The Cadillac of portable water purifiers the SteriPen is being sold at Piragis.com for $104.95, item number S1530001, and if you are a club member of Sportsmen’s Guide, the British Mil Bank 5 Gallon water filter bag, item number E601D-83373, is selling for $4.47. I usually remake the Mil Bank Bag into four smaller bags for individual purification kits.

That's a great price for the SteriPen, which normally retails at $150. Note that there is a newer model recently out and Piragis seems to be selling the original model, at least from looking at the picture on their website. REI's online catalog says that:

"...Newest SteriPEN features easier battery access, water bottle and military canteen compatibility and a new slimmer carrying case..."

These are handy improvements, but if that's it, then functionally, the original model should be just as effective at purifying as the newer model, at 30% less cost! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Arney,

I have had my SteriPEN for over a year and according to SteriPEN's web site, hydro-photon.com the demensions have not changed. I think the REI add copy is very out of date. I will know for sure when the one I ordered from Piragis arrives.

For the last year, I thought that my wife was lusting after me when she gazed in my direction but, alas, it was for my SteriPEN.

From the SteriPen user's guide:
"SteriPEN is not intended to disinfect surfaces of a drinking container, i.e. those that typically contact the mouth when drinking. Be certain that your drinking container has been properly cleaned/washed prior to using SteriPEN."

"SteriPEN is 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."

?! Obviously using the SteriPen in it's intended fashion means that the water bottle, cup or other container will certainly be contaminated with water. So unless you use a seperate container to carefully pour the water into your water bottle, with no water splashing on the rim/ threads, cap, or even the inside upper walls of the container(If stirring rather than shaking the container, since the UV will not reach above the water line), then your water container will still be contaiminated and you will still be exposed to untreated water.

If there wasn't a water sensor as a safety feature, then perhaps you could use it to disinfect the other parts of the container, and a few seconds would probably be sufficient. Perhaps the sensor could be bypassed by closing the ciruit, but since it's automatic you'd still have to waste a full cycle when you'd porbably only need 15 seconds. Of course then you'd still need to wear sunglasses and make sure all skin was covered before you could use it. In any case this is a fatal flaw, which is a shame because otherwise it would save the hasle of using a filter.

I think I'll just stick with boiling, with Katadyne MP-1 as a backup. Filters, while bulkier and a bit of pain to avoid cross contamination, are also a good option for between camp or to save time and fuel. While they wont remove all bacteria and viruses(virii?), they will remove the particles which most of them adhere to, and will remove some chemicals if it has charcoal. They also don't require perfectly clear water. If in doubt you can also treat with chemicals afterwards(treating before takes too much time and requires a seperate container).

I can't help it...so she was giving you the "Is that a SteriPen in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?" kind of look, eh? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You may be right about the REI copy being out of date. I found this advertising, where it refers to the "2005 model". It looks like the one on the hydro-photon pictures and on the Piragis website, but different from the one in the photo on REI.

Hey, so does that mean Piragis is selling the newest model at 30% off? If so, a good deal indeed.

urbansurvivalist,

Those cautions about a contaminated container applies to all purification systems. Even chemically treated water purification systems have this problem. Some of those systems suggest swirling the treated water on to the surface where you are to place your mouth to disinfect the surface. But that is not an effective technique. Chemical treatments require that the chemicals be in contact with the contaminated water for a period of time, up to 4 hours for some pathogens. Even boiling water purifying does not decontaminate a dirty drinking vessel unless it is properly cleaned..

If you go to the hydro-photon.com site and open the Users Guide, note on page 3 and again on page 4 step 4 of the Operating Procedures, sealing the mouth container with the SteriPEN, inverting, and agitating will purify the contents. Pay particular attention to the agitation process described on page 5. Page 9 has the warnings you referred to. I use the prefilter they provide as detailed on page 17 but only to keep clean the portion of the mouth of the nalgene bottles I use. I don’t use it as a filter. That is what I use the Mil Bank Bag Filters for. See the note on page 18 on Immersion.

Immersion:
Note: The “O” ring on the rim of the filter base seals against the flange of the water bottle neck to prevent untreated water from contaminating the threads and outer rim of the bottle.

Once you get familiar with the process and use common sense it is faster to do than described.

If you are in a restaurant or other public place in a foreign country or in some locations in our own country, it is easy to disinfect served water without causing a public stir or insult

When using filters, only treated water comes in contact with the water container. When using chemical treatment, shaking up the bottle with loosened threads exposes all relevant areas to the chemical, and those areas are in contact with the chemical for just as long as the rest of the water, so they should be treated as effectively. When using boiling water, decontamination is unnecessary, since the bottle is never exposed to untreated water(and even if it is, boiling water could be used to sterilize the whole container).

I did notice after I made that post that the prefilter could be used to keep the threads clean, but that is adding additional complexity, and doesn't change the fact that without the prefilter, the SteriPen is ineffective it preventing consumption of contaminated water, for the reason stated in my previous post. It is also seems very unlikely that the part of the prefilter that contacts the nalgene threads can be kept isolated from the parts of the prefilter that contact contaminated water. Even if you meticulously rinse the prefilter with treated water after each use, the rinsing process would expose the clean parts to contanimated water.

As far as sealing the mouth with the SteriPen, inverting it, and agitating it, that would still leave the outside threads and probably the cap contaminated with untreated water. And again, sealing the SteriPen to the bottle requires the prefilter, if using a standard wide-mouth bottle. This also can't be done using a cup(and if the drinking water in a restaurant or public place is questionable, then the water used to wash dishes probably is also).

I'm not trying to be belligerant, but I beleive this is a major flaw which seems to defeat the purpose and pose a health risk by providing a false sense of security when used according to it's instructions. If the prefilter was included as standard equipment and the instructions made it's use mandatory, then it would be a different story. As it currently stands, only a warning among many in the back of the manual warns of the danger of the areas which remain contaminated in the normal use of the product. I find this very irresponsible.

It would be great if someone did some real world testing(Doug, you listeneing?) of water treatment systems, including filters, chemicals, SteriPen, Miox, etc. I'm thinking a small, contained outdoor fountain or body of water deliberately contaminated with high concentrations of some kind of bacteria or virus known to cause a minor illness, along with the ground or rocks around that area. Then have inexperienced volunteers use the various systems repeatedly over several days from that same water source. Either they can drink the water and see if someone gets sick, or more likely, have water samples and samples from the threads taken regularly and analyzed.

urbansurvivalist,

“When using filters, only treated water comes in contact with the water container.”

Not so. Treated water that is only filtered is not purified water. Filtering only removes the big chunks. Water is filtered before purification by either chemical or other means for best results.

“When using chemical treatment, shaking up the bottle with loosened threads exposes all relevant areas to the chemical, and those areas are in contact with the chemical for just as long as the rest of the water, so they should be treated as effectively.”

Again I disagree. If you read the directions for any of the chemical treatment methods, The chemicals effectiveness is related to the turbidity of the water, the temperature of the water, and the type and amount of biological contaminants. This time can be anywhere between thirty minutes to four hours. Without knowing the pathogens involved, your best bet would be to wait the full amount time suggested by each manufacturer. In warm weather the small amounts of semi treated water on the threads can easily evaporate before effectively treating the contaminants on the threads. If the water has not been filtered before hand, the big chunks can harbor pathogens that will last longer than four hours therefore the threads and the main contents are still contaminated.

“When using boiling water, decontamination is unnecessary, since the bottle is never exposed to untreated water(and even if it is, boiling water could be used to sterilize the whole container)”.

Any container that is clean and kept separate from the exterior contaminated container can be used to drink from. A straw is available in most restaurant or tubing which should be a part of all survival kits. Drying a container’s exterior, especially one without threads such as a cup or class is rather easy. Pathogens do not live long in dry air. That killing process can be accelerated by wiping with a small alcohol pad.

A standard mouth bottle or canteen does not need the prefilter and if you decant from the treating container to a clean container, any size container can be used. I use a wide mouth nalgene because I have lots of them and they are easier to fill without spilling on the exterior threads.

If you follow the instructions, it is not necessary to use their prefilter but all chemical and photo purification methods should be filtered as previously explained. There is no sense of false security if you understand and follow the instructions.

If you do a search on “SteriPen” on the forums, you will see some tests results performed by paramedicpete. You might also do a search on “toxins” on the forum for more information on water purification.

You cannot start a fire in all environments especially during some types of disasters. I carry at least three types of water purification methods, boiling being one of them. But a reliable and fast system is the SteiPEN.

Check these posts/ threads:

Water Purification
Steri-Pen
Steri-Pen

MIOX

MIOX

Pete

MSR Sweetwater Purifer system, about $75.00 from REI. Easy to pump and clean. Filters to .2 microns, then use included chlorine drops to purify. Micro-pur tabs as a back up. System is efficient and cost effective. I've used the Sweetwater since the early 90's for week long, fly-in fishing trips in Northern Ontario. Early spring, water temps from 40-mid 50's F, groups of up to 12. No beaver fever, no drama. Only additional item I bring is an extra filter.