SteriPEN Steripen Classic 3 Handheld Water Purifier for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

This product sounds good on paper but did not work in practice. The water sensor worked intermittently during my initial test. Tried everything from replacing batteries, adjusting water levels, etc. but still cannot get the UV light on consistently. I then took it to a 5-day trip to hiking in Yosemite and managed to have it working during the trip. After returning to home, it stopped to function again. This time regardless what I do the UV light would not turn on at all. After many trials with brand new batteries and various water levels I came to the conclusion that the UV bulb is dead after less than 60 minutes of usage. It is the worst purchase I made. I would give it ZERO stars if that was possible. In summary, it is a piece of junk which may cause serious problems for you while in wildness if you do not also carry other water treatment systems as backups. DO NOT BUY IT!!!

Whammo zammo zap those germs & viruses. I used it for 5 days in backwoods, and drank the water. No stomach cramps, or diarrhea. It works

Hiking and bikepacking have their perks, but finding water in the backcountry can be daunting, with diseases and debris running rampant in even the freshest looking water. With the Steripen HydroPhoton I've got a bit of peace of mind. It filters out the debris, and kills bacteria, so I can keep adventuring without worries of losing a day to upset guts and bathroom breaks.

I got this with their water bottle. It was really easy to use. I did get a little reusable coffee filter, though. that way I could catch some of the big stuff, since the water we had was really silty with lots of small life forms. So...if you have that kind of water, take something to filter first. Then, you can use this to kill the viruses and bacteria.

I use this both in the backcountry and while traveling to areas south of the border with questionable water supplies. It works great if you like to drink out of clean mountain springs but if there is sediment in the water this is not your best option. It takes 80 seconds to treat 1 liter of water. Provides good peace of mind and eliminates the need to buy bottled water while traveling.

Growing up backpacking I've used lots of types of water purification/filters. Steripens are a very easy, safe way to purify water in the back country. Easy to use and pretty self explanatory. I used this Steripen as I hiked 132 miles of the John Muir Trail this summer. One comment is make sure you have enough batteries for the trip you are planning. I was filtering over ten liters of water a day and noticed that I was replacing batteries every two and a half through three days. Take this into consideration when packing for extended/ultra light trips. Also remember to take the batteries out during extended periods between trips. I made the mistake of leaving the batteries in during the winter and had to replace my Steripen because the batteries eroded.

I ran a limited test with the Steripen 3 using fairly clear raw water from a mountain stream. After incubation the dip slide indicated some bacteria growth with the raw water (see photo). The dip slide that was from raw water treated with the Steripen indicated no bacteria growth. I also ran the same test with a Sawyer Mini and it also indicated no bacteria growth. This gives me a level of confidence using either of these products. The next test will be with water that is not so clear.

Small and easy to carry. I use it mostly for peace of mind when drinking slightly questionable water while traveling. So far it hasn’t let me down.

I've put my steripen through the ringer-- backpacking, car camping, and traveling throughout the world. It's never let me down no matter the water source. I had a crack on one of the small plastic lips that kept the lid on, returned it to Steripen where they replaced it for free.

Thanks to Steripen and Backcountry dot com for selecting me to review this Jedi tool for the Community. While the summer backcountry may be free of avalanches, the threat of stomach destruction remains all too present in most areas where you actually want to go. So you could pack tablets like Heyduke from The Monkey Wrench gang and end up as surly from drinking the revolting mixture that remains. Or you could pump your way back to the early nineties and use the time you spend scrubbing the filter as an opportunity to think of all the other things you could be doing. Or, and this is the best part, you could bring A FREAKING LIGHTSABER with you to keep the intestinal party animals inert. Like something out of Star Wars, Steripens work by killing or scrambling the DNA of the nasties floating in that pristine looking stream. Literally, you press a button. Then wait. Then drink. Better even than that last dumb app you downloaded. Easier than whatever complex thing you're attempting to backcountry cook for your significant other. And let's not forget--the choice here is either feeling like the poo that you drank, or using a Lightsaber. So not actually a choice at all. Other reviewers have covered the prefilter well, so I'll mention the winter backcountry utility. One huge downside of pump filters is that, no matter how hard you try, you can't get all the water out. Mid-winter or during frosty spring trips, this can freeze the filter and leave you right screwed for drinking. Enter the Steripen. Instead of a frozen pump, you have a lightsaber. So chop a hole in the ice, fill up, zap the bastards, and carry on. Or if you're persnickety about melting snow, cook it down, then zap instead of boiling to save on fuel. Easy? Yes. Safe? Yes. May the pen be with you. Note: bacteria were harmed in the creation of this review.

We love to backpack, and over the years we've tried a variety of ways to purify our water and make sure it's clean and safe to drink. I feel like every type of system has it's pros and cons: Purification tablets: bottom line....they work--I've used them and never gotten sick from the water, but let's be honest......they taste GROSS. I keep them in backpacks for emergency situations only--they are never ever my first choice. Pump Systems: They work great! I love that they really get the "river" out of the river--no sand or particles, just crystal clear water. But--they are often bulky and take up space in my pack, and the pumps I've used don't always work in every environment. For example, if your water source contains leptospires (teeny teeny tiny bacteria--commonly found in Hawaiian waters) many pump systems can't filter out this tiny organism--Ultra Violet light or tablets are the only way to go in this case. UV light. We've been using a UV light for water the last couple of years and while the results were always great, there were still some issues. The system we previously used only worked with ONE specific bottle. This is annoying and not at all practical. While it killed the bacteria in the water, it still left us with sand and sticks in our teeth from time to time. Enter the Steripen Classic 3!! All the benefits of every other system, and Steripen has worked out all the kinks and flaws......and then added even more bells and whistles. Let's talk about how small this little guy is-- it comes with a case and slips much more easily into your pack than any pump--you'll hardly realized it's there (in the case it measures just 7.5 inches long and 2.5 inches wide at it's widest). The Steripen can be inserted into any container you have--just hold it there for a few seconds (48 seconds for 1/2 liter, 90 seconds for a full liter to be exact), and VWALLA! Clean, bacteria-free water (with a light indicator to tell you when it's done). But wait....there's more! There is also a screw top "pre-filter" that fits on top of your bottle to keep all the little floaties out of your water and insides.....it's perfect! The Steripen Classic 3 is battery powered--4 AAs--check out battery recommendations here: http://www.steripen.com/uncategorized/video-battery-recommendations-for-steripen-products/ and scroll down to John Ross's review for more battery info. oh! and it's watertight--for all you klutzes who like to drop your stuff in the river occasionally--you can rest easy. All of these extra features are great, but most importantly, it WORKS. It makes your water safe to drink so you can enjoy your time on the trail and under the stars instead of curled up in the bushes with your insides churning. I was so happy to partner up with SteriPen and Backcountry to review such a great product that is bound to make all of our adventures more enjoyable.

This year I hiked the upper St. Joe in search of adventure and trout, I came home with something the lab couldn’t identify and a resurgent interest in water purification. Thank you Backcountry.com and SteriPEN for having me review the SteriPEN Classic 3 for the BC.com community. The unit is well-constructed, the battery door is not waterproof but it is tight. The cap over the lamp is also tight, it resists pulling but is easily removed by twisting – between the cap and the soft sheath, I’m not worried about breaking the SteriPEN during transport. I had plain alkaline batteries on hand when the SteriPEN arrived; I’ve treated 6 liters of water on 4 occasions and I’ve been too lazy to remove the batteries during storage, I still have juice. Sure, lithium is probably the way to go but it’s nice to know that I could rob the TV & DVD remotes and head out. Operation is straightforward, attach the pre-filter to a Nalgene, open the vent, dunk the bottle while taking care to keep the cap out of the untreated water, then remove the vent from the pre-filter, and use the SteriPEN to treat the water. One issue I have with the SteriPEN system is collecting the water. It’s easy enough when the bank of a lake/river drops off sharply but so many water sources are less than ideal. It seems to me that I’ll do a lot more bending over and get wet feet than I would with my trusty water pump – those hoses reach a long way and I don’t have to submerge my bottle in untreated water. I’m too lazy to carry my 14oz pump for day trips, I carry all the water I’ll need or risk the beaver fever (probably not after this summer though, ugh). SteriPEN to the rescue! Less weight and less space than my pump, I can’t wait to take it hunting and especially kayaking – it’ll be really easy to collect water from the kayak. The Classic 3 has performed flawlessly thus far. I'm excited to have a lightweight treatment option that isn't drops or tabs (foul taste). SteriPEN made a believer out of me.