Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Thoughts/Experiences with Steripen?

I'm planning to hike the entire JMT near end of August and have been considering the Steripen for my water purification tool. The device seems just too good to be true, so simple and light weight.

I'm wondering about the down sides? Reliability of a battery powered device? With water levels being low this year and that time of year, will it matter that the Steripen does not filter water? Other things to consider?

One other post in this forum mentions his Steripen stopped working, but it sounded like that was a matter of not having fresh replacement batteries. Anyone have any real life/trail experience with the Steripen as far as how quickly it uses up batteries?

Any and all comments/thoughts are welcome, especially from anyone with actual field experience with Steripen.

David

I used a steripen on my MW trip in June and absolutely loved it. It is almost too good to be true. Just dip a widemouth container into water and stir. Very easy!!! I did have to use a coffee filter once to filter a little floating algae.That was just for esthetics.Just use lithium batteries and carry a backup set and you not have worry about running out of battery.

This is just a copy/paste of a previous post I made about it:

<snip>

I've been using the SteriPen for the past few months and I really like it. It uses 4AA batteries..which is convenient since I use the same batteries for my digital camera..so I just take them out of the camera when I want to sterilize water. Seems to work fine (I haven't gotten sick yet anyway) and is much faster than using a pump filter. Also..in the winter I used to have problems with my Katadyn pocket filter icing up when the temperatures were low...no such problem with the SteriPen. The one drawback though..is that you have to be able to fill your container to use the SteriPen. With a pump filter, you can usually put the hose into a pretty small pool of water or crevice and pump out the water..with the SteriPen you'll have to have some means of getting the water into your Nalgene bottle or whatever. Also..be aware that it doesn't work on silty or muddy water..it must be relatively clear water to work properly. There is a silt/particulate pre-filter that you can put on your Nalgene bottle..I have it..but haven't used it yet.

Oh..and one more thing..the SteriPen "lamp" does have a finite life. I can't remember exactly what the life of the lamp is..might have been something like 3000 or 4000 applications. Probably enough to last a lifetime of hiking for most people..but just so you are aware...

<and another post>

Yep..after my last few hiking trips out here on the east coast..I gotta say the SteriPen is awesome. Beats trying to get the intake hose to float in just the right place while I wear out my arms pumping my Katadyn Pocket Filter (which clogs with ice when it is near freezing..).. I too use lithium batteries..and lucky for me my digital camera also uses AA batteries so my spares work for both the camera and the SteriPen. Oh..and even though the SteriPen looks fragile because of the little glass tube..if you pick one up sometime and feel the tube..it is really thick and sturdy glass..you'd have to try pretty hard (I think) to break it..

Regards..
Chris

It is hard to say it works better than nothing at all because that is what I've been using the last three years in the Sierra and have not gotten sick. The only time I used it was on the MMWT in May...I did not have intestinal problems after the trip.

I will most likely buy one to use in the questionable areas of the Sierra...eventually.

Hi David

I, too, have posted on WPSMB regarding my thoughts on the SteriPen. I purchased the SteriPEN Adventurer. It retails for $129.00 and includes 2 CR123 rechargeable batteries(I got 20% off). The Adventurer weighs 4 oz.; the original weighs 8 oz. The Adventurer uses 2 CR123 batteries (the original uses 4 AA batteries). The Adventurer has an optional carrying case with an integrated solar recharger panel on its cover that can charge two CR123 rechargeable batteries. In addition to solar power, the carrying case can be plugged into a cigarette lighter. It also has space inside its foam-lined interior to store extra batteries, along with the SteriPEN Adventurer. Another benefit is the ability to recharge CR123 photo batteries for a camera. You can purchase (very inexpensive) a water bottle pre-filter that you can screw onto your Nalgene bottle if needed (I carry it but haven't used it yet).

I am very happy with my SteriPEN Adventurer! I used it all 7 days on Kilimanjaro.

MC

Last summer I did the JMT, and before my trip I went to the REI in Seattle, and just happened to be there when the Steri-pen Rep was there talking to the sales people. I liked the idea that it was easy to use and lighter than most filters (even with the batteries), but even while the Rep was there, it didn't work smoothly. The Rep said that it was probably because the salesperson had tried to use a combination of regular and lithium batteries. (not a big deal, but something to keep in mind).

I asked the Rep if it could be used in a hydration bladder (which is what I use), and he said "no". The Rep said that they didn't recomend a quantity of water larger than 32 ounces, or a large nalgene-type container, which would take approximately 90 seconds. Walter could be treated in a Nalgene bottle, then transfered into a bladder.

He went on to explain there were two timing options - one "click" for 32 oz. / two "clicks" for 16 oz., but the drain on the battery life is about the same, regardless if you use it for 16 or 32 ounces. the biggest draw on the batteries is just to get it started; the extra time for the larger water quantity made little difference in battery life.

The Rep said that the four batteries were good for approximately 50 applications. I can't remember what he said about the temperature of the water, but it seems to me that there was a minimum temperature issue.

After the Rep left, I asked the two sales people if they had any experience with the Steri-pen... one said that he's had one for about a year and has had good experience with it. The other said he was skeptical and stuck with his simple, field-tested gear. Because I've known the latter for a long time, and his recomendations have always been good, I decided to stick with my Katadyn Hiker.

Good luck on your hike... have a GREAT time!!!

I bought one of the first original four-battery models at REI when they first came out. I used it in the Sierras for one trip and then again on Kauai on the Kalalau trail. It worked great, no problems whatsoever. I think I spent more time answering questions about such an odd looking device, than actually treating water. People were really interested in it. Then I took it to Yosemite, about five months after the Hawaii trip. Luckily my aunt had a standard water filter with her, because I kept getting an error light on the Steri Pen. I had the instructions and tried to troubleshoot, however, I was unable to get it working again. I was pretty disappointed, but at least REI took it back, no questions asked.

It has been about three years now, and when I saw that there was a new model available, the Adventurer, I decided to give the Steri Pen another try.

I haven't had the opportunity to try the new one yet, but I will in a few days in Yosemite.

I will report back on the second try. I will be near treated water every day, so I will not be relying solely on the Steri Pen, so I figure this will be a good test period.

I am with wbtravis -- leave it home!

Have you read the thread on Giardia:   Water and Giardia around Mt. Whitney   Be sure to read the post from Bob R.

I would go without any filter or treatment at all. I have not done the entire JMT, but on the parts I have done, and everywhere else in the Sierra including Half Dome, I just dip and drink. And I drink a lot more, since it is so easy to obtain. Filtering or treating water is a nuisance, and the result is that you may drink less.

I've done the same (just drank water from the source), on weekend trips, and on short hikes where I felt pretty comfortable with the water sources.

But any time I'm on an extended backpacking trip, I've treated my water. It's probably even less of a risk in the backcountry, but my concern is always that I've taken a huge amount of time off from work, and probably won't be able to do it again for a few years, so I don't want to take any chances on getting sick and not being able to finish my hike. Especially if it's something as easy as filtering/trreating water.

I pretty much just take it for granted.... I find a beautiful spot to filter, and just enjoy my surroundings as I pump. It really only takes a few minutes.

DRD: I remember your adventure with your Steripen... <giggle>

I love my Steripen. It's very convenient and quick, and smaller/lighter than my HikerPro from Katydyn. I'll be taking it with me in two weeks, and since I have to carry AA batt's for my camera, it wasn't a prob to throw in a few more for the SP. I still have the pump, but I'll reserve it for areas that I know the water's murky (like if I ever back out to Bryce/Zion/Escalante again. hopefully in the near future!).

-L

I appreciate everyone's input and, of course, welcome more.

I'm not one to be paranoid about water contamination and am willing to accept that the whole back country "must-filter-water" thing is overblown. And, although it's been a long while since I've been anywhere I thought it was okay to do do, I am one that loves dipping my cup straight into a mountain stream and savoring the nectar straight from the source. But, planning to be on the trail for three weeks, I'd like to have some "Insurance", especially for any dicey situations, especially during a low water year at a low water time of the year.

So, so far this discussion is leading me toward the SteriPen. It's easy, it's light, it doesn't change the taste of the water, and should it fail, well, then I can join the "you-don't-need-to-filter" folks. (Though I might still add a few water treatment pills to my kit as a back-up should I have to drink from a questionable tarn or such in some compromised/emergency situation.)

But the jury still seems to be out as to the absolute reliability of the SteriPen for a multi-week journey. So, more info/experiences are welcome and encouraged.

David,

I'm the user who you referenced in your initial post about failure of the SteriPen after 4 days in the wilderness. Well I'm happy (sad?) to report that it was indeed a battery failure that took the device down and not a mechanical failure of the pen itself. I should have had a backup on the batteries (2 CR123 Lithium "photo" batteries- I have the SteriPen Adventurer) but I thought incorrectly that since this was a new unit and it came with "new" batteries they should work for the entire trip...WRONG assumption! I just purchased two new batteries tonight and the SteriPen fired up without a problem! Lesson learned. Our experience with the Pen for the first 4 days was a breeze! It worked extremely well...only negative comment would be the lack of filtering small amounts of lake or stream sediments but it really wasn't that big of an issue on this trip.

I should also point out that I had to find two emergency water sources on the trail (the spring at the tarn above Guitar Lake and the spring around switchback #27?? on the MMWT) due to no SteriPen but I had no problems at these two sources of H2O as others on this board have reported before. (as Bob R. would say- "drink smart") Good luck on your trip. The SteriPen is wonderful- I just didn't have a backup plan in place for replacement batteries. Dumb!

Oh..and Kurt Wedberg posted this message a couple months ago about the SteriPen:

In my Whitney talks in a couple weeks back I had a SteriPen with me. I haven't used a Miox before so I can't comment on it. I have used the SteriPen and really like it. We took it to Africa for use on Kilimanjaro and it worked great. Nobody in our group got sick. Normally our Chagga staff boils all our water and that works fine but we tried the SteriPen so we could have water available immediately.

The lamp is supposedly good for 5000 uses. It takes four AA batteries. Get lithium batteries. They are lighter and last much longer. They're good for about 90 1 liter bottles and the alkalines are only good for about a third of that. There are two models. One is the Classic and the Traveler which is lighter (3.6 oz vs. 6.5 oz with batteries). The one I had at my talks is the Classic. I've never used the Traveler. The Traveler uses two CR123 batteries which are expensive at about $15 for a pair. I don't know battery life comparisons.

If you're going on a long trip you might consider getting a solar charger they make for it. I haven't used it but I'll probably get one for the next time I do a Himalayan expedition.

I'm sold on the whole concept. It uses UV light and is the same technology that major bottling plants use on the water they use to make their soft drinks. Their web site talks about all the science behind it if you're interested. Their address is http://www.steripen.com/. There's plenty of product information there as well.

If you have more questions feel free to ask.


That equates to sort of a "professional" endorsement I suppose..

Regards..
Chris

I checked with a friend of mine who is a leading research scientist in the microbiology field and currently doing experiments with UV and bacteria. He asked what intensity of UV light the Steripen delivers, which took some digging to find out: 34-40 mJ/cm^2 of 254 nm (peak) UV light over the course of a 48 second treatment. His experience suggests that would be sufficient to inactivate 99.9% of the most important pathogenic bacteria. He had less experience with viruses, though the information by independent labs on the Steripen web site shows effectiveness with several viruses. Since viral coat proteins can be quite varied, that is hard to generalize however.

I was watching a guy use a SteriPen after dipping from the eastern end of the TC pond a couple weeks back. I asked him about all the floating green and brown bits of detritus and he said "Just suck the water through your teeth to filter it a bit," and then he smiled and I could see what he meant.

Sure was a neat trick to keep in mind...

Or carry a 0.1 oz paper coffee filter to pre-filter the water.

The Steripen is not a foolproof system if you dunk your Nalgene bottle and hands into contaminated water. From the Steripen Adventurer User's Manual:

"...not intended to disinfect water above the surface of the water in the container, i.e., droplets of water suspended on the side of the glass."

"...not intended to disinfect surfaces of a drinking container, i.e. those that typically contact the mouth when drinking."

Dayhiker brings up a pertinent point, but then again nothing is foolproof. The insides of filters can become breeding grounds for bacteria, or so I read.

Addressing Dayhiker's words of warning about using the SteriPen: To be extra secure one could make sure to wipe off stray "untreated" drops of water from outside and lip of container. As for the untreated stray drops along the top inside walls of a container, one could do a double dose treatment: dip the SteriPen in container and treat the water once, then close top, shake it, treat a second time to get those original stray drops.

This latter method would double battery consumption, which is a valid concern, especially on a long hike. SteriPen Adventurer is supposed to treat 50 litres on a set of batteries, which isn't really all that much, especially when the C123 batteries are about $15 bucks a set. SteriPen folks sell a small solar-powered battery recharging kit though, but that means more weight. Without a recharger, a solo thru-hiker on the JMT should proably figure 4 sets of batteries for a 21 day hike, I would think.

So, using the SteriPen can be somewhat expensive, creates waste in the form of old batteries, loses some of its weight savings because of having to carry extra batteries or a recharger, and is not foolproof as far as treatment. (Though it apparently does a good job of killing viruses, which many filters and treatment pills do not.) Being an electrical device, it could simply break or malfunction.

Last week I bought a SteriPen despite all this. I'm not a high-tech junkie by any means, but this tool appeals to me. It's like a little magic wand you can carry in your pocket: twirl it in contaminated water for 60 seconds and voila: purified water apparently as good or better as from any other field treatment device. It's close to magic any way you look at it.

It's small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, it's quick, it's easy, it could be used discreetly in drinking glasses in foreign country restaurants. It's something every poor villager in lands of contaminated water should have. (No, I don't own stock in the company!)

And the force must be with me on this. I went to K-Mart over the weekend to buy batteries and found 5 sets of Rayovac C123 lithiums, normally priced at $14.99, marked, down to $3 and change. It seems K-Mart now carries DieHard brand batteries in place of Rayovac and I happened to catch the very last of what was left from the Rayovac clearance sale. $75 worth of batteries for under $20—my lucky day.

For shorter treks rechargables would be the way to go though.

Those are my thoughts on the SteriPen so far, without the advantage of actually field testing one!

While theoretically possible, some math will show you how unlikely it would be to get a bacterial infection from a single drop of water. First, you should know that tests on water in the Sierras and Yosemite indicate that there is less than one Giardia cyst per liter of water (typically in the 0.1 - 0.01 cyst per liter range last time I looked). So the probability of a single drop containing a single cyst is very small. If you add the observation that it appears to take multiple cysts to actually get an infection, the probabilities are even lower.

So let's imagine that you accidentally get some contaminated water. In order to get a single cyst in a 50 microliter drop of water, there would have to be 20,000 cysts per liter - which would be an extraordinarily high contamination. If you add in that it probably takes 5+ cysts to get an infection, then you would need more like 100,000 cysts per liter in the water for a single drop to cause an infection. To get water contaminated at that high level, you would likely see (and smell) the source - feces, etc.

If you start with the premise the water needs treatment, these things and filters work great. I've never used either and never gotten sick from water, but I use common sense about my water and I use common sense about my food, which is to say I don't eat anything handled by other people and I don't share utensils. The real threat faced by hikers is viral gastroenteritis spread by necesssary compromises in personal hygiene due to the lack of hot running water and soap for post defecatory hand washing.
I've seen these steri-pens in use and they make great campsite conversation due to the neat-O tech aspect.

Adrian