller October 7, 2012 - 5:42 am

I’d like this for emergencies

Desiree Dunbar October 7, 2012 - 7:01 am

I’d love it for camping.

Eric Peterson October 7, 2012 - 7:15 am

Looks like a very portable solution for camping and traveling. Will give it a try wether I win or not.

Melanie Montgomery October 7, 2012 - 8:28 am

Id use this for travel.

Heather R October 7, 2012 - 8:39 am

I would use it for camping and for my emergency kit

Marie Oetzel October 7, 2012 - 9:13 am

I would like it for my Zombie Kit……well it is my general emergency kit but that is what it is labeled as.

jeanne conner October 7, 2012 - 9:37 am

We camp, so this would be great for us..

Angela W October 7, 2012 - 10:07 am

I’d love it for camping.

Brad Merrell October 7, 2012 - 11:01 am

I think it would be useful for all of those things.

Chrissy Nestor October 7, 2012 - 11:50 am

For travel use.

chrissylea1979 (at)gmail(dot) com

Kate Rivers October 7, 2012 - 12:16 pm

I’d use this for travel and hiking

Vikki Billings October 7, 2012 - 12:42 pm

I would carry it in my purse in case of an emergency.

Amber October 7, 2012 - 12:49 pm

This would be so awesome for camping!

christal c w October 7, 2012 - 1:00 pm

I would like to have for hiking

shelby brigham October 7, 2012 - 1:05 pm

i need it for outdoors

Mya Murphy October 7, 2012 - 1:29 pm

emergencies!

Jennifer Peaslee October 7, 2012 - 1:44 pm

We need it for both outdoors and travel

Saver Sara October 7, 2012 - 1:46 pm

I need it for travel

Beth C October 7, 2012 - 3:50 pm

TRAVEL

susan smoaks October 7, 2012 - 4:28 pm

i would like to have this on hand for emergencies

Carole Ingram October 7, 2012 - 5:29 pm

I would use it for Travel

Sandy October 7, 2012 - 6:05 pm

I would use while outdoors and for traveling!

sandysaveseveryday AT gmail DOT com

mike b October 7, 2012 - 6:25 pm

my camping and end of the world kit can’t go wrong with using it for both

Jessica A October 7, 2012 - 7:15 pm

Outdoors, our family does a lot of camping.

Sand October 7, 2012 - 7:53 pm

I would use it while camping!

shanta spradlin October 7, 2012 - 7:56 pm

I would love to have this when we go camping and hiking

Laurie Emerson October 7, 2012 - 8:19 pm

I would have it in my purse for emergencies and also take it with us when we go camping and hiking.
lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

Juliann Newton October 7, 2012 - 8:35 pm

I would add it into my family’s emergency preparedness supplies.

heather c October 7, 2012 - 8:57 pm

I’d gift it to my sister, who camps often.

Buddy Garrett October 7, 2012 - 9:00 pm

I need it for traveling.

Comments are closed.