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Three Things To Know:
- Compact and Lightweight – Weighing under 170g, it’s easy to carry and fits comfortably in most backpacks or water bottle holders
- Simple One-Button Operation – Just stir the UV light in your water for about 90 seconds to kill harmful microorganisms without chemicals or filters
- Best for Clear Water – Works excellently with clear water but requires pre-filtering if water is murky or cloudy to ensure effective purification
Our rating:
Design and Portability
Ease of Use
Purification Performance
Check availability at Amazon.
When I’m heading off-grid, clean drinking water is non-negotiable, but lugging heavy filters or relying on chemical tablets isn’t always ideal. That’s when the Katadyn Steripen Ultra UV Water Purifier caught my attention roughly 7 years ago when I went on a year long trip around the world, and I used it any time I didn’t fully trust the water source – from river water in Mongolia, to tap water in Bangladesh.
Lightweight, compact, and powered by UV light, it promises to purify a litre of water quickly and easily, without altering the taste.
Design and Portability
When you’re setting off on a year-long trip, living out of a backpack and regularly venturing into the unknown, compact, reliable gear becomes essential–especially when it comes to staying safe in remote areas. Whether you're trekking through wilderness or navigating places with questionable water sources, having a portable water purification system like the SteriPEN can make all the difference.
It’s lightweight at under 170 grams and about the size of a large pen, easy to pack, and designed for exactly these kinds of unpredictable adventures.
It slides easily into a side pocket, first-aid kit, or water-bottle sleeve with no bulk added to my pack, and comes with a protective neoprene case and USB cable.
The sturdy rubber grip feels secure, even wet, and the integrated USB-C port is cleverly tucked under a waterproof flap, so charging via power packs is easy without compromising weight. It’s built tough enough for daily outdoor life, lightweight, ergonomic, and ready for wherever I wander.
Ease of Use
One of the great things about this innovative piece of technology is just how simple and intuitive it is to use. There are no filters to pump, removable parts or chemicals to mix – you simply dip the UV light into the water, press the only button, move it around and wait for the smiley face to appear on the screen. It takes about 90 seconds for one litre.
The OLED display is super clear, showing battery life, treatment status, and errors if something goes wrong. It works best with wide-mouth bottles and clean (not murky) water, so there’s a bit of a learning curve if you’re using it with narrow openings or in silty rivers where you might need to also filter the water. Still, for straightforward water treatment, it’s one of the easiest systems I’ve used on the trail.
Purification Performance
The Katadyn Steripen Ultra UV Water Purifier can treat half a litre or a whole litre in about 48 to 90 seconds, eliminating bacteria, protozoa and viruses and is a really handy piece of kit when you’re out hiking or travelling when you’re just not confident the water is particularly sanitary, or you’re unsure of the source.
It works by using ultraviolet (UV-C) light rays to safely purify clear water by destroying 99.9% of protozoa (including Giardia and Cryptosporidia), bacteria and even viruses. It has an internal USB rechargeable lithium-ion battery and product life of 8,000 uses, with 50 treatments per charge.
In my experience, it worked quickly and reliably on clear water sources, delivering peace of mind without the hassle of filters or chemicals.
However, it’s important to note that the SteriPEN performs best with clear water; murky or very cloudy water reduces UV effectiveness, so pre-filtering may be necessary. Overall, it’s an excellent purifier for typical remote and travel conditions where water clarity isn’t a major issue.
Value For Money
While the SteriPEN Ultra sits at a higher upfront price point than some filters or tablets, it offers serious long-term value with 8,000 treatments, rechargeable batteries and no need to keep buying purification tablets.
Sustainability
Its rechargeable battery eliminates the need for single-use batteries, and also helps reduce reliance on plastic water bottles, especially for international travel where safe tap water isn't guaranteed.
Should You Buy It?
You don't need this for just a walk in the woods, but for remote travels or hikes in remote areas with dubious water sources this really is a handy tool.
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