[pct-l] Water purifers...

[Jeff Moorehead]

Mariesa,
 I used the SteriPen from Kennedy Meadows to Canada last year and really 
liked it. The electronics never failed. The problem I had is that the AA 
rechargeable batteries I used were bulkier than regular AAs and this put 
stress on the plastic cap. Eventually it cracked and I had to hold the 
batteries firmly against the contacts throughout the whole UV cycle, which 
made for an awkward two-handed operation. There is a new design out and 
hopefully they have solved the problem by using their own rechargeables 
which fit into a solar charger case.
 I wouldn't use it for the desert where many of the water sources are murky 
and insect laden. The prefilter does not work well. I would always use a 
pump filter from these. Once into the Sierra, the water is clear and the 
sources are encountered frequently enough that you can get away with 
carrying 1 liter at a time-- it only takes two minutes at most to get your 
next liter using the SteriPen, so in the end you end up carrying less water.
 I love gadgets, to be sure. But this device was not only cool, it really 
worked well...
Whiptail