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SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier
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SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier

Item # 769018

$99.95

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

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SteriPEN™ Journey takes the guesswork out of the water treatment process with a convenient LCD screen.

  • Requires no pumping, chemicals, test strips, extended time-keeping or filters; leaves no aftertaste, will not clog and does not require lubrication
  • Innovative SteriPEN system uses UV light rays instead of chemicals to purify water for drinking
  • Ultraviolet (UV-C) light rays safely sterilize clear water by destroying protozoa (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium), bacteria and even viruses
  • SteriPEN Journey is simple to use: Just press a button and gently agitate the water with a quick stir
  • Easy-to-read LCD screen tracks the progress of the treatment, counting down the seconds and displaying a happy face when successfully completed
  • Purifies 16 fl. oz. of water (cold or warm) in less than a minute, or 32 fl. oz. in a minute and a half
  • LCD screen indicates the volume of water selected, battery power, number of lamp uses and failure alerts
  • Small size fits most containers—use it in cups, mugs, water bottles and canteens; carries easily in a shirt pocket
  • SteriPEN Journey turns itself off once ultraviolet treatment is complete; light source can be used up to 8,000 times!
  • Watertight seals keep water away from the electronics; rubberized coating ensures secure handling in wet conditions
  • Low-power indicator lets you know when batteries need replacing; twist-off cap permits easy battery access
  • Long used by municipal water districts and bottling companies, low-level UV-C light treats water safely, and unit's light will not damage eyes or skin
  • Use only on clear water, as cloudy, sediment-laden water hinders effectiveness
  • SteriPEN Journey includes 2 nonrechargeable lithium CR123A batteries; SteriPEN does not recommend the use of alkaline batteries, as they provide very few treatments
  • SteriPEN recommends the use of name-brand CR123A lithium batteries with a capacity of 800 milliamp hours (mAh) or greater, such as Duracell, Energizer and Panasonic

On occasion, SteriPEN users have reported issues when using their device in water with a very low electrical conductivity, such as water from melted snow or ice. Since late 2008, all SteriPEN models have had their water sensors enhanced by doubling the sensor electrode voltage, thereby increasing electrical current flow in water with low conductivity to allow proper function in snowmelt and even mineral-free distilled water

SteriPEN water purifiers meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for microbiological water purifiers and have been independently tested by the Oregon Health Sciences University and the universities of Arizona and Maine. For complete test results visit www.steripen.com.

Imported.

Item 769018

SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier Specs

Specification

Description

Weight(w/ batteries) 4.5 ounces
Dimensions7.2 x 1.6 x 1.2 inches
MaterialPlastic
Removes/DestroysProtozoa, bacteria and viruses
Output32 oz. per 90 seconds
Pump forceNot applicable
Pump strokes per literNot applicable
Field cleanableYes

SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier
 
2.4

(based on 15 reviews)

43%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Lightweight (12)
  • Easy to clean (6)
  • Maintenance (6)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Backpacking (7)
    • Hiking (7)
    • Day trip (4)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Avid adventurer (11), Casual adventurer (3)

    Reviewed by 15 customers

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    May

    24

    2008

    (22 of 23 customers found this review helpful)

     
    1.0

    Great concept...poor execution

    By endpoint

    from New York

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Pros

    • Lightweight

    Cons

    • Poorly manufactured

    Best Uses

    • Is "return" a best use

    Comments about SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier:

    I was very happy to be able to buy this product. Costly, yes.... but I don't like the waste and expense of plastic bottled water when I travel, and bottled water is impractical in backpacking situations. So I bought the SteriPen journey before going to Peru for 3 weeks in May 2008. Right away I noticed the battery case did not close well -- it has a cheap rubber gasket that comes loose easily and the batteries actually don't fit well. But it did seem to work.... until I got to Peru. Ater a few uses the product just stopped working and there was nothing I could do about it. Endless fiddling with batteries, case, etc. availed me nothing. Fortunately my guide boiled water daily but SteriPen would have been handy nonetheless.

    Recommendation to Hydro-Photon: Redesign the battery compartment, then take a trip to China and hire some proper quality control staff.

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

    (22 of 23 customers found this review helpful)

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    Jun

    8

    2008

    (15 of 16 customers found this review helpful)

     
    1.0

    Peice of Junk

    By RT Pennsylvania

    from Pennsylvania

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Pros

    • Lightweight

    Cons

    • Switch didnt work

    Best Uses

    • Hiking

    Comments about SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier:

    The batteries that came with it went dead after a few uses (during a hike). The on-off switch was totally unreliable. At times it worked with one touch, at other times I had to push it and hold it to get the unit to come on, other times it would not turn on no matter what I did (even with new batteries).

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

    (15 of 16 customers found this review helpful)

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    Aug

    8

    2008

    (4 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

     
    1.0

    Needs salt to work!

    By Dave S

    from Rural Nevada

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Pros

    • Lightweight

    Cons

    • Inconsistant

    Best Uses

    • Backpacking

    Comments about SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier:

    If you are taking this product into the backcountry you should carry salt with you. I took this pen to Canada where the water came primaryly from glaciers and snow melt. If there is not enough salt in the water ( electrolytes ) the pen will not turn on or will turn off prematurely. A pinch of salt solved this problem, after that it worked consistantly. I would be reluctant to reccomend this product though once I got it to work I liked it for its ease of use and light weight.

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

    (4 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

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    Nov

    14

    2008

    (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

     
    1.0

    Don't Purchase This Product

    By Hal

    from Sacramento

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Pros

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Backpacking

        Comments about SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier:

        In September, 2008 we had nine people who hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro. We bought the Steri Pen at difference stores (not only REI stores). We tested the units at home and on numerous hiking trips (average temp 38-88 degree F.). The testing showed the unit performed 40-80% of the time). One the first day of our Mt. Kili trip only two units functioned at all (temp was 40 F at night). The second night, all unit malfunctioned. None of us could get the unit to work even when we hiked down from the summit.

        • Gift:
        • No

        Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

        (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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        Sep

        18

        2008

        (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        3.0

        Trouble at Elevation

        By nixjibr

        from San Diego, CA

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Pros

        • Easy to clean
        • Lightweight
        • Low maintenance

        Cons

        • Not for High Elevation

        Best Uses

        • Backpacking
        • Hiking

        Comments about SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier:

        I took the SteriPen Journey on a 12 day trek in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. The SteriPen worked great up until about 8000 ft. Once I was above 8000 ft. I began to have troubles with the SteriPen. I changed the batteries and that did not fix the problem. I was able to get it working after maybe 20 attempts at each water purify. It would never complete an entire cycle above 8000 ft. Once I returned home, at an elevation of 4,500 ft, the SteriPen started working again with the original batteries from the trip. I e-mailed SteriPen in July 2008 and have yet to hear back from them. This pen may not work at higher elevations. It does, however, work flawlessly at lower elevations. It is perfect if you plan to stay at lower elevations.

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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        Jan

        22

        2009

        (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        Works well for me

        By Stovie

        from Farmingdale, NY

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Pros

        • Easy to clean
        • Lightweight
        • Low maintenance

        Cons

        • Have to carry batteries

        Best Uses

        • Backpacking
        • Day trip
        • Hiking

        Comments about SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier:

        I hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine and only used the Steripen as my water filtration. I never got ill from tainted water.

        On cold days I would keep the spare batteries in my pocket where it was warm and change them out if the unit didn't work. But that was rare. I met a few people on the trail with Steripens that had problems. One was a faulty unit, the rest were do to user error.

        If you buy this product I recommend reading all of the instructions and not just look at the pictures.

        One down side. If the water has any particles in it you'll need the Pre-Filter, or just use a handkerchief like I did.

        • Gift:
        • No

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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        Oct

        14

        2008

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        1.0

        Great idea, but a poor product!

        By Dr. O

        from Tacoma, WA

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Pros

        • Easy to clean
        • Great concept
        • Lightweight

        Cons

        • Not reliable
        • Poor quality

        Best Uses

        • Hiking
        • Travel

        Comments about SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier:

        I like the concept behind this product, so I bought one and took it kayaking to the Queen Charlotte Islands, it quite after 4 liters. Returned it for another one and took it to Africa, it quite after 2 uses.

        This product left me high and dry twice! Stay with your hand pump and don't wast your time buying one of these unreliable products.

        • Gift:
        • No

        Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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        Sep

        16

        2008

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        convenience at last

        By anatinus

        from Ringwood Victoria

        About Me Casual Adventurer

        Pros

        • Easy to clean
        • Fits most bottles
        • Lightweight
        • Low maintenance
        • Reliable

        Cons

        • Quirky

        Best Uses

        • Day trip
        • Purifying tap water

        Comments about SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier:

        I had previously stayed at a 5star hotel where the tap water was unfit for human consumption. Discovery of the Steripen was encouraging the early reviews were not. Discussions with the manufacturer revealed that exceptionally pure water did not provide sufficient electrical conductivity for the steripen to operate. This problem no longer exists because the product has been redesigned. I have used the steripen for sometime now and it has worked without fail but one must follow the instructions. Switch it on before you put it in the water it will not work,if the contacts are not dry when switched on. In extreme cold the batteries become unreliable if they are not kept warm as is the case with all bstteries. My only gripe is the difficulty of securing the battery cover which is designed to provide a waterproof fit and to this you have to concentrate fitting the cover correctly. Everything else worked fine

        Service and delivery comments:

        Delivery was excellent a day ahead of schedule and well packed

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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        Sep

        10

        2008

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        SteriPEN works good for me

        By nkski

        from Bar Harbor, ME

        About Me Outdoor Professional

        Pros

        • Easy to clean
        • Good filtration
        • Lightweight
        • Low maintenance

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Backpacking
          • Canoeing
          • Hiking

          Comments about SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier:

          The product was easy to use not hard to maintain and worked well with a large amount of people. I like the display witch allows you to know how much battery life is left and if it worked or not. You are able to use this product in any environment. The ability to take out this product and hand it across to another canoe and sterilize your water on the run.

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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          Dec

          11

          2008

          (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

           
          4.0

          Experienced Traveler Loves It!

          By Wanderluster

          from Seattle, WA

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Pros

          • Easy to clean
          • Easy to pump
          • Good filtration
          • Lightweight
          • Low maintenance

          Cons

          • Filtered water doesn't taste good

          Best Uses

          • Adventure Travel

          Comments about SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier:

          I regularly travel around the world to developing countries. I've used the SteriPEN twice now in India and never had a problem - regularly drinking tap water after using it. Of course the water still tastes bad but it's nothing that a little Emergen-C can't fix.

          I like the fact that the SteriPEN Journey is small enough to tuck away in my day bag and that it has a digital timer on it. Though not totally necessary, it's kinda cool. It's super lightweight and fits comfortably in my hand.

          I've never had a problem with batteries dying or the cap falling off. I do keep it in the little carrying case so that, I'm sure, is helpful.

          The only "negative" I can think of is that it's not as small as the Traveler but I can live with it in the slightly larger size.

          • Gift:
          • No

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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