I must say that after using the SteriPEN Ultra that I absolutely love it and think it’s the best and most advanced portable UV water purifier around! Best of all it is so amazingly easy to use that even a child could handle it!
I’ve always wanted to get my hands on a SteriPEN as I had heard a lot of positive things about their products and also was intrigued by their amazing UV technology. Thanks to Steve M the marketing manager at SteriPEN, I was sent a brand new Ultra UV Water Purifier to review and ‘test drive’!
The SteriPEN Ultra as I alluded to before is a 100% proven water purifier that utilizes UV (ultraviolet) light to eliminate over 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa (something that water filters alone cannot eliminate) that cause water-borne illness.
The Ultra’s UV lamp treats up to 8,000 one-liter treatments before conking out.
It is very popular amongst international travelers (especially to 3rd world countries where the water is not potable), tourists, as well as every day, prepared people like you and me.
For those interested in the specs, I have included them below:
| Weight | 4.94 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7.3 x 1.6 x 1.3 in |
| Lamp Life | 8,000 treatments |
| Battery | Internal Lithium-Ion (Included with purchase) |
| Battery Life | 100 .5 liter treatments or 50 1 liter treatments per charge |
| Minimum Bottle Diameter | 20mm (0.8 inches) |
| Filter Compatibility | Tapered End (PreFilter and FitsAll) |
The Ultra also comes inside a nice and handy Neoprene case with a nylon/velcro strap at the back for attachment to your belt or MOLLE webbing.
SteriPEN Ultra case
First, turn it on by pressing the blue button once.
Stick it into the container of water that needs purifying. The UV light will then activate.
You will see a number countdown on the user-friendly OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) screen.
Wait until you see the smiley face show up on the screen which means that the water is all good to drink! Yes, you read that right – SMILEY FACE… who said water purification can’t be fun?! 🙂
The sterilization process can take as little as 48 seconds which is outstanding!
The fantastic thing about the Ultra is that you can charge it via USB which eliminates the need to rely on and carry spare batteries – a big winner in my opinion. This means that you can charge it using your computer, laptop, wall charger (using a USB to wall adaptor), battery power bank, solar or wind-up charger. I carry a PowerMonkey Extreme solar charger inside my ‘Technology Continuity Module’ inside my bailout bag which compliments the SteriPen. This means that no matter where I am, I can recharge the SteriPEN without a hassle. One full USB charge lasts for approximately 50 treatments (full liters) or 100 half-liters.
I tested the Ultra on some rainwater from our 22,000-litre static water supply. For the record, this is not the cleanest water source available and has plenty of floaty creatures and all kinds of nasties inside the water (I know because I do the tank maintenance).
I sterilized two glasses of otherwise questionable water and have not experienced any adverse effects so it definitely does work plus I know that thousands of other people around the globe have tested this product before and to date I have not seen any negative reviews or heard reports of anyone falling sick or even dying from the SteriPEN Ultra not doing its job. So… I think we can safely say that the SteriPEN Ultra is one item that you can trust your life to and depend on in a crisis.
The SteriPEN Ultra definitely has the Ultimate Survival Gear ‘tick of approval’ so get yours now. It definitely has a place in bug out bags and emergency kits… it’s now going in mine. With a cost of around $100 USD this item is slightly on the pricey side but really is priceless especially in a crisis when access to clean drinkable water (that actually doesn’t make you sick), is so crucial.
For more reviews and to see the current price check out the SteriPEN over here on Amazon.
As always, many thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read this review! Until next time, “Be Prepared, Stay Alive!”