Comments on: Steripen Traveler UV Handheld Water Purifier Review

By: jfc

jfc — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:46:02 +0000

Hi Steve,

I heard back from him.

I would not have a problem using the UV purification in a personal or survival scenario. It will handle the major organisms you will find in poorly treated water supplies. I do feel safer using a reverse osmosis water purification process when drawing from a raw water source. This process will not only handle the bacteria but will also handle any larger parasites and many dangerous chemical impurities and suspended particulates that a brief UV exposure will not take care of.

By: Vacation Packing Tips

Vacation Packing Tips — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:19:21 +0000

In fact bottled water is very reasonably priced in most developing countries: just avoid the foreign water they sometimes try to get the tourist to pay for! I drank the tap water in India for months and never got sick: its actually the dirty kitchens which will get you!

By: trade show booths

trade show booths — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:24:54 +0000

hi Frank, I can’t believe I made the comment two days ago about an alternative to unsafe water - drink beer! Then just now I came across an editorial by George Will titled “Beer: The key to our survival”. Is George Will reading optempo now? The editorial is funny, but also points out how unsafe water was a HUGE deal in the past. I won’t say any more about it, other than it ends with a great quote by Ben Franklin, “Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”. You can read the article here:
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/1072042.html
Steve (my new motto ~ drink plenty of beer and then buy some portable trade show booths!)

By: trade show booths

trade show booths — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:49:58 +0000

Hi Frank, Thanks for the update. The fact that several military units have it in survival packs makes it very credible to me. I’ve been intending to put together an earthquake/disaster survival kit for a while now (I live in California, and just had a wildfire burning too close for comfort). I’ve bookmarked the Steripen for when I put together that kit. I’ll still be looking for a response from your friend. Thanks again. ~ Steve

By: jfc

jfc — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:52:45 +0000

Hi Steve,

He hasn’t responded to my email yet. He could be on a deployment right now. I did find out that several military units use the Steripen in survival packs by doing some Googling around though.

By: trade show booths

trade show booths — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:28:33 +0000

hi Frank, good comment on being careful in Mexico of locals just refilling bottles with the local tap water and resealing them. All the more reason to only drink beer when you’re there!
Any word from your Army Reserves Master Sgt friend on his thoughts on the effectiveness of the Steripen Traveler UV Handheld Water Purifier?
~ Steve (the guy with no portable water purifiers but plenty of portable trade show booths!)

By: Fergus Mayhew

Fergus Mayhew — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:47:56 +0000

I never even thought of that … I’m a naive, trusting soul with a big “Kick Me” sign on my back!

Forewarned is forearmed … I’ll watch out for that.

By: jfc

jfc — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:06:35 +0000

Hi Fergus,

What you have to watch out for, in Mexico in particular, are people refilling water bottles with tap water, resealing them, and selling them to tourists on the streets or small stores.

By: Fergus Mayhew

Fergus Mayhew — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:13:18 +0000

I assume there is a difference between drinking the local tap water and drinking local bottled water. Perhaps I’m naive, but I had always assumed that bottled water would be pretty much safe to drink wherever you travel. Now, if you’re planning to drink tap water, then the Steripen Traveler UV Handheld Water Purifier would be very valuable.

By: Cect 168 Phones

Cect 168 Phones — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:09:22 +0000

I think it is also a mistake to drink the local water if you’re only gonna be in town for a couple of days. Often, the local water is every bit as safe as your water but you are now used to whatever oddities that your local water may contain. In a new town, you may well discover that the local water has different qualities, and it’ll take more than a few days to get used to them. The Steripen Traveler UV Handheld Water Purifier might well get you through a couple of days without needing to make your body adjust to local water.