SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier

Name: SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier
Price: 101.57 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (76 reviews)

Curated from 76 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: March 15, 2025

SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier

Brand: SteriPen

Price: $101

Snoop Score:

5.0

Sentiment

6.9

Popularity

7.9

Technical

3.1

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Snoop's Take

The SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier is a compact, handheld device designed for outdoor enthusiasts to purify water using ultraviolet light. It effectively destroys over 99.9% of harmful bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, making it a reliable choice for camping and international travel. Consumer feedback highlights its practical effectiveness and ease of use, with many users stating, "It’s more effective than most backpacking filters as it kills everything." However, some users have noted that it does not filter out particulate matter and can be time-consuming to use. Overall, the SteriPEN is praised for its lightweight design and fast purification process, with one user calling it a "great device" for its intended purpose. Based on the feedback received, the SteriPEN Adventurer Opti is highly recommended for those looking for a portable and efficient water purification solution, particularly in clear water sources during outdoor activities. However, potential buyers should be aware of its limitations regarding particulate filtration and battery performance in cold temperatures.

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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

5.0

SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier

Buy on Amazon for $101

Ultralight Backpacking

7 / 10

Emergency Preparedness

2 / 10

Group Camping & Basecamp

3 / 10

All-Season & Remote Travel

3 / 10

See how this compares to all Water Purifiers

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.

Practical and effective for water purification

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

Effective water purification with UV light

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

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

Practical for backcountry water sources

“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 at killing bacteria and protozoa

“You will drink them but they should be dead.”➕

Compact and lightweight design

“Will steripen ultralight work for water filtration backpacking? I got a steripen UltraLight many years ago for international travel and never used it.”➕

“Experience with the Steripen UV water filter? The Steripen Ultra UV pen water filter is on Massdrop right now and it peaked my interest.”➕

“Solid product, used it on my last BWCA/Quetico Park trip. Could not endorse it any more.”➕

“Steripen kills viruses, and basically everything else. So when traveling abroad, carrying it as well as a wide mouth nalgene is a good idea.”➕

Effective UV sterilization

“As long as you see the light, you should be good!”➕

Effective for clear water sources

“Great device, would totally recommend.”➕

“Works great, no squeeze necessary!”➕

Convenient for international travel

“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.”➕

Lab-tested reliability

“Unless you're trying to sterilise literal mud it'll work in even the brownest/siltest of water.”➕

Fast purification method

“Junk that ends up in a hiker box, or useful?”➕

“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.”➕

Produces clean, tasteless water

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

“Review of the SteriPEN Adventurer Opti. Ultraviolet water purifier, weighs almost nothing, needs batteries, and works well in the backcountry or traveling internationally.”➕

“It ate batteries. We were on the third set on day 7.”➕

Effective at killing 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.”➕

Effective at killing viruses and bacteria

“never had any issues.”➕

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.

Battery performance can be affected by 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 to use

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

Does not filter out particulate matter

“No filter for particles - no explanation needed, even running water has yuckies in it.”➕

Does not filter out particulates

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

Less effective for heavy contamination

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

Requires specific batteries

“I've always bought the ones [Steri-pen recommends](https://www.steripen.com/batteries/), ie [Energizer CR123](http://www.energizer.com/batteries/specialty-batteries/lithium-photo-batteries#123) photo lithium battery...”➕

Fragile and prone to breaking

“Finally after having to have my partner's Sawyer to bail me out on multiple trips I gave in and bought one.”➕

Slower than alternative purifiers

“Steripen is slower (based on my stream side experience).”➕

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

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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.

Discussion on testing the 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. Wait. If you get a blue-purple glow it is working.”➕

Discussion on testing SteriPEN in a lab

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

Hidden Hero Hacks

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

Discussion on gear for expedition trips

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

“Waterborne illness is no fun.”➕

“You will need a wide mouth bottle for steripen - Nalgene is very good for that but it's heavy in ultralight terms.”➕

“so ultralight is beneficial in the sense that I will be carrying all my own water, but the rest of the gear is very light so I figured water would be the heaviest item to manage.”➕

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

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

Comparison with other purification methods

“So much more convenient/fast”➕

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

Discussion on alternative purification options

“The Steripen ultra uv water purifier looks like it's probably the best since its small, rechargeable and would pack easy?”➕

Comparison to other purification methods

“Our opinion is that the Squeeze is better for backcountry excursions in the U.S., where viruses are not an issue.”➕

Discussion on the distinction between purifiers and filters

“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.”➕

Comparison with other water purification methods

“Go with a gravity filter for purification.”➕

Discussion comparing Steripen and Sawyer

“Thoughts on a Steripen over a Sawyer mini? What are the pros and cons of each?”➕

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.

Discussion on water filtration for less clear water

“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.”➕

“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 older SteriPEN usability

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

“It’s 13 years old”➕

General thoughts on water treatment methods

“It leaves no taste - which is a big bonus over chemicals.”➕

Complaints regarding guest expectations for bottled water

“Seemed to think it was incredibly offensive, and that since my city water is potable without any warnings on it that it was very odd to offer.”➕

“I got a complaint for not providing "hygienic" bottled water and when I did I got one for providing "wasteful" bottled water. 🤣”➕

Complaints about the quality of linens provided

“A guy was livid the linens and towels weren’t white went ballistic in the reviews over it.”➕

SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier

Curated from 76 real Reddit conversations

SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier

Snoop's Take

SteriPEN Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier

Ultralight Backpacking

Emergency Preparedness

Group Camping & Basecamp

All-Season & Remote Travel

What it does well!

Where it needs some work!

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

Core Power Plays

Hidden Hero Hacks

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

Cautionary Callouts

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