Steripen advice

I have the opti Adventurer. It's great but the LED lights are hard to see during the day, and it doesn't readily fit in a gatorade bottle. If you search the forums, you'll find a modified gatorade lid that allows you to invert the bottle.

I prefer the design of the Classic and purchased the Ultra this winter, which has a rechargeable battery. I used it throughout India in the front country, and a few times at home, but haven't taken it on enough backpacking trips (maybe one?) where I'd be willing to recommend it yet.

I will say that my initial impressions are favorable at this point.

If you want to treat in the bottle, the classic is the best of the current models.

I've had *some* model of Steripen since it debuted. Last summer I used the Adventurer Opti for the JMT, and this summer I'll be using the Ultra for the CT (my longest section will be 9 days between resupply, so I'll have a backup external battery).

(Obviously) I have faith that it'll work as it should, and that the battery will last long enough for at least 6 days of +/- 6L per day. Oh, and it fits into a Smartwater-type bottle, but I think I'm going to use a cut-off Platty as my combination water scoop/purification recepticle/Steripen case.

The Opti is good, and has been reviewed here at BPL.
The newer Classic 3 may be just slightly better, and it too has been reviewed here.
Note: Classic THREE, not the original Classic.

Cheers

I have had several types of UV treatment devices: A couple Steripen Adventurers and mUV. All work for treatment.

I use a Gator-aid bottle to treat the water. Either type of bottle will fit the Adventurer. The mUV actually fit into a soda bottle/water bottle but the rechargeable battery died relatively quickly. It still works to this day, but was awkward holding the leads on a C or D cell. I was always afraid it would rip one lead out leaving me high and dry.

The first Adventurer drew extra current with the on/off switch. As I remember, close to 150ma. I got in the habit of flipping one battery to prevent this and it worked reliably for three or four years. Some of the water would not treat. It required a bit of salt, only a couple grains, to insure that it would close the contacts. Because it required the half inch (about 125mm) of immersion, it would NOT fit into many bottles. Only the old wide mouth Gator-Aid bottles worked. As Gator-Aid changed bottles, the wide mouth, 500ml bottles became rather premium commodities. I still have a few sitting in my gear room.

After the company rebuilt it with the optical sensor, it was a new machine. It drew far less idle power, around 40-60ma as I remember. But, I still flipped one battery after every use (usually a couple bottles.) It lasts about 40-50L before the batteries give up the ghost. But, they will still work as a flashlight. I rarely use this, but it is a functional LED light when traveling down to water and back to camp. It also requires less immersion. The Opti model uses the optical sensor to tell if the UV bulb is in the water, and, it is positioned on the bottom. Any Gator-Aid bottle works. The bulb needs to be immersed. It is damaging to the eyes otherwise. It gives off a fairly strong blue light to tell if it is working…well, as a side effect of the UV. They just bill it as a visual reminder that the bulb is on. Sometimes, in bright sunlight, it can be difficult to see, though.

I prefer the Adventurer Opti because it has external batteries. Lithium Batteries work the best, with a slow start noted as they get within 5-7 500ml treatments. The slow start can also be caused by cold weather. I was out this spring at about 28F (-2C) and kept in a pocket. Battery life was somewhat reduced also. I only got about 35-40L treated before I changed batteries. (I was out over a week.) On a recent trip, I also used the same batteries and replaced them half way through the trip.

Anyway, the CR123 can be a problem to find. They are not often found at quick stop gas stations. Usually a hardware store, or, a place like Wally World that sells cameras has them. According to Steripen, ALL cr123 are lithium. I try to make sure, though.

It is a much better weight than the old one. About 4oz including 1 spare set of batteries will do about 90-100L of water. Or, enough for a couple weeks for two people. It takes about 45sec to do each 500ml bottle or about 1.5min to do a liter. It is not recommended for silty water. It works on most everything, but larger stuff is not killed, it's DNA is simply disrupted. It does not work real well against tape worm cysts found in a few locals around the USA. It works on water about the color of "weak lemon-aid." However, watching amoeba and planaria crawl around in the water as you drink it is somewhat unappealing.

It does not change the taste of the water. Nor does it remove any chemicals from water (lead, mercury, arsenic…) A chemical filter is recommended for these sources.

While the UV treatment is perfect in the lab except for the previously mentioned large worms and parasites, in my experience, it is bad in the field. Tend to be much heavier than filters. I have had 2 malfunction, one for no apparent reason, one because I dropped it from abut 18 inches on a rock. Shame on me for being so careless in the woods!
I have been using Rapid Pure filters not only hiking but in rural central America. Rapid Pure filters are proven technology and remove not only the bacteria and larger protozoa and Helminths, but filters viruses too. Viruses are not removed with conventional filters. UV, yes, if the UV unit works and if the water is not cloudy. The argument against Rapid Pure is that they cannot be backflushed if used with water with precipitants. Well, UV will not work under the same circumstances and in both cases, the water needs to sit or a flocculant needs to be added.
BTW, I have absolutely no relationship to Rapid Pure.

Art

PS In spite of what I say above, in the US, I usually just take my little Sawyer squeeze because I have had my Hep A and B vaccinations.

> I usually just take my little Sawyer squeeze because I have had my Hep A and B
> vaccinations.

Ah, then you will be immune to viral dysentery, won't you?
Or not, as the case may be.

Cheers

I purchased an original Steripen when they cam out but never got on with it, earlier this year I purchased the Opti on Rogers advice and really like it, so much so I have still have 3 Sawyer minis in their packaging I have not used.

So does anyone know the difference between the original adventurer and the Opti?

They changed some of the electronics, mainly hardware programming, I think…proms, etc.
They added a light sensor to determine immersion, by wavelength I believe. And they removed the older metal plates used as sensors by an electric field passing between them.
So, the new unit is much less power hungry. The switch has an idle current, yes. The newer Opti gets 40-50L per set of batteries. The old one used to get 35-40. I would caution you to ALWAYS flip one battery.

The light displays can be difficult to learn, I don't bother since they differ. I use it…if it says green, I am good, otherwise if it is red, I change the batteries. DO NOT use the rechargeable ones. They do not have the output nor the longevity. You *might* get 7-10L with a new set. They weigh a full 1/3 more, anyway. And cannot produce the voltage necessary to start the lamp when charged after two or three times.

The Sensor Light also doubles as a flashlight. So, you no longer need to carry a spare light.

original has two electrical probes so it knows when you put it in water. Problems with working reliably.

opti uses a light so it knows when you put it in water. Works better.

you need to turn off the UV light when you accidentally take it out of the water because the light is dangerous

also, there's less leakage in the opti so it doesn't discharge the batteries between uses

don't buy original

opti is good

probably the newer one(s) is good

I used the opti for a while but had problems. It would only treat a few pints of water before batteries died. But, part of my problem was I didn't use good batteries – get name brand ones, non rechargeable. Also, the batteries discharged when I stored it for a month – remove batteries between trips. Also, carry an extra set or two of batteries.

I just returned mine and an using a Squeeze instead, but a lot of people like the opti.

> So does anyone know the difference between the original adventurer and the Opti?

Sure, we have some fine reviews of them all.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/steripen_adventurer_review.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/steripen_opti_review.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/steripen-classic-3-review-caffin.html

Cheers

Thanks for the input guys. I'm strongly leaning to the Classic 3 for the use of AA batteries and use in a Smartwater bottle. Question what is different on the Classic 3 over the older Classic?

..

> what is different on the Classic 3 over the older Classic?
Read the reviews. That is what they are there for.

Cheers