Steripen Adventurer

imported
#1

I’m considering the Steripen Adventurer for my Thru hike this year. I’d like to hear any comments you might have.

Trashman

#2

Trashman -
Used a SteriPen all the way on my '07 Thru & never had health issues. One of my favorite items. Nothing beats treated water 45 seconds after arrival at the source. Mine was the yellow/black model - do suggest you carry an extra set of batteries as there is no way to know when batteries are dying & then resupply at next town & you’ll need a widemouth litre bottle - I carried a Nalgene. The neck of most gatorade/water bottles is too narrow. Also carried a few treatment tablets as back up just in case.
Other favorite items - Jet Boil(quick,hot,predictable) and Big Agnes Insulated Air Core sleeping pad (again predictable,comfortable sleeping surface - regardless of floor/ground/gravel/sticks/shelter/platform you are on.)
Best Advice - drink an electrolyte drink daily - regardless of temps.
Be Safe

Evil Eye

#3

I always use this pen on my hikes…recommend using Lithium batteries…they last longer and are lighter! I too like this little gadget. I know others have problems with it. Just make sure you keep the one end dry. If any moisture gets into it (the batteries) it will stop working. You will need to just let it dry out for a bit and it will work again. It is well worth the small size and ease of it.

Jeff

#4

We used the Classic on our 2009 thru-hike. It worked all the time (except once when I needed to change batteries and discovered that I had triple A when double A were needed). There can be a issue if the unit is wet or very damp, but here’s a solution.
“Extended time periods in the field would “confuse” the SteriPEN. I would get to my campsite, prepare to use the SteriPEN, push the button, and the red indicator light would illuminate immediately, indicating that there was a malfunction. I was able to determine that the extended outdoor use seemed to create too much humidity within the unit and caused this malfunction. The malfunction occurred with a much greater frequency during periods of extremely high humidity and periods of extended rain. I was able to “fool” the unit when I got a red light by waiting for the indicator light to stop blinking and then placing the unit in the water, just as if I were purifying the water. Then I would pull it out of the water, just as if I had completed the purification, then push the button again. The SteriPEN would then work just fine for any number of uses. The problem also goes away after the unit is in a controlled environment (inside) for approximately 1-3 days to get a chance to get completely dried out.”[@]Review by John Heubi/"

Will

#5

I used the Adventurer on and off on the PCT, (and several hikers before) and had plenty of malfunctions. Since these are often related to humidity issues, i’d think that the Steripen wouldn’t be a good fit for the AT.

Thing is, if you have to have backup (drops or tablets) anyway, why not just use the drops the whole way? I suppose doing that is more expensive, but most thru-hikers start to get a feel for where they don’t have to treat water. Then you can drink straight most of the time, and have drops for when you’re concerned for purity.

Anyway, if you do use a Steripen, consider rechargeable batteries, especially if you’re using a bounce bucket. On the PCT, a solar charger is a decent idea, but not sure on the AT.

My Steripen has its place: a 5-day good weather hike someplace popular where i’ll need to treat all my water, and yet if i’m stuck someone can help me out. Or when travelling overseas. But on a thru-hike, never again.

markv

#6

Great responses from everybody. Thanks, I appreciated each one. I guess I’m thinking like markv in many ways. I’ve section hiked the entire AT and ,in fact, drank most of the water untreated. When I did treat it I used a couple drops of Polar Pure. I got sick one time in Maine and I knew immediately that when I drank the water without treating it, it was a mistake. I was miserable for about three days but finally recovered enough to continue.
I don’t want to have any water problems this time, since it’s a thru hike. If I stay with the drops or tablets, I’m a bit concerned about the effects of long term use. markv, I do plan on using a bounce box. Are you suggesting I bounce a battery charger? I’ve seen the Solar Charger and the Auto plug in charger. Does a plain old AC charger recharge the steripen rechargeable batteries?

Trashman

#7

Yeah, i meant to put a charger in the bounce bucket. I think a plain old one ought to be out there for the battery type the Steripen uses, but i had the Steripen solar charger that included an AC plug with it. Once i pulled the brilliant move of bouncing my charger with the batteries still in it.

markv

#8

Go to an REI garage sale, you can find them for $30. I bought two this last weekend.

Trout