Steripen Classic 3 Water Purifier Review

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The Steripen Classic 3 is portable handheld water purifier that uses UV light to purify unclean water and operates on 4 alkaline batteries. As a person who travels often and loves off track destinations, I was excited to get my hands on this one! When it arrived, it came in a small box that included the device, a Nalgene adapter, and a soft case that can be used to carry the device on my belt. The device itself is very small and I was happy to see that it didn’t require much room to pack away. The Steripen Classic 3 was perfect to stuff away in my carry-on luggage and the case served as a sufficient protector of the device which has a glass bulb that could break. This review will focus on using the Steripen Classic 3 in Rwanda, Africa where there is an issue with securing clean water anywhere in the country aside from buying bottled water or boiling it yourself, which isn’t always easy to do as a visitor.

Steripen Classic 3 Performance

I have to admit I’ve never used a water purifier that uses UV light to purify the water before so I was certainly quite nervous about whether or not it would work. My trip to Rwanda is one I take annually where I work as a director for a summer camp for orphans and vulnerable children. That said, if I go down from sickness, the camp stops so this was a big reason for my nervousness. I used the device in two scenarios; purifying water from the tap in my hotel and purifying water from a hand pump well at the orphanage. Both sources of water will get you sick if even you run your toothbrush “clean” under the water so I knew this would be a great testing environment for the Steripen Classic 3. In both testings, the PEN was exceptional and I never fell sick.

Steripen Classic 3 Filling from a Well

SteriPEN Classic 3 UV Purifying

Steripen Operation

The device has 2 settings, one for purifying a half liter and one for a full liter. I only used the device for a full liter of water which requires the UV light to run for 90 seconds approximately.

SteriPEN Classic 3 Button

The button as you can see is a rubber one that can be pressed once for half liter purifying and twice for one full liter of water. When the device is done purifying it turns off automatically which is nice so there is no doubt about whether or not the water is clean. I liked that it was easy to use and didn’t take much time to figure out after reading the small manual that came with it. When the device is purifying the UV light illuminates the water. You can purify water in two ways, by dipping the stick into a cup of water or by attaching it the adapter cap that screws on perfectly to any Nalgene bottle. In this manner, the PEN is pointing upwards as in the picture above and the cap is designed as a leak proof one.

SteriPEN Parts and Features

The Steripen Classic 3 comes with a plastic cap to protect the glass bulb where the UV light originates, a soft case to store the device in that also attaches to your belt on your hip, and the adapter that screws onto any Nalgene bottle. The case is nice to protect the device as well as to carry it.

SteriPEN Classic 3 on Hip

The bulb and glass covering must be protected so using the case and plastic cover is essential. I did have issue with the adapter that screws onto the Nalgene bottle. The device sealed perfectly into the adapter but for some reason the cap would not always seal perfectly to the Nalgene bottle. Of the 5 or more times I purified water this way, I had water tight issues at least 50% of the attempts. It was a little annoying only because the bottle is completely upside down so if there isn’t a tight seal, water will run down your arm. I had no issues using the device in a cup of tap water. Overall though the parts are few and are easy to carry with you.

Final Thoughts:

The Steripen Classic 3 is a great device. It worked great for me in my trip to Africa this year. The device is compact, lightweight, and pretty cool to explain to people what it is when that UV light lightens up! I was skeptical about light purifying water but I never had an issue when drinking that water. The light didn’t however change the taste of the water but it did purify it so that’s the key. The water needs to be somewhat clear and not completely opaque so when using it in my situation, I never had to worry about dark water as it came from a well or a tap. I really liked that it took 4 alkaline batteries to operate it until my batteries were taken from me at the airport in Rwanda so always be sure you check the traveling requirements beforehand. Overall, it’s a great product that I will use in an situation that requires me to need clean water such as camping or traveling abroad. Check out more about SteriPEN Classic 3 Water Purifier and other details at www.rei.com/katadyn or www.amazon.com/katadyn.