Hope this is not too repetitive a post, but looking to adding a SteriPEN to my hiking gear which makes it available for everything I might need it for, EDC, travel etc.

Most of the boxes and online descriptions seem so close, that other than a LED screen on one, another runs on AA's instead of CR123's, I'm not sure which would be the best choice. The prices are not all that important as much as realiability and duarabilty for that price point.

I already have a solar charger for batteries so thoses costs don't concern me so much.

I have a steripen adventure which uses cr123 batteries, the only one to stay away from is the Journey (newest one with LCD screen). The Journey is having alot of issues and I think the LCD screen is just a battery consumption anyway. The traveler and the original (AA batteries)are good as well. It depends on what you want, the CR123 adventure and traveler are very compact but if you leave the batteries in them for long periods of time (days), then the batteries will slowly run down. I usually treat the water and take one battery out of it to prevent the small drain on the battery's. The original (AA) uses standard batteries but is big and bulky. I would suggest a adventure if you like small and compact or the original if you want to stay with AA batteries. In a pinch you can run the adventure 100% off of a 40 watt solar cell without any batteries, I haven't tried the original.

http://www.steripen.com/steripen_products.html

Stay away from the Journey (bellow)



Good ones are bellow

Adventure



Traveler



Classic (original)

CR123's are hard to find and more expensive, go with the AAs

I don't think any of them do a better or worse job. The more expensive models are more compact and lighter. If you don't require the lightest, smallest model, choose the original SteriPEN.

If you do go with the CR123 (Smaller pen) then here's a place to get a charger and 4 rechargeable batteries.

4 Pack RCR123A 3.0V 900mAh Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery with Smart Charger
$28.95
http://www.batteryjunction.com/4parc390reli.html

I have the original that uses AA batteries. It will last a long time with rechargeables. With lithium AAs it is noticeably lighter and will treat probably 200 liters or more. I have no experience with the others so I can't really compare them.

Thanks all. Falcon, appreciate the scuttle on the Journey. I held the Adventurer and Traveller and the boxes are to my eye identical and the website doesn't address how they are different.

Can anyone explain the difference?

According the Steripen's comparison chart, they look the same except for the optional solar charging case that you can buy for the Adventurer.

Just to throw in my 2 cents, but lighter and compact seem to be the way to go for hiking or EDC so that favors the CR123 models, but travel could favor the original AA version, depending on where you go. If you just mean a week somewhere, that's one thing, but if you mean like 6-months traveling through Asia, that's a very different situation. If you're going to be away long enough that you'd need to buy batteries on the road, then I would favor AA over CR123.

I have the original AA model, by the way. I haven't used it tons, but it always works.

The Nitro-Pak web site says that the only difference is the color.

http://www.nitro-pak.com/product_info.php?products_id=1520

With that being said, grouch, which I appreciate, I may go with the original now just for the sake of AA's batteries over CR123.

The original is 4oz heavier, but i can charge AA's faster on my solar panel set up, rather than carry extra CR123's or fret over a bulkier SteriPEN solar charger that takes 2-5 days to charge 123's. Plus the AA's translate to other tech as well when out in the field, like walkie talkies, flashlights, etc.