SteriPEN Aqua UV Water Purifier

Took it to the Boundry Waters for five days. At least three out of the six of us used it. No problems and no sickness. I have another SteriPen (Explorer I think). Took it to the BWCA twice. No problems and no sickness with that one either. I picked up this one just to have two in-case I busted the lamp on a portage. I read the reviews by the CDC and about how micro organisms are smaller than sediment particles and the size of particles may conceal the organisms, in the shadow of the light. My answer to that is, if it is cloudy water (I always get the cleanest possible) just treat the water twice, if you are really worried.

I purchased this purifier to take to India and used it on all of my water while I was there. I found it was very easy to use on a standard wide-mouth bottle. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I was able to use it okay on a standard wattle bottle when I lost my Nalgene early in the trip and I never got sick. It has not shown any sign of running out of batteries and continues to run strong on my camping trips. I look forward to using it in travel and camping for years to come.

My partner and I used this steripen for through hiking the pct. After 4 months on the trail I cannot image life without it. For ultralight backpacking it is a bit on the bulky and heavy side but it was worth it because I could begin drinking water after 90 seconds.On a through hike our whole lives revolve around the next water source and at times, especially in the desert, we walk up to a new source thirsty and all we want to do it drink a liter of water. This pen made quick work of that dream.Now I with all that being said I give it 4 stars because the batteries actually run our fairly quickly. For 2 people we needed a set of batteries for 4 days of use. So if we were going to be on trail more than that we would carry a second set.

I was a little worried by some Steri-pen reviews, but this model had fewer bad reviews. I took one loaded with lithium batteries on a 2.5 week backpacking trip across Thailand. It worked perfectly. I wrapped several layers of plastic bags around it for protection and packed it in the center my backpack surrounded by clothes for cushioning. I never checked the backpack as luggage. You can't fail to protect the glass lamp and then complain if it stops working. I'm a happy customer.

Worked great the first 2 uses on a 3 day kayak trip. On the third use it started flashing dead batteries. I brought spares but the problem persisted. Even after returning home and again installing new batteries, the pen won't treat the water. It flashes green for either 1 or 1/2 liter then illuminates the pen bulb for a few seconds then flashes to replace or recharge batteries. Disappointed

Great product while working, but it stopped working halfway through my hike in Nepal. Requires full battery strength and doesn’t work well in cold temperatures.

This is a great addition to my emergency gear. I try to get all my battery operated gear in AA versions only, which is what this is. I have the Goal Zero 41022 Guide 10 Plus Solar Recharging Kit to recharge my AA batteries. The key to using this is UV light has to have clear water to kill the protozoa, bacteria and viruses. So I also carry coffee filters to clean out the dirt till its clear as possible. Lightweight and small. 4 AA's (I mark the steripen w/ a Sharpie + & - so I can be sure the batteries go in correctly). I zapped some rain water from a bucket. only took about 80-90 seconds. Nice!

Intend to use in the Galapagos where the water is very poor. Our trip has been postponed due to tr a very advisories.