i got a new gadget that I want to share my experience with. This Steripen is a little UV light, about the size of a small GPS that you partially place in the Nalgene and turn it on, after a couple of minutes the UV light apparently destroys the DNA of the microorganisms in the water disabling their ability to multiply. It works in clear water not muddy water, it doesn't filter the water, all the bugs are still there just dead. I found it nice to have when traveling so I did not have to carry water, just dip your Nalgene (not the cap) and flash your water, this seems to me to be the best compromise from drinking strait from the lake. I waited a couple of weeks after using it to make this post, to be sure it worked! I used it exclusively for a 9 day trip last month and will be using it next week on my trip through Snowbank. It uses 4 AA batt and they are good for a 100 or so treatments. There are so many gadgets out there it is hard to figure out which one is worth while, I like this $100 gadget. I saw a Ad in a Backpacker magazine for a (Busnell)GPS that has weather and a radar view, unfortunately it requires the high dollar subsription to XM radio to get the weather data, it also allows a satellite picture, now this gadget is well beyond my means but I am interested in anyones evaluation of it as does interest me. Who would have thought 30 yrs ago that you could have something in your hand that provided real time weather radar, weather report a satellite picture, topo maps and position locator. I guess the bottom line is will it enhance your wilderness experience? Jay

i guess id rather not know...and just try to read the sky. im usually wrong then anyway. surprises are what makes a canoe trip worthwhile for me.
button down the camp tight when daytripping or going to sleep...and hope for the best.

i HAVE bowed to some electronics technology (well, now just the depthfinder i guess). i have taken a radio before. i think it really detracted from the overall experience. ill leave it at home now. (unless the twins are in the hunt that is) :)

im not anti "much" anymore, most of it just isnt for me. Jan

I bought the Steripen at Canoecopia this past year. I like it very much. There is a filter for it though for an extra 13 bucks or so. It works well too.

the only "dead" things i prefer to eat are walleyes and smallies...and the occasional gnat in the mouth (it dies eventually) Jan

I purchased one of those Steripens.
I got teased for buying it by (Obergut) my co-worker who has been drinking the water strait from the lakes with his family up there for years without a problem. He got a good laugh at the whole idea until he told his wife about it; she promptly dished out the hundred bucks for the same.
We had fun with an interesting experiment (at break time of coarse)that was to prove its worth. He brought in some mason jars of pond water, which under magnification showed some little squiggly worms swimming about. Then, the Zap treatment, and a re-examination revealed that they did not die. We repeated the Zap treatment while under magnification and Obergut gleefully pointed out how they liked it “the Steripen was like their disco ball” he said, the little buggers seemed to actually enjoy the light treatment, they moved toward it, and squiggled away! I thought I seen one of them die, maybe he was just tired.

Not real scientific I know, but still not impressive either. So much for drinking only the dead ones as some of the above posts described. The key must be in the filtering first.

In Quetico this year I used it where the lakes were shallow and beaver dens were visible, but mostly we just drank from the lake. There’s no way of knowing if saved me from anything. Still, I would bring it again. If for nothing else, the micro-organisms could have an entertaining party before they get drank.

Journeyman, you pointed out an excellent flaw of the UV light. It won't kill anything large enough to be seen with the naked eye (or with limited magnification). For that you need a filter. Anything that needs microscope power will croak, including viruses, which are waaay to small for any microfilter.

Of course, viruses aren't really a problem in the US backcountry so take that extra precaution with a grain of salt. If'n you're going to India or China however...

Well I sprung for the SteriPen Adventurer last night at REI (that is a REALLY dangerous place!). I also bought the pre-filter. My first solo trip is in 12 days and I am trying to get my pack under 40 pounds total. I would like to eliminate double portages if possible; we'll see?

Dan

I use a UV Aquastar. Same thing UVC light but I like the design better than Steripen. It is a more rugged unit.
Now for the swimming things. It does kill the the viruses and the bacteria in and on them it will eventually result in the "swimmers" dying as well. Go to the Purdue Univ. website. They have done the research and UVC is the standard for water treatement plants world wide. When Milwaukee had the Crypto problem that was how they finally eliminated it. I love mine, I use mine all over the country hiking, canoeing and traveling, my children used it when they went to China. None of us have ever gotten sick while using it.
To each his own I wouldn't go to the Bee dub or Quetico without it.