On long backpack trips, clean drinking water is vital. Nobody wants to carry heavy water from home in the pack, but water from streams and lakes can be infected with microscopic bacteria that will ruin the trip (and make you dig a bunch of holes in the woods.) There are several options available for filtering water, like purification tablets and pump-style filters. But tablets make the water taste bad and filters can clog and be heavy when weight is a concern. Enter the SteriPEN Adventurer Opti as a new way to clean questionable water using UV light.
The SteriPEN Adventurer Opti is basically a wand that emits UV light that kills harmful bugs like giardia, cryptosporidium, bacteria and viruses. Think of it as a mini-lightsaber against water dwelling nasties. An optical eye located in the wand can detect when it is submerged in water, which activates the UV light.
As soon as the wand is submerged into a water-filled container and light is emitted, all the bacteria and viruses are killed within seconds. Swirling the wand in the water ensures that all the liquid gets zapped. According to the company, the Opti purifies 0.5 L (16 oz.) in 48 seconds and 1.0L (32 oz.) in just 90 seconds. The UV lamp provides up to 8,000 one-liter treatments.
I took the SteriPEN Adventurer Opti out for a drive on a backpacking trip in the Wasatch, and found both positives and negatives.
Positives:
-The SteriPEN is extremely lightweight. No other outdoor water purification system comes close, except maybe those nasty-tasting pills. The device even comes with a cool holster you can wear on your belt like a knife (or to continue pretending it’s a mini-lightsaber.)
-The SteriPEN works quick and works well. After filling a bottle up from a stream, I would push the button and place the wand inside. Almost immediately, it lights up with a blue glow. After swirling it around for a minute, the light switches off and a green indicator light on the handle comes on, which means that the job is done. Easy. I drank water purified by the SteriPEN during the whole trip and haven’t gotten sick yet. Either the water was fine, or the SteriPEN worked.
-The SteriPEN Adventurer Opti is also a flashlight. The optical eye can be used as a backup LED, and the wand cover focuses the light.
Negatives:
-The SteriPEN doesn’t filter water. Sometimes the only water one can find outdoors is murky and filled with sediment. The SteriPEN can kill the germs, but can’t clean the water like a standard filter can. Of course, water can be filtered through a cloth before treatment, but even then, the cloudy water can be hard for UV light to purify.
-The SteriPEN works better with certain containers. The company recommends using the product with Nalgene-style water bottles with a minimum 1.75 inch diameter opening. It also helps if the bottles are clear in color so you can see the light. I recycled my old Nalgene bottles years ago and currently use stainless steel bottles. As a result, it was difficult to see if the UV light turned on, especially in the daylight hours.
The SteriPEN Adventurer Opti retail package includes 2 non-rechargeable (disposable) CR123 batteries and a neoprene case with belt loop.
I’d say that the SteriPEN Adventurer Opti is a neat little guy that is essential gear for backpackers looking for an ultralight way to purify water. It won’t replace standard purifiers that both sterilize and filter dirty water, but if the hiking route has ample, clear water in lakes and streams, and you’re carrying a clear, wide-mouth bottle, then the SteriPEN is a winner.
Here are the SteriPEN Adventurer Opti Specs
Weight: 103g/3.6 oz. with batteries.
Size: 15.5cm. (6.1in.) x 3.3cm. (1.5in.) x 2.2cm. (1.0in.)
Battery: Uses two CR123 batteries (included)
Battery life: Disposable — 100 treatments (16oz./0.5L); Rechargeable — 40-50 treatments (16oz./0.5L)
UV Lamp Life: 8,000 treatments
You can purchase the SteriPEN Adventurer Opti at Backcountry.com