Water Purification - Ultra Violet

DirtyMo

New Member
Aug 1, 2016
13
0
Richmond VA
Hello

Have been looking at the below, an ultra violet pen. Weighing this versus the tablets...Taking a 2 liter bladder and hard container. I think the big piece for us is whether we spike camp or not. Thinking for a days worth of hiking in the 2 liter plus canteen would suffice, but unsure what the best solution is if we spike. Thoughts or experience?


https://www.rei.com/product/884055/steripen-aqua-water-purifier?CAWELAID=120217890000764246&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=15877492480&CATCI=aud-196706897080:pla-126985754440&cm_mmc=PLA_Google|404_11827|8840550001|e25e7c5c-2ba5-497b-a25b-8fc8ae114d42|aud-196706897080:pla-126985754440&lsft=cm_mmc:PLA_Google_LIA|404_11827|8840550001|e25e7c5c-2ba5-497b-a25b-8fc8ae114d42|aud-196706897080:pla-126985754440&gclid=CjwKEAjwiYG9BRCkgK-G45S323oSJABnykKA6h20PQaER4SRh4MmWKsj5-3cYIlKsP1kUDbiRC_kLRoCJeTw_wcB
 

Slugz

Veteran member
Oct 12, 2014
3,664
2,340
55
Casper, Wyoming
I don't hump water around when able. Filter, tablets or UV to filter as needed. Thats if you have water sources available and close to the spike/camp.
 

B&C Blacktails

Active Member
Mar 1, 2015
237
0
I have treated water with cows feeding and doing their business directly in the water with a UV filter and it worked great. I also later found out while hiking near the same creek there was a dead cow in the water. Never got sick. The only drawback is the sediment left in the water.

I usually carry my MSR Sweetwater or katydan filter as a personal preference.
 

Fink

Veteran member
Apr 7, 2011
1,961
204
West Side, MoMo
Seems like not as many guys use the Steripen as other methods, but I really like mine. The filter kinda sucks on it, it doesnt draw very well, but I would think a little bit of cheese cloth over your bottle would stop just about any sediment (visible anyways). I've used mine for several years now, and no sickness yet, I'm very confident in it. 4 lithium batteries last me at least 10 days, never ran it longer than that, but the batteries still had quite a bit of life left in them. When I'm done using it, I always take the batteries out.
Biggest problem I could see, is trying to get water out of a very small source.