THE GEAR:
The SteriPEN is a water purification system that utilizes ultraviolet light to eliminate over 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that cause water-borne illness. The SteriPEN has earned the Water Quality Association’s Gold Seal and exceeds the E.P.A. standards for purified water.
The new Adventurer Opti is the latest offering from SteriPEN geared towards hikers and backpackers. The unit is the smallest (6 in) and lightest (3.6 oz with batteries) UV portable water purifier on the market. The Opti also features an optical water sensor that doubles as a very effective LED flashlight, saving even more space and weight in the pack.
THE TEST:
I used the Adventurer Opti on a variety of water sources including the Salmon River and Lacamas Lake. The unit is pretty straight forward; press the button once to purify 1L, push it twice to purify 0.5 L. Dip the UV lamp into your water bottle and stir (or agitate) the water until the lamp turns off and the indicator light turns green. Purification times are 48 sec for 0.5 L and 90 sec for a 1 L. Wipe off the unit and you're done. It's really that simple. There are no pumping, chemicals, test strips, extended time-keeping or filters involved. The Opti leaves no aftertaste, will not clog and does not require lubrication.
Testing water purification or filtration systems can be tricky business. The only way to really know it didn't work is if you get sick. Even if you don't take ill, it doesn't necessarily mean your system did the job, you might have just gotten lucky. In the end the best you can do is test for functionality, and trust the scientific studies.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Bear in mind that the SteriPEN does not filter water, it purifies it. If your water source is cloudy or murky, you're going to want to pre-filter it. Luckily SteriPEN makes an inexpensive pre-filter that fits snugly on wide mouth water bottles. If your water source is clear however, you can skip the pre-filtering entirely.
All things taken into account, you can consider me a convert. The ease of use, weight, and multi-functionality make the Adventurer Opti my new weapon of choice against bacteria and viruses. Even though most of my water sources tend to be clear running streams and rivers, if I pack a pre-filter and the Adventurer Opti, I see little reason to carry anything else.
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti features and specs:
- Weight: 103g/3.6 oz. with batteries.
- Size: 15.5cm. (6.1in.) x 3.3cm. (1.5in.) x 2.2cm. (1.0in.)
- Battery: Uses two CR123 batteries (included)
- Battery life: Disposable -- 100 treatments (16oz./0.5L); Rechargeable -- 40-50 treatments (16oz./0.5L)
- UV Lamp Life: 8,000 treatments
- MSRP: $99.95
For more of Adam's writing, reviews, and photography, visit AdamSawyer.com
Comments
That actually answers a lot of questions I had. It sounds like a good system, thanks!
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