Steripen Water Purifier

[Fofo]

I thought this might be a good place to place the thread. It may be a water purifier but gear as well.

Has anyone heard of or used one of these? I'm thinking of purchasing one for future trips but was hoping for feedback on whether or not it works as well as advertised.

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

Manufacturer homepage


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM8-7vhex54

World Business Review on Steripen

[timmah5]

Think I saw it in the gear review in the BTW. Never used it but looks like a quite handy little gadget.

[phoenixtriad]

I was in EMS a few weeks ago and got pitched one of these when the salesman saw me eyeing replacement cartridges for my Pur Hiker. When I asked him for some literature showing independent test results of the efficacy of the device, he stumbled with words and could only direct me to a website. His demeanor did not inspire confidence in the product for me, I figured if it was worth the price then the least they could do was print a small brochure or fact sheet.

So yeah, it looks nice, it is very compact, but I haven't pursued it...

[RGR.Montcalm]

I like my Sweet Water Guardian and now they make an inline purifier for the Camel Bak.

Lots of user testimonial and as a personal note- I've used the SWG to purify water that had dead cattle float by after I had purified my water- so ill effects whatsoever...

[MailBuoy]

Really depends on what you are using it for. Is it for a specific hike along a known trail? Or as an emergency purifier?

Keep in mind for real clowdy or downright muddy water it won't work unless you buy the pre filter also. Since it uses light if the water isn't at least mostly clear it either won't work or it will take longer.

[Fofo]

I was hoping to buy the Steripen cleaning small amounts of water for immediate consumption, or consumed within a day. (no more than a litre at most) Also, yes - I intend on using it as a back-up in-case something goes wrong.

Currently I mostly rely on iodine tablets and boiling water, while keeping some reserve water for emergencies on my person in the form of purchased bottled water.

The first trip the Steripen will be used for is in Algonquin Park. It has a large number of streams and lakes, which I intend to lead my friends on rucking, so water availability and quality shouldn't be a large concern.

The logic behind my explanation sounds good, but yet again it may not be so to others. If anyone thinks otherwise, please give me a good virtual slap in the back of the head and tell me, I'd appreciate it, thanks. :D :)

[rubicon]

Check this out. http://www.miox.com/products/category/C12/

Rubicon

[Fofo]

Hm, that actually looks quite interesting and definately worth reading-up on.

Thanks for the (MSR MIOX) link. :)

[Greenhat]

Make sure you read the footnotes link. The information on cost per various volumes and effectiveness is worth considering.

[adk]

Hm, that actually looks quite interesting and definately worth reading-up on.

Thanks for the (MSR MIOX) link. :)

Just sold a MIOX. Brought it to Algonquin (Oct '07) and I found it a PITA to use and it ended up being defective, good thing I had a back-up. Returned it to the company and they sent me back a brand new one. I'll give it this; it is very compact and weighs nothing. I bought it because I was getting fed-up pumping water with my PUR Hiker for 6 guys at a time. Well after the MIOX, that doesn't seem so bad anymore and I have since gone back to using the PUR, which has seen many years of use in the Adirondacks and Alogonquin park. The Steripen looks interesting though. X2 on reading the Footnotes.

[Greenhat]

Just sold my MIOX. Brought it to Algonquin and I found it a PITA to use. But maybe that's just me being impatient. I bought it because I was getting fed-up pumping water with my PUR Hiker for 6 guys at a time. Well after the MIOX, it doesn't seem so bad anymore and I have since gone back to using the PUR, which has seen many years of use in the Adirondacks and Alogonquin park. The Steripen looks interesting though.


Why was it a PITA?

As I understand it, you mix-electricize your saline solution for a given quantity of water, dump it into the water to be purified and wait. Seems pretty simple to me. Am I missing something?

[Fofo]

For sure, I'm going to read as much information on both systems as I can. Well, for the Steripen, I've read more comprehensively. As of right now, the MIOX sounds like it can be handy, but I'm not sure about waiting around for 15 minutes to 4 hours for the brine to do it's work. One of the selling points of the Steripen is you can filter your water in less than five minutes. Plus, the Steripen has a longer life battery-wise.

I'm off to Mountain Equipment Co-op tonight. I'll oogle around with the MIOX and then go to another local store and see the Steripen. Maybe seeing and asking for personal feedback in-person will help with eventually deciding. :)

[RGR.Montcalm]

Here's the link to the SweetWater- it is the one that the 101st bought for every Infantry, LRS, and PF squad in the Division

http://www.moontrail.com/hydration/guardian.html

[adk]

Why was it a PITA?

As I understand it, you mix-electricize your saline solution for a given quantity of water, dump it into the water to be purified and wait. Seems pretty simple to me. Am I missing something?

Compared to a pump filter it's a PITA. First off the MIOX is battery operated, and CR123 to boot. Both are not pluses as CR123 are not exactly easy to come by and of course batteries need replacing eventually. To use the MIOX you must 1) Unscrew cap 2) add salt 3) add water sample to salt 4) screw back cap 5) press button for quantity desired to treat 6) shake gently for 10 seconds 7) unscrew cap 8) stick test filter strip into treated water to test, if GTG goto step 9 9) pour solution into water to be treated. As I said pump is KISS simple. Just replace the filter after 200 gallons or so.

[MailBuoy]

I did a bit of research and finally decided simple was better;

http://www.worldclassgear.com/mcnett_aquamira_water_treatment.asp

Add something like a nalgene bottle pre-filter and you are all set. Plus, since it is chlorine dioxide it doesn't stain anything the way iodine does.

A friend of mine had a MIOX and it just stopped working on him. No lights, no clue. Agreed, sample size of one, or two given the other post about the MIOX. That's what I don't like about it or the Steripen; maybe I am old fashioned but how do you KNOW it is working? Had a friend (and maybe a second now) who caught Giardia; not very pleasant and can take literally years to get rid of it.

Plus you are talking over a hundred bucks IIRC. 15 bucks and you get the drops. Another 10 gets you a pre filter. Small, light, cheap, no maintainance.

P.S. The Sweetwater was highly recommended to me but I think it was a slightly different model. The one that was recommended to me had two pumping speeds based on having a filter element that could be bypassed (Finer filtration = slower pumping mode).

P.P.S. Check out this article and the follow-on ones at the bottom of the page. I love REI!!

http://www.rei.com/learn/Camping/rei/learn/camp/filter3f?vcat=REI_EXPERT_ADVICE_CAMPING

[sasman]

Just saw this at the SHOT Show - they had a booth in the Gold Hall.

It uses ultraviolet light to sterilize the water. They have three sizes.

Impressively, they had an independent study available that was done in Canada in which they were able to scientifically test samples for bacteria, etc. and it showed that the device worked.

Otherwise, there is no way to test any system to know that it actually did what it claims to do to bacteria, viruses, gardia, etc.

I understand that they either link to or quote from that study on their site.

Just got back so I haven't had a chance to check out their site.

[Fofo]

Well, after looking at the MSR MIOX, and having a store worker explain the process in which it works (my friend and I just exchanged quizzical glances for a few moments and shook our heads) we decided not to get that product.

For now, the Chlorine Dioxide drops Mailbuoy mentioned seem like a great idea. Steripen? Sweet Water Guardian? Both hold promise, have their advantages and disadvantages, so I'm not sure yet.

The information and feedback so far is appreciated. :)

[Slim]

Here's the link to the SweetWater- it is the one that the 101st bought for every Infantry, LRS, and PF squad in the Division

http://www.moontrail.com/hydration/guardian.html

I can't be sure if it is the same brand name, as it is not my gear, but this is the same design and principal of a purifier that I have used.
30 minutes of work will supply six people with water for about third of the day. Pump in the morning, before lunch and dinner, and your GTG. Bring crystal lite if the look or taste of lake or river water doesn't suit you, this purifier will not change the look or taste of your water

[MailBuoy]

Fofo,
Keep in mind chlorine dioxide doesn't kill everything. This is from that REI link I posted;

"Exposing water to halogens such as iodine or chlorine is believed to kill bacteria and viruses, but not all protozoan cysts. Hard-shelled cryptosporidia, as mentioned previously, show strong resistance to iodine and chlorine. You should not expect halogens alone to be 100 percent effective against this cryptosporidia."

"Protozoan cysts— These are hard-shelled, single-cell parasites, including the well-known Giardia lamblia (ranging in size from 5 to 15 microns) and the resilient, lesser-known Cryptosporidium parvum (2 to 5 microns).

Giardia infection occurs in the small intestine, where cysts "hatch." Symptoms (diarrhea, gas, nausea, cramps) appear within 1 to 2 weeks and last 4 to 6 weeks or longer. Symptoms of crypto (diarrhea, loose stool, cramps, upset stomach, slight fever) appear in 2 to 10 days and typically last 2 weeks.

Giardiasis can be treated with prescription drugs; so far, cryptosporidiosis cannot. People with weakened immune systems could be at risk for more serious disease, particularly with cryptosporidiosis.

Cryptosporidia are highly resistant to iodine and chlorine.

Portable filters and purifiers with fine pores (capable of trapping particles as small as 0.2 or 0.3 microns) reliably capture these bugs. Units should have an "absolute pore size" of 1 micron or less. (Absolute pore size indicates the largest possible opening in a filter or purifier's straining element.) UV light works by damaging the DNA of pathogens and rendering them harmless.""

[Ronin 762]

Fofo,
Keep in mind chlorine dioxide doesn't kill everything. This is from that REI link I posted;

"Exposing water to halogens such as iodine or chlorine is believed to kill bacteria and viruses, but not all protozoan cysts. Hard-shelled cryptosporidia, as mentioned previously, show strong resistance to iodine and chlorine. You should not expect halogens alone to be 100 percent effective against this cryptosporidia."

"Protozoan cysts— These are hard-shelled, single-cell parasites, including the well-known Giardia lamblia (ranging in size from 5 to 15 microns) and the resilient, lesser-known Cryptosporidium parvum (2 to 5 microns).

Giardia infection occurs in the small intestine, where cysts "hatch." Symptoms (diarrhea, gas, nausea, cramps) appear within 1 to 2 weeks and last 4 to 6 weeks or longer. Symptoms of crypto (diarrhea, loose stool, cramps, upset stomach, slight fever) appear in 2 to 10 days and typically last 2 weeks.

Giardiasis can be treated with prescription drugs; so far, cryptosporidiosis cannot. People with weakened immune systems could be at risk for more serious disease, particularly with cryptosporidiosis.

Cryptosporidia are highly resistant to iodine and chlorine.

Portable filters and purifiers with fine pores (capable of trapping particles as small as 0.2 or 0.3 microns) reliably capture these bugs. Units should have an "absolute pore size" of 1 micron or less. (Absolute pore size indicates the largest possible opening in a filter or purifier's straining element.) UV light works by damaging the DNA of pathogens and rendering them harmless.""

The Miox doesn't work on cryptosporidia either.
I have one but rarely use it. It is not hard to use once you figure it out, but a pump is much easier and faster. It's just a matter of weight and space. I try to take my PuR pump when I can, but I always have room for the Miox.

Ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain.

[Greenhat]

The Miox doesn't work on cryptosporidia either.



According to their technical information, it does.

"The MSR MIOX Purifier requires 15 minutes for viruses and bacteria, 30 minutes for Giardia, and 4 hours for Cryptosporidium, and the quality of the source water is irrelevant."

[adk]

According to their technical information, it does.

"The MSR MIOX Purifier requires 15 minutes for viruses and bacteria, 30 minutes for Giardia, and 4 hours for Cryptosporidium, and the quality of the source water is irrelevant."

X2.

[Ronin 762]

Well looks like I was wrong. I know we had an issue with these on Okinawa as there is something out there that they won't treat (at least the ones we had didn't) I will have to look and see if I still have the instruction booklet when I get home.

[RGR.Montcalm]

I can't be sure if it is the same brand name, as it is not my gear, but this is the same design and principal of a purifier that I have used.
30 minutes of work will supply six people with water for about third of the day. Pump in the morning, before lunch and dinner, and your GTG. Bring crystal lite if the look or taste of lake or river water doesn't suit you, this purifier will not change the look or taste of your water

The SweetWater had an activated charcoal filter as the final stage to remove any taste- the rest of the stuff was filtered out

FWIW- I had out Vet Services test the water before and after purifying with the Sweetwater- it did what is was supposed to.

SweetWater= 1.25 L/min

[RGR.Montcalm]

Product Details
Description:
The SweetWater Guardian Purifier System offers proven protection, speed, and ease of use in one lightweight, compact package. Start with the MSR SweetWater Microfilter, which protects against protozoa and bacteria while delivering an amazing 1+ liters of water a minute. Next, add the chlorine-based MSR SweetWater Purifier Solution, wait 5 minutes, and you've got additional protection from viruses.
Features:

It inactivates 99.99% of waterborne viruses; eliminates over 99.9999% of all waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of common protozoan parasites, such as giardia and cryptosporidia, as well as particulates, bad tastes, and odors Pumps at a fast flow rate of 1.25 liters per minute
Lever-action pump handle has a 4-to-1 mechanical advantage and dual pump action so you don’t have to work as hard
Handle folds flat for storage when not in use
A Platypus 2+ Liter Bottle that connects directly to the microfilter is included for easy treatment with the purifier solution

Specifications:

Weight: 14 ounces

[Fofo]

Product Details
Description:
The SweetWater Guardian Purifier System offers proven protection, speed, and ease of use in one lightweight, compact package. Start with the MSR SweetWater Microfilter, which protects against protozoa and bacteria while delivering an amazing 1+ liters of water a minute. Next, add the chlorine-based MSR SweetWater Purifier Solution, wait 5 minutes, and you've got additional protection from viruses.
Features:

It inactivates 99.99% of waterborne viruses; eliminates over 99.9999% of all waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of common protozoan parasites, such as giardia and cryptosporidia, as well as particulates, bad tastes, and odors Pumps at a fast flow rate of 1.25 liters per minute
Lever-action pump handle has a 4-to-1 mechanical advantage and dual pump action so you don’t have to work as hard
Handle folds flat for storage when not in use
A Platypus 2+ Liter Bottle that connects directly to the microfilter is included for easy treatment with the purifier solution

Specifications:

Weight: 14 ounces


Thanks for posting this. :) I thought it over, and while I may not be able to simply just filter water on the move, it is the safest way. the Steripen is a nice little gadget, but a pump seems like the best idea. Especially when you got four thirsty guys and consider how much a debris filter, tec would be atop of the basic Steripen.

[Balls]

Does anyone have follow-up or recent experience with the SteriPen? Looking at getting one for emergency use only. Having water ready in a couple of minutes vice 30 or so would be nice if it works.

(FWIW, I currently carry iodine tabs as my backup to a filter when I go backpacking.)




Thanks.


Edit: also found this review in particular to be helpful. http://www.amazon.com/SteriPEN-Classic-Handheld-Water-Purifier/product-reviews/B000PGYDT8/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#RFODU9TJQE90I