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SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier

Curated from 74 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: April 9, 2025

SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier

Brand: SteriPEN
Price: $104
Snoop Score:
5.7
Sentiment
7.3
Popularity
9.0
Technical
3.5

Snoop's Take

The SteriPEN Adventurer Opti is a compact handheld UV water purifier designed for outdoor enthusiasts, providing a reliable solution for purifying water while camping, backpacking, or traveling. Users have praised its effectiveness against harmful microorganisms, with one stating, "UV is the only thing besides boiling that kills viruses, bacteria, and crypto/giardia," highlighting its critical role in ensuring safe drinking water in various conditions. Despite some concerns about its reliability in cold weather or murky water, the overall feedback suggests that the SteriPEN is a valuable tool for anyone seeking efficient water purification, making it a strong recommendation in its category.

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
Product
5.7
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier
Ultralight Backpacking
8 / 10
Emergency Preparedness
3 / 10
Group Camping & Basecamp
4 / 10
All-Season & Remote Travel
4 / 10
See how this compares to all Water Purifiers

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Practical for outdoor use
More than a filter, I use a Steripen. To me, at least, it is much more practical.
It’s more effective than most backpacking filters as it kills everything— it’s just the particles and taste you need to work with.
Effective against harmful microorganisms
Her response was yes, they are more effective because the UV light destroys the DNA of any organisms that it reaches.
You will drink them but they should be dead.
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 for clean water sources
You'd want to pre-filter with like a bandana or something.
It works well when your source is flowing and clear, but it obviously doesn’t filter anything out, just sterilizes it.
Works great, no squeeze necessary! I had a regular previously and never had any reliability issues aside from normal cold weather battery problems.
Effective UV sterilization
As long as you see the light, you should be good! Reminder though to keep water turbidity low; any particulates can shield nasty stuff from the UV light.
It’s been in my camping storage tub that has traveled around with me a lot but I haven’t actually used the pen in the last 5-6 years.
Suitable for outdoor use
It’s mostly the microscopic stuff I’m trying to avoid.
Reusable for extended periods
I still use mine. It’s 13 years old
Lightweight and portable design
I've seen loads of suggestions: SteriPen, various tablets/dissolvables, Sawyer, Aqua Mirer, Grayl bottles and other filters.
If it does it stops working and you will have no way of testing it so you need to make sure you never keep it anywhere below OC.
Downsides of electronics is unreliability; however with no maintenance other than recharging, this method seems good.
Reduces use of plastic bottles
the Steripen ultra uv water purifier looks like it's probably the best since its small, rechargeable and would pack easy?
With a Steripen you can reduce your use AND others' usage as well since you can easily share clean water.
Effective purification for outdoor use
Boiling is cumbersome as heck, and you can't know ahead whether there are viruses in the water.
Fast method for water purification
It's definitely a fast method to purify a liter of water, but the battery only lasts two or three days and it isn't effectively with silty water.
When it works it's great, quick clean tasteless water.
Used mine for 3 years and zero problems.
Produces clean, tasteless water
It ate batteries.
Works well for backcountry use
Review of the SteriPEN Adventurer Opti. Ultraviolet water purifier, weighs almost nothing, needs batteries, and works well in the backcountry or traveling internationally
Effective against giardia
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.
Easy to use with minimal effort
It requires near zero physical effort, just hold the light in the bottle and wait.
Effective UV purification against harmful microorganisms
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.
Simple to use in the right conditions
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.
Less reliable in cold conditions
although, one downside is that if it's cold they can be unreliable since the batteries might not work, just FYI.
Night time temperatures could drop below 0°c when we travel, so perhaps not ideal.
Less reliable in stagnant water
Steripen works but its quite the hassle and time consuming.
Less effective with less clear water
If what you're worried about is less than clear water, you can pre-filter with just a bandana. If yo
If you have chunky sludge water you can pre filter with a bandanna as mentioned above.
Less reliable in various water conditions
I carried a steripen when i first started traveling in latin american in 2008. I gave it away after less than a month when I saw how easy it was to get access to clean water out of reusable garrafones.
Fragile and prone to failure
If you are going to use a SteriPen with silty / muddy water, then you will need something better than using a buff to remove the silt.
Battery life is short and unreliable
Batteries: how long do they last, can I trust it and only take one set?
Perception as a purifier rather than filter
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.

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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
General advice on water purification methods
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.
Personal experiences with Steripen usage
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.

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Suggestions for pre-filtering techniques
If silt/mud is a problem, then use flocculent such as WaterWizard (polyaluminum chloride) or Alum.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Comparison with other water purification systems
I now use a katadyn be free. So much more convenient/fast
Discussion on alternatives like Lifestraw and Sawyer
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 alternative purification methods
You forgot boiling. Man's oldest energetic water treatment.
Don’t discount the power of bleach after straining. A little bit goes a long way and I managed to not get a single water based disease in my time there.
Discussion on using SteriPEN with other filters
Anyone use a Steripen? What is the general trail wisdom about Steripens?
Comparisons with other purification methods
Our opinion is that the Squeeze is better for backcountry excursions in the U.S., where viruses are not an issue.
Comparison with other purification methods like gravity filters
Go with a gravity filter for purification.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Discussion on testing old SteriPEN functionality
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. If you get a blue-purple glow it is working.
Discussion on reliability in various water conditions
Unless you're trying to sterilise literal mud it'll work in even the brownest/siltest of water.
Discussion on testing SteriPEN in a lab setting
I think I am getting the steripen but mostly because I want to test it in our lab now.
Concerns about trust in UV purification on outdoor trips
I know UV works...but I can't bring myself to trust waving a magic wand at my water on my honeymoon backpacking trip this weekend.

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