container for Steripen Adventurer

I took an empty two liter pop bottle, put one half liter of water in it, marked that level with a Sharpie®, added another half liter, marked again then added one inch for free-board and cut the top off. Fill to the appropriate mark, push the button the correct number of times and start stirring. It weighs 0.65 oz. The one I made has lasted me two years including a through hike of the JMT; they are amazingly tough. I carry mine slipped over the end of my rolled Thermarest but I have also put it in my pack with my MontBell down jacket inside.

Lightest container is ziploc twist and seal 1 qt container. I will later tonite upload what steripen tech support said. I am on road now.

…

I also use a cut-off 2L Platy. It's very lightweight and collapses essentially to nothing in my pack. After sterilization, I (carefully!) pour the treated water into a 1L Platy to carry. On the plus side, it is lightweight, free-standing, compact and obviously wide enough to insert a Steripen (I have a classic.) On the down side, it is a bit fiddly and precarious, but I feel that is a small price to pay for the advantages.

I do what Mike and Jim do except I use a zip top bag that dried cherries came in. It has the pleated bottom like a Platy and I can zip it closed if needed. I think these pleated bottom bags are used for many kinds of dried fruit and are free after you eat the fruit.;-)

-Mark

Hmmm! Good idea Mark! I'll bet the fruit bag is even lighter than the half-Platy, and with an intact zip top it could be used to store stuff. It has all the advantages of the Platy, no additional disadvantages and can be multi-use. I'll have to try that. Thanks!

You guys are great!! Any other bottles with a lid other than the wide mouth platy? Always nice having multiple uses. I also like the idea of using a 2 liter bottle for a mini wash basin if needed? Or… maybe just keep it for water.
Thanks again!

What about the Nalgene Canteen, 320z capacity, 2oz weight. ?
http://www.rei.com/product/670588
(assuming that Sheila was talking about the Lexan type Nalgene…)
Franco

I have corresponded with Aaron Cox at Steripen support over the past years. Here are relevant bits and pieces about the multiple ultralight solutions I've researched. First something from their FAQ.

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

17. What type of containers can I use my SteriPEN in?

Containers made from glass, ceramic, metal and nearly all plastics block UV-C transmission and therefore are ok to use. There are a small number of uncommon materials that are transparent to UV-C light. These include optical grade quartz (the SteriPEN lamp material) and a few fluoropolymers in the Teflon family. Containers made from these materials should not be used with SteriPEN.

========================================================
from Aaron Cox [at steripen.com]
date Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 1:53 PM

Hi Roleigh,

The file is attached.

Additional testing data can be downloaded and viewed on our web page http://www.steripen.com/testing.html

To navigate to this page, go to the products tab and then microbiological testing.

Best,

Aaron

==========================================================

from Roleigh Martin
to steripen.com
date Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 12:22 AM

Aaron,

I have second thoughts about using the 750 ml cooking mug as it would take me many more sterilizations to deal with the 2 gallons of water I sterilize daily. I found a clear, ultralight one quart bottle that with lid weighs 2.9 oz (see 3 pictures), as you can see the mouth is inner lip-to-inner lip diameter is 2", the holding part of the bottle is 6.5" tall by 3" by 3" (it is a square cylinder with rounded edges). the type of plastic is shown on the picture cimg2871 and you probably know what that means more than I do. Would such a container work? If not is it because it is not totally circular in its shape? I would like to get something under 3 oz that is clear (so I can see the light working) and relatively sturdy and can hold 1 quart of water. Any suggestions?

Thank you again.

Roleigh Martin

========================================================

See BPL thread http://tinyurl.com/nqw8gd for pictures, etc.

========================================================

from Roleigh Martin
to steripen.com
date Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 1:28 AM

Aaron,

ps, along with answering the below question, what about this REI container as well? http://www.rei.com/product/670588 – I am still interested in knowing about the original container below asked about (I don't know the weight of this Nalgene one). Thanks again, Aaron
Nalgene Wide-Mouth Cantene – 32 oz.

========================================================

from Aaron Cox [ at steripen.com]
date Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 11:35 PM

Hi Roleigh,

Both the square PVC bottle and the collapsible Nalgene are OK to use with the SteriPEN.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Aaron

========================================================

to Aaron Cox [ at steripen.com]
date Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 5:27 PM

Aaron, one more container question, especially in light of these scientific requirements Steripen poses (I don't know if this container meets these IR bounce requirements):

I can't give you anything that a home page link, so I am enclosing a screen print — but the Ziploc Twist n Loc Container, Quart size, which is only 1.9 oz (with lid), will it work for doing Steripen sterilizing? Please see attached or else go here – http://www.ziploc.com/ and then choose "Twist n Loc Container".

Thanks in advance.
roleigh martin
edina MN

ps, am talking about Steripen Adventurer.

Did you see their scientific study on kill rates with various size containers?

http://www.steripen.com/PDF/container_shape_study.pdf

There are multiple factors at play:

1. the IR rays need to bounce off the side of the container — the container wall must reflect back the IR rays.

2. the IR rays need to bounce in such a way that all the water gets decontaminated. The geometry of the walls might have an impact (I don't know enough so I'm asking).

3. The mouth must be wide enough to allow the steripen to be properly emerged into the water to be treated (a no-brainer but this requirement rules out narrow-mouth platypus containers).

Roleigh

========================================================

from Aaron Cox [at steripen.com]
to Roleigh Martin
date Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 7:48 AM

Hi Roleigh,

It is good to hear from you again.

The container shape of the Ziploc twist n Loc Container will not be a detriment to the effectiveness of the SteriPEN. When using your SteriPEN Adventurer, remember that you must agitate the water for effective treatment. To ensure the container shape does not adversely effect the treatment, simple stir the lamp of the SteriPEN Adventurer through the whole container.

My only concern with this container is solarization. Do you know what material is used to manufacture this container and its thickness? Certain plastics will yellow and become brittle when exposed to UV radiation. The container may crack after extensive use with the SteriPEN. This is the same as when you leave it outside in the sun for extended periods.

Best,
Aaron

========================================================

from Roleigh Martin
to Aaron Cox [at steripen.com]
date Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 8:39 AM

Thanks, Aaron. Does this info on the bottom of the container answer your question?

Ziploc

/5
—
pp

U.S. Des. Pats 506,359 and 508,187
Dishwasher Safe
Microwavable 2
4 cup
32 oz
946 ML

I have also emailed Ziplock with this question but wonder if the above already answers your question.

========================================================

from Aaron Cox [at steripen.com]
date Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 12:50 PM

Hi Roleigh,

That /5 symbol tells me the material is safe and should last for awhile even after being exposed to UV radiation.
It may become brittle after extended use, but that will most likely happen well after the useful life of the container….i.e. No Problem.

Best,
Aaron

========================================================

from consumerproducts@scj.com
date Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 2:01 PM
subject Re: Your Inquiry About Ziploc® Twist 'n Loc® Containers 4 cup size #014407965B

Roleigh,

Thank you for your interest in Ziploc® Twist 'n Loc® Containers 4 cup size. These containers are made from Polypropylene.

Ziploc® Twist 'n Loc® Containers were manufactured and tested for food storage and miscellaneous household item storage, so I don’t have information regarding how the containers would react to UV radiation. We don't recommend using our products for purposes other than what they have been tested for.

I hope this information has been helpful to you. We appreciate your interest in our company products.

Regards,

Carolyn

Consumer Relationship Center
SC Johnson, A Family Company
Toll Free Number: 1-800-558-5252
http://www.scjbrands.com

Reference Number: 014407965B
========================================================

I vote for sacrificing an old 2L Platypus bladder and mark the thing at its 1L and 0.5L level. However, instead of lobbing off the top — cut open the bottom instead!

With the top intact, replace the screw cap with a "push pull" cap instead (Platy sells it as an inexpensive accessory). Now, cut a round piece of mesh from a metallic mesh coffee filter that's sold in Wal Mart and many other stores — cut it just slightly bigger than the push-pull cap all around. Jam the filter into the cap — then screw the cap tight.

Now, you can:

1. Scoop water from the cutaway bottom of your 2L platty.
2. Treat with Steripen
3. Pull open the "push-pull" Platy cap and water will drain out through the metallic mesh coffee filter into your receiving ("clean") Platy — no more worries about drinking leaves, small twigs or sediments.

The fine metallic mesh coffee filter does not absorb water (unlike paper or cloth) — and thus will not impede water flow by any noticeable degree.

I carry an MSR 1.5 L cooking pot for the two of us. I also use it for our Steripen. Since I am carrying the pot anyhow, I argue that the extra weight is 0 g.

Cheers

Whooooooa! What great responses.

For those of you with more of an "open" container method:
How do you transfer the clean water without recontaminating as it passes by the edges or rim of the unclean??
Or is the anal side of this RN showing? ;) no pun

Sheila, why not fill the Open Container 100% full, what then would be not sterilized? True, Steripen says one has to stir the water as it is sterilized and the stirring could cause some of the water to leave the container, but if the same intensity of stirring occurs throughout the cleansing and all 360 degrees of the container equally benefits through consistent stirring, there should not be a problem then.

Still a good question.

…

Sheila

I know some folks carry a small third "scooper" bag that they dip into the source water and then carefully poor into the sterilization bag. I think Ben2world came up with that idea. That way no contaminated water will be be around the lip of the sterilization bag.

Check out Jason Klass's site about it's use with a slightly different system but same idea.

http://www.geartalkwithjasonklass.com/search/label/Hydration

-Mark

Hi Sheila

> How do you transfer the clean water without recontaminating as it passes
> by the edges or rim of the unclean??

A good question, but in practical terms inconsequential. There are several factors to consider here.
* As OP have said, any contaminants in the water are going to be at a low concentration. There will not be a lot of bugs anyhow.
* Further, residual water on the edges of the containers is going to be very low in volume. I find the edge of my Ti pot holds almost zero water.
* One bug is not going to have any significant effect on you: you needs lots of bugs all at once to overcome your body's natural resistance.
* Treatment of water for bugs is always a statistical thing, never an absolute thing. We talk about reducing the bug level by 99.99% for instance.
*So, when you treat a litre of water safely and then allow a micro-litre of untreated water to mix with it (that is one part in a million), the amount of risk you add is inconsequential.

Reality is that many people have been doing it this way for years, with success.

If you are still worried, rinse with a few teaspoons of treated water.

Cheers

I carry a SteriPen Adventurer and Katadyn chlorine dioxide tabs.

The steripen is for my wide mouth CamelBack bike bottle, where I carry my morning CytoMax electrolyte and afternoon Propel mix. So I need a fast way to purify water. For me carrying two water containers is important B/C I really need that CytoMax to keep cramps away on tough climbs and prevent sore muscles the next day. At 1st I was skeptical of CytoMax's claims but it actually does help prevent the buildup of lactic acid.

The Katadyn tabs are for my hydration bladder and go in at night before I go to bed. That way they have plenty of time to work on any bugs in the water.

This setup is a bit heavier than the hydration bladder alone but great for my purposes.

Eric
P.S. I use a small, collapsable funnel with # 2 coffee filters for pre filtering water for both containers. Also I use my light plastic coffee/measuring cup for dipping water into the funnel filter.

I, too, use my cooking pot, a BPL SUL-1100. On top of my platypus I attach a funnel found at Hennessy Hammocks, (used as a fly tensioners on the guylines). Over that I attach a piece of no-seeum netting to act as a screen to filter out floaties. Cool, uh?

http://hennessyhammock.com/catalogue.html#Anchor-ACCESSORIES-49575

scroll down the list of hammock accessories

Is anyone using rechargeable batteries with their steripen? I've read a lot of reports in the past which seem to suggest they haven't worked too well.

Has anyone found a brand that works, or are they still unreliable?

I use the Tenergy RCR123A 3.0v 900mAh batteries in my steripen and I'm pleased with their performance, and the economy of the purchase. I find them much more reliable than non-rechargeable batteries i have tried.

Correct Ashley. My rechargable batteries (I have the solar charging case as well) do not last very long so now all I carry are lithium spares.

Eric

How long did your rechargeables last before they stopped holding a good charge ?

I use the rechargables that came with mine several years ago. They are fine for several days, but I bring a spare set of regulars along for trips >4 days. Spitfire is a good brand.

…