Steripen Reccomendations

[CornerCreek27]

Hello all, I am looking at getting a new steripen for my chuck hike of the South Island of the Te Araroa this winter. For my AT Thru in 2012 I used the Freedom which worked really well but now I see there is also a rechargable Ultra that actually has controls so that the unit won't turn on by itself.

here's links for the Freedom:
http://www.amazon.com/SteriPEN-Freed.../dp/B005HG3VYE

And the Ultra:
http://www.amazon.com/SteriPen-Hydro...GEQ6G5RAGRMWZG

Does anyone have any expirience with the Ultra and how they liked it??

Maybe more generally I am currious why the hiking community hasn't embraced Steripens as a water purification method? I know they have some hiccups but they still work really well for me; much lighter than filters and don't make water taste like a swimming pool.
Cheers
CatNap

[flemdawg1]

Most people avoid steripens because they have a bad reputation for being unreliable. Most of the issues are with older Classics and their contacts giving the dreaded redlight error.

[HooKooDooKu]

Maybe more generally I am currious why the hiking community hasn't embraced Steripens as a water purification method? I know they have some hiccups but they still work really well for me; much lighter than filters and don't make water taste like a swimming pool.

First of all, Steripen does not purify the water. It only disinfects the water. The water will still contain any chemical contaminates and suspended solids.
Second, most hikers will not be encountering water sourced that are contaminated with virus. As such, most any of the water filters available 'will do'.
Third, there are cheaper solutions. With the Sawyer Mini available in WalMart (and other sources) for <$20, I think it is going to become a game changer in the industry.

So the only times I would even consider a Steripen would be if I was hiking somewhere I needed to worry about virus contamination or hiking in sub-freezing weather (most, but not all, other water filters must be protected from freezing).

[Tianto]

First of all, Steripen does not purify the water. It only disinfects the water. The water will still contain any chemical contaminates and suspended solids.
Second, most hikers will not be encountering water sourced that are contaminated with virus. As such, most any of the water filters available 'will do'.
Third, there are cheaper solutions. With the Sawyer Mini available in WalMart (and other sources) for <$20, I think it is going to become a game changer in the industry.

So the only times I would even consider a Steripen would be if I was hiking somewhere I needed to worry about virus contamination or hiking in sub-freezing weather (most, but not all, other water filters must be protected from freezing).

Sawer does not remove chemical contamination either and is rarely (if ever a reason) that hikers carry a filtration system. Steripen comes with a screen that does filter solids from your water. Steripen DOES purify water. And no, I have no vested interest in Steripen though I do own and use one.

[Starchild]

The Freedom starting all by itself issue can be compensated for by drying off the metal contacts (as best as you can) after each use.

Additionally, in cold temps it is helpful to have the freedom in a pocket (getting body heat) to ensure a good start.

As for why it is not more embraced, I think part of the reason is that they are not really designed with the hiking community as their primary market and the design is more for worldly travel.

[CornerCreek27]

i figured this is how the forum might have turned out. I never minded floaters in my water and simply just want to get rid of the giardia etc. from possible excrement in the water. I would like to try the new sawyer models but don't want to fiddle with water bladders, dirty bottles and all. I see that the Ultra model of the steripen uses on/off switches so that there are (I believe) no diodes to get wet, a plus mark for this model.

But I guess nobody out there has tried the Ultra to give it a review?
CatNap

[mtntopper]

I started using a steripen last year. I really like it. Fast and reliable has been my experience. I collect my water in a bag. Filter it thru a coffee filter in to a bottle just below the top. Dip the pen. Wait the amount of time required then drink. Much easier and faster than any filter I have used.

[thecyclops]

Sawyer mini /thread

[mtntopper]

Sawyer mini /thread

what do you man sawyer mini thread?

[thecyclops]

what do you man sawyer mini thread?

That meant sawyer is the best on the market.END THREAD

[thecyclops]

IMO opinion,having used many filters (MSR mini works/katadyne/lifestraw/steripen) the sawyer mini is superior in all ways.
Price/ease/quickness/effectiveness/number of gallons it can filter/weight/design...just everything is superior.

[Starchild]

IMO opinion,having used many filters (MSR mini works/katadyne/lifestraw/steripen) the sawyer mini is superior in all ways.
Price/ease/quickness/effectiveness/number of gallons it can filter/weight/design...just everything is superior.

I recently got a mini at Walmart, I brought in on a recent 5 day backpack, I could not wait to get my Steripen Freedom back.

For the Sawyer:
Price (major check)/ease (major fail - it is awkward to fill and use and can get your hands cold)/quickness (fail for small quantities (1/2 a L) of water gathered, check for larger quantities)/effectiveness (neither got me sick, so equal)/number of gallons it can filter (I assume a similar life battery of the Steripen vs the inevitable clogging of the filter), /weight (comparable but I do usually carry less water with the steripen - see quickness)/design (it's neat in it's lightweight filter design, but so is the steripen for it's purpose)

So it comes down to personal preference, and the Sawyer Mini is worth a try but certainally not the end of thread IMHO

[thecyclops]

I recently got a mini at Walmart, I brought in on a recent 5 day backpack, I could not wait to get my Steripen Freedom back.

For the Sawyer:
Price (major check)/ease (major fail - it is awkward to fill and use and can get your hands cold)/quickness (fail for small quantities (1/2 a L) of water gathered, check for larger quantities)/effectiveness (neither got me sick, so equal)/number of gallons it can filter (I assume a similar life battery of the Steripen vs the inevitable clogging of the filter), /weight (comparable but I do usually carry less water with the steripen - see quickness)/design (it's neat in it's lightweight filter design, but so is the steripen for it's purpose)

So it comes down to personal preference, and the Sawyer Mini is worth a try but certainally not the end of thread IMHO

How is it awkward??? Its incredibly easy to work with,which is probably,beside the speed,is its best feature + you would HAVE to pre filter the water (if it has solids) before a steri and MAYBE pre filter before a sawyer,depending on how crusty the source is
The steri is delicate,the sawyer is built like a tank
$20,100,000 gallons,and no batteries VS how much for the steri???
and the design of being able to fit it in line,use as a straw or screw to pretty much any kind of water bottle just blows the steri away.

[thecyclops]

I also bought a outdoor products 1liter bag,that the mini screws to.I can filter a liter of water QUICK and the bag has a squirt type top that can be used to back flush the mini.

[mattjv89]

So it comes down to personal preference, and the Sawyer Mini is worth a try but certainally not the end of thread IMHO

Agreed, much of the water treatment debate seems to end at what you consider convenient. I'm pretty set on Aquamira as a solution because I love the compact size, lack of messing with any sort of filters or bags, and don't mind the increased cost over time. That said I appreciate how others do mind the cost, time delay for both mixing the chemicals and treating the water, and the slight taste it imparts. Par for the course.

[HooKooDooKu]

That meant sawyer is the best on the market.END THREAD

Apparently Not... because the thread continues.

the sawyer mini is superior in all ways

Sorry, but I've got to take exception to the word ALL above.

The Sawyer mini is:
1. Not Impact safe (drop it and the glass tubes inside can break and there's virtually no way for you to know)
2. Not freeze safe (let it freeze and again the glass tubes inside can break and there's virtually no way for you to know)
3. Difficult to acquire water if there isn't falling water.

By comparison, the MSR Sweetwater filter is impact safe, freeze safe, and can easily suck water up out of the flattest shallowest water flows.

[thecyclops]

Apparently Not... because the thread continues.


Sorry, but I've got to take exception to the word ALL above.

The Sawyer mini is:
1. Not Impact safe (drop it and the glass tubes inside can break and there's virtually no way for you to know)
2. Not freeze safe (let it freeze and again the glass tubes inside can break and there's virtually no way for you to know)
3. Difficult to acquire water if there isn't falling water.

By comparison, the MSR Sweetwater filter is impact safe, freeze safe, and can easily suck water up out of the flattest shallowest water flows.

My MSR mini cost 5X as much and I would trade it in a second for a sawyer,thats just me I suppose.
Its more impact safe than the steri,much more
I havent had it out in sub freezing conditions I will say,but keeping anything you dont want to freeze close to your body(a shirt pocket/pants pocket/down your draws/any where close to body heat) SHOULD (again,I have never had it out in the cold,err,that cold) solve that problem and its small,super small so to me,should be a non issue
Ive never had any issues acquiring water as long as I stay on top of my game and get water at every opportunity
Its OK though.Some people scoff at new technology,some people embrace it.People laughed at the wright brothers too.

[The Old Boot]

Whatever you do, don't follow in my footsteps....my first choice was the Steripen that you crank...no batteries to worry about.

It took a very athletic, much younger male to get it cranked fast enough and long enough to get the 1 minute cycle completed. And even he remarked that if he had to do that job for more than a liter a day, he'd be too tired to paddle!

It went back and I'm extremely happy with my Sawyer, although it bugs me that the Mini became available within a month of me buying mine..sigh.

[Venchka]

This must be it. All gone in Boone. Shucks.

http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Outdoor...87?type=search

Wayne

[thecyclops]

This must be it. All gone in Boone. Shucks.

http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Outdoor...87?type=search

Wayne

Yup,thats it...I suppose you need to get your own system,but that is the bag I use,with a narrow mouth 1 liter nalgene and a 2 liter bladder.