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SteriPen Katadyn Steripen Ultra Portable UV Water Purifier

Curated from 73 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: March 15, 2025

SteriPen Katadyn Steripen Ultra Portable UV Water Purifier

Brand: SteriPen

Price: $125

Snoop Score:

5.7

Sentiment

7.5

Popularity

9.0

Technical

3.9

Buy on Amazon for $125 See All Water Purifiers Reviews

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Snoop's Take

The Katadyn Steripen Ultra Portable UV Water Purifier is a compact device designed to ensure safe drinking water by eliminating 99.99% of harmful microorganisms. With a rechargeable 2200mAh battery and the ability to purify water quickly, this product is ideal for adventurers hiking, camping, or traveling in remote locations. Consumer feedback highlights the Steripen's practicality and effectiveness, with many users praising its fast treatment time: "I can get a liter of water in 90 seconds." Additionally, users appreciate its user-friendly design, stating, "It requires near zero physical effort, just hold the light in the bottle and wait." However, there are some concerns regarding its reliability in cold temperatures and limitations with turbid water, with one user noting, "it works really well, and as long as you're willing to carry an extra set of batteries for long trips it's a good option." Overall, the Katadyn Steripen Ultra is highly recommended for those seeking a lightweight, efficient, and convenient water purification solution. While it has some limitations, its strengths and positive user experiences make it a solid choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Water Purifiers

More than a filter, I use a Steripen. To me, at least, it is much more practical.
Positive Feedback

although, one downside is that if it's cold they can be unreliable since the batteries might not work, just FYI.
Negative Feedback

5.7

SteriPen Katadyn Steripen Ultra Portable UV Water Purifier

Buy on Amazon for $125

Ultralight Backpacking

6 / 10

Emergency Preparedness

4 / 10

Group Camping & Basecamp

2 / 10

All-Season & Remote Travel

6 / 10

See how this compares to all Water Purifiers

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.

Practical and user-friendly

“More than a filter, I use a Steripen. To me, at least, it is much more practical.”➕

“This ultra-small generator is highly portable and works even with shallow, slow moving water.”➕

“The amounts it generates is going to be trivial - the key factors for how much power is available is the cross-sectional area for water to flow through and the velocity.”➕

Effective purification without sickness

“I can get a liter of water in 90 seconds.”➕

“I'm mostly interested in it due to its alleged lead-removing powers, and the volume of water allegedly filtered by each carbon filter.”➕

“I'm actually more impressed by it's ability to get rid of 99.9% of all viruses.”➕

Fast treatment time

“if the water is murky, or if you don’t stir enough with the UV wand, then organisms will get past it.”➕

“Great device, would totally recommend.”➕

Effective sterilization of microorganisms

“Pedantic detail: steripen is a sterilization not a filtration or purification. It should kill most Protozoa and bacteria just fine.”➕

“It really depends on where you get your water from and what hikes you do.”➕

“I’ve used one quite a bit. It works well when your source is flowing and clear, but it obviously doesn’t filter anything out, just sterilizes it.”➕

“I use a steripen ultra, and I'll mirror most of the comments here. Works great, no squeeze necessary!”➕

Effective UV sterilization process

“I know the new ones say they are good for 2000 uses which I definitely haven’t reached with this one.”➕

“If the water is pretty clear and it lights up, you should be good.”➕

Long lifespan and reliability

“I still use mine. It’s 13 years old”➕

Super quick purification process

“It's also a bit fragile so you will need to be careful where you store it. But it's super quick and convenient.”➕

Effective at reducing plastic bottle use

“I once sterilized water for 30+ people at a hostel. Did it take awhile? Yes, at a liter a minute it took awhile. But was it worth it because so many people were interested and then started googling where they could buy one themselves? Also yes.”➕

Convenient for avoiding bottled water

“The Steripen was super convenient while it lasted and I know they are used in the backcountry by some people, but you’ll need a backup.”➕

Fast purification process

“Anyone use a Steripen? What is the general trail wisdom about Steripens? Junk that ends up in a hiker box, or useful?”➕

“When it works it's great, quick clean tasteless water.”➕

“Used mine for 3 years and zero problems.”➕

Compact and lightweight for travel

“the big risk in the water there is giardia. I dont want to buy something that wont filter that out.”➕

“Exceedingly small and easy to tuck into my backup set of hiking shoes, it is a great thing.”➕

Effective against giardia in clear water

“the water in the BWCA is already so clear so a filter isnt really needed except for giardia which this thing seems to kill”➕

“UV light will even neutralize viruses which is something most filters can't say”➕

User-friendly operation

“It requires near zero physical effort, just hold the light in the bottle and wait.”➕

Effective purification for clear water

“UV is the only thing besides boiling that kills viruses, bacteria, and crypto/giardia.”➕

“I love mine. Used in rugged conditions in Africa and Canada - never had any issues.”➕

User-friendly and simple to use

“It works really well. and is simple to use but i have had 2 and they both broke.”➕

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.

Unreliable in cold temperatures

“although, one downside is that if it's cold they can be unreliable since the batteries might not work, just FYI.”➕

Time-consuming and hassle in certain situations

“Steripen works but its quite the hassle and time consuming.”➕

Not ideal in cold temperatures

“Night time temperatures could drop below 0°c when we travel, so perhaps not ideal.”➕

Does not remove particulates or improve taste

“Dirt, bad taste,. heavy metals, pesticides will all remain.”➕

Less effective in cold temperatures

“I carried a steripen when i first started traveling in latin american in 2008.”➕

Battery life is short

“the battery only lasts two or three days and it isn't effectively with silty water.”➕

Not a filter, only a purifier

“it works really well, and as long as you're willing to carry an extra set of batteries for long trips it's a good option.”➕

Not effective with turbid water

“Go with a gravity filter for purification.”➕

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

Product Name	Price	Score	See Details	Buy Now
BKLES 3-in-1 Solar Electric Water Filter	$67	7.9	Details	Buy
Survivor Filter PRO - Hand Pump Camping Water Filtration System	$55	7.0	Details	Buy
BKLES Electric Portable Water Filter - BK-2000	$36	6.3	Details	Buy
GRAYL UltraPress 16.9 oz Water Purifier & Filter Bottle	$89	6.3	Details	Buy
SteriPen Katadyn Steripen Ultra Portable UV Water Purifier	$125	5.7	Details	Buy
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier	$104	5.7	Details	Buy
Yuclet Gravity Water Filter System	$35	5.4	Details	Buy
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier	$101	5.0	Details	Buy
Yuclet 4 Pack Water Filter Straw	$39	3.2	Details	Buy

Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.

Comparison of UV treatment effectiveness

“The Steripen is treatment for after the water is filtered, as an extra precaution.”➕

Discussion about testing Steripen in a lab

“I think I am getting the steripen but mostly because I want to test it in our lab now.”➕

Interest in types of purifying water bottles

“can you send a link what purifying water bottle you have?? i didnt knew this was a thing and didn’t plan to take one with me for my se asia trip.”➕

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.

Discussion about experiences with portable water filters

“and just about all the negative reviews I have gone through, their main complaints is always the filters clog after 1-3 uses.”➕

“When the bulb is old it gives no indication that it has failed as it still "looks" to be working.”➕

“Sawyer is well known and reputable for filtering water.”➕

“Life straws make my cheeks hurt but you should carry one always.”➕

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’

Comparison with other types of water treatment

“Grayl geopress. Incredibly expensive, but it's a container & filter, fast, easy to use, and the filter contains activated carbon which will improve the taste of the water in addition to protecting you from bacteria sized contaminants as well as viruses.”➕

“Get a different tool that deals with viruses. Chlorine dioxide is the best as it’s what’s used for water treatment facilities in North America and it’s super compact and there’s no “filter” that can fail.”➕

Discussion about pre-filtering water for Steripen use

“Most of the time the water is clean enough where steripen will work great, but there are occasional moments where water is less of a glacial runoff and more of a farm runoff where I would need some kind of filtration before zapping it with steripen.”➕

“You'd want to pre-filter with like a bandana or something.”➕

“If what you're worried about is less than clear water, you can pre-filter with just a bandana.”➕

“If silt/mud is a problem, then use flocculent such as WaterWizard (polyaluminum chloride) or Alum.”➕

Discussion on usage longevity of older models

“It’s mostly the microscopic stuff I’m trying to avoid.”➕

Considerations for carrying water purification gear

“Pouches that come with the filter tend to break and leak.”➕

Discussion about the necessity of water purification methods

“Has anyone travelled with a purifying water bottle? Was it worth it?”➕

“It’s one step to making sure you don’t shit yourself blind drinking water of doubtful safety.”➕

“A drinking water lab tech I know tested a UV Steripen thing and got a refund when he showed them the report.”➕

Mention of alternatives to portable water purification

“Among the wilderness backpacking crowd the go-to ultralight water filter would be the Sawyer Squeeze screwed onto the end of a smart water bottle (or similar compatible).”➕

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.

Discussion on water purification options in Nepal

“I wonder if anyone could share their advice/recommendations for this trip/part of the world specifically.”➕

“Waterborne illness is no fun.”➕

“I wouldn't really overthink it to be honest, if you're on the main route it is incredibly straightforward, even more so as you have a guide and porters.”➕

Discussion about alternative water treatment options

“it will get all the nasties out of the water and filter particulate out of it and is the trusted filter of many backpackers.”➕

Discussion on testing older Steripen models

“Still has the plastic tab you need to pull to connect the battery.”➕

“Turn it on and submerge it halfway in a glass of water. Wait. If you get a blue-purple glow it is working.”➕

Discussion on reliability and skepticism

“This has been long since addressed in their later models. Unless you're trying to sterilise literal mud it'll work in even the brownest/siltest of water.”➕