Oh, how I wish I had a gadget like this the last time I went on an extended backpacking trip and brought along icky-tasting iodine tablets to purify river water for drinking and cooking. With SteriPEN products — and there are many sizes and shapes for different uses — the portable water filters use an ultra-violet light to destroy waterborne microbes, making water in developing countries or in the wilderness safe to drink.
The technology is cool: According to the SteriPEN FAQ page, microbes such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa make you sick by reproducing and overwhelming your body’s immune system. SteriPEN creates ultraviolet (UV) light that disrupts the DNA of microbes in seconds. Without functional DNA, microbes can’t reproduce to make you sick.
The SteriPEN Traveler, which retails for $59.95 (check Amazon.com for deals), is designed especially for people who need a convenient way to purify water while in a foreign country. It’s just about 8 inches long and 1.5 inches wide, so it fits conveniently into carry-on or checked baggage. The UV light works on 4 AA batteries (good for about 200 water treatments; always pack your electronic items without batteries, to avoid running them down unintentionally).
All you do is turn the SteriPEN Traveler on and wave the UV light wand around in a cup of clear water. It’s finished purifying in under a minute. The directions crack me up: “Discolored or dirty water should be pre-filtered until clear prior to SteriPEN treatment… Coffee filters or a shirt can be used in an emergency.”
Another cool feature: the tapered wand is designed to fit into commercial water bottles (or narrow-necked reusable water bottles, like metal Sigg brands), so you can create a tight seal by placing the wand in the bottle and turning it upside down for convenient water purification.
I played with the water purifier at home, and found directions very easy to follow. Admittedly, I did not go down to the family pond to get some dirty water to purify, but my buddy Tim Leffel at Practical Travel gear has used SteriPEN products firsthand and won’t travel in a foreign country without a SteriPEN.
Want to win a hand-held SteriPEN Traveler of your very own? Just leave a comment below telling me where you’d use it. Comment once daily if you like, up until 6 p.m. PDT, Tuesday, November 16. I’ll choose a comment number via Random.org, and announce the winner on Winning Wednesday, November 17. Immediate family members of The Vacation Gals are not eligible, and winner must have a valid U.S. or Canada mailing address.
Cool gadget! I would use it hiking and backpacking near my home at Lake Tahoe!
I’d use it anywhere I went backpacking… Maybe on some long hikes too, since I wouldn’t need to carry as much water along the way… Same for long periods in the field with my SAR team.
I’d use it on my next backpacking trip… I’m thinking Wonderland Trail, 2011? It’d be a welcome addition!
My son is going backpacking this summer. This would be perfect!
I would have loved to have one of these on my recent trip to the Galapagos (http://blog.laurenandelissa.com/post/1391027259/galapagos-on-a-shoe-string-more-or-less). Definitely need to get one before my extended trip to South America!
Love your site!
That is the coolest gadget ever! I can’t believe the small size and reasonable price. I’d use it on my next camping trip!
This would be great to use when hiking in the national parks.
I’d use this when we go to a wedding in Mexico this spring.
Great for the White Mountains of NH!
I would take it with me on my next trip to El Salvador. This woul dhave come in handy when I was there last summer.
I would use it on rock climbing trips.
awesome gadget !! with all the outdoors my family does, this would be great for us
I go on camping trips with my daughter’s girls scout troop all of time. It would be wonderful to have this, especially since the last time they forgot the water and we all had to go back home. -_-
My sister travels to China quite a bit. I would give it to her to use in her travels
Backpacking, for sure, long hikes – and travel to places where the water may be questinable. I am hoping to visit my sister in Costa Rica. It would travel with me.
the Galapagos
I would use it on vacation. Especially, for the hotel room water.
I would use this while camping!
I would use it while camping with the family or on road trips and especially when we travel out of the country.
i need this at home!
I sure could use this on my camping trips. 11/10
I’d take this on hikes to be safe, and feel much better about my earthquake water supply
for hiking
I will take it with me on my overseas trip next year.
This would be perfect for my earthquake preparedness kit!
I’d take it rock climbing.
I’ll be doing some international traveling next year and this would be great.
in Mexico
I’d use this camping
I’d use this for my earthquake water supply
the White Mountains
This would be great for all of our camping and / or hiking trips
I’d use this on dayhikes and for my earthquake water supply
Mexico !!
This would be great for my emergency preparedness kit.
Perfect for a round the world trip! What a great concept!
This would work out well for the trip abroad I have planned.
Hubby would love this. This would make a great addition to our emergency kit.
Camping would be a great place to use this! Thanks!
Hi,
I would use the steri pen hiking in the back country and I would keep one in my emergency kit.
Thanks
Chris Ann
I’d love to take this on all my travels! going to Mexico and the Bahamas next year and would love to have this handy. lucillemcg27@yahoo.com
I’d use this on day hikes and for my earthquake preparedness kit
Costa Rica
I’d use it when I travel internationally.
This would be good for other than foreign trips. 11/14
I sure could use this on my camping trips. 11/14
I would use this when hiking.
I sure could use this on my camping trips. 11/15
This would be good for other than foreign trips. 11/15
We would use it camping
I’d use this for day hikes and for my earthquake kit
we plan a trip to mexico soon so this would be nice also we camp alot about 3 months out of the year
I would take it when ice climbing
Sure I’d use it camping, but I’d also use it whenever I drank tap water – you can’t be too careful.
rock climbing
I’d love to use it for traveling overseas.
I would take it with me on my overseas trip.
wish i had seen this earlier!! this would be a great gift for my dad! they are going to be in mexico for a while &he has been talking about the water and the first time down and how bad it was.
hoping random.org likes me this time!!
This would be used while hiking!
I would use it when camping or keep it in my hurricane bag for emergencies
crazyred61 at yahoo dot com
I would use it when I go on my scouting camp outs with my local scout troop or in my emergency preparedness packs that my family has.
My husband would love this for one of his backpacking trips – its so compact
I would use it when we are hiking and on camping trips!
This would be good for other than foreign trips. 11/16
I sure could use this on my camping trips. 11/16
well I’ve not heard of a SteriPen yet but I would like this for Harry as he gets around alot
Yes please—very cool! I would use it everywhere we travel, but especially when we visit my husbands family in Mexico.
still wanna win this for my dad!
I love it and would use it on our camping trips
I would use this on day hikes and in my earthquake kit
I’d pack it for traveling internationally.
I’d use this when I travel and on camping trips.
i would use it in hotels while traveling
I love camping and backpacking but have no money for new supplies. This would be really helpful! SO COOL!
This would be great to use when hiking and when we travel.
mightynaynay(at)cs.com
I am going to Ireland and cant drink any water that is treated due to alergies. So would like to win this.
I’d use this when we go hiking/camping, thanks!
I love to go camping and would definately bring this along.
sallylynnsara@hotmail.com
While hiking…and cycling!
I’d use it while on the road.
I would take this while traveling and on mountain trips.
It is perfect for a camping trip
Camping in northern mn.
I would use this when we visit Mexico.
This would be wonderful for hiking and camping! Thanks!!
I make frequent mission trips to El Salvador and would love to have this on them!
monlor AT aol DOT com