Katadyn SteriPen Ultra UV Water Purifier

I have been using my Katadyn SteriPen since January of 2017. It traveled with me to Nepal (approx 70 days of personal use, both in town and trekking), supplied water for two of us on the Pacific Northwest Trail (63 or so days on trail), and has accompanied me on 17 Boundary Waters Canoe Area trips (average of 3-4 days each, generally providing water for multiple people). It is very easy to use, and the display has a countdown (90 seconds for a liter) as well as warning messages if it doesn’t complete its cycle or something else goes wrong. One can also scoop water in one location and treat it in another, which is especially nice in very buggy situations.

When I first started using a battery operated water purification system, I was nervous about how long the battery would last. However, I’ve found that, despite almost a decade of use, my SteriPen still can provide water for a group of two (and sometimes more) for a long weekend without needing an extra charge. When it was new it would carry a charge for 5-7 days. I generally don’t like to run down the battery too far, so I carry a charging cable (that also works for my headlamp) and a charging block for backup, which is also used for my other electronic devices.

It works better if the water and the SteriPen is not icy, so I’ll generally try to keep it warm during cold weather and consider other options for actual winter camping. However, if the water itself is cold but not the pen, it generally just takes a minute or so for the bulb to warm itself up.

Because it purifies using UV light, it is important that the water is clear, so I will bring a filter instead for trips that I have concerns about the water clarity. When I’ve been caught off guard on a trip, prefiltering the water through a bandana to remove sediment or insects has been sufficient. I keep a small container of chemical water treatment as a backup in my first aid kit, but so far it has not been needed.

I have been very happy with the longevity and the usefulness of this SteriPen. As far as I know I have not had any waterborne illness from any of the water it has purified, and I love that it can be used for travel overseas as well as in the backcountry.