With tap water being unsafe to drink throughout most of the country, paying for bottled water in Bolivia is often the only viable alternative, the cost of which can quickly add up, not to mention be detrimental to the environment. Fortunately there is a convenient solution which negates the need for bottled water.
Before heading off on our 2 year trip though Latin America, we invested in a SteriPEN. This was without doubt one of the best travel purchases we made, saving us both time and money, not to mention the planet from harmful non-biodegradable products.
About SteriPEN
Harnessing the power of ultraviolet light to make water safe to drink, the SteriPEN is proven to be safe and effective, eliminating over 99.9% of bacteria, viruses and protozoa that cause water-borne illness.
Having earned the Water Quality Association’s Gold Seal certifying its effectiveness, the pen is a great choice for those seeking an alternative to time consuming boiling, bad tasting purification tablets and heavy portable filters.
Featuring a user-friendly OLED display, clearly indicating treatment and battery status, as well as UV lamps that last for up to 8000 treatments, the SteriPEN is one of the most advanced UV water purifiers on the market.
Easy to use, all you have to do to make water safe to drink is turn on the SteriPEN, wait for the LED light to indicate when its ready to purify, hold the wand part in 1 liter or less of clear water and slowly stir until indicator light turns green (approx. 90 seconds).
For travelers who are planning on backpacking in the great outdoors, there is also a filter option which you can buy separately to filter out larger particulates (dirt, leaves, etc.).
Features
- Compact handheld UV water purifier designed specifically for travelers
- Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.9 x 1.3 inches ; 3.2 ounces
- Reusable for up to 8,000 liters
- Destroys more than 99.9 percent of harmful microorganisms
- Safe and effective without altering taste, pH, or other properties of water
- Chemical-free
- Water sensor doubles as an LED flashlight
- Comes with two disposable CR123 batteries and a neoprene case with belt loop
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Thoughts
Fast, light and eco-friendly with at a great price of only $63 US, SteriPEN provides the ultimate protection from water-borne illnesses. It’s an excellent product that allowed both of us to drink water safely in Bolivia without getting sick.
Lightweight and compact, the SteriPEN fit with ease into our 30L backpacks. It comes in a little nylon pouch with a Velcro fastener loop which is great for those wanting to clip it onto a belt or backpack. I also like that the SteriPEN doesn’t change the taste of the water, unlike iodine/chlorine tablets. It works like magic, performs flawlessly, saves us money and lowers our eco-footprint when traveling long-term.
The one downside I can think about the SteriPEN is that it can only handle one liter at a time. It works great for 2 people, however for a larger group or family you might like to look into a gravity filter/device.
I would also recommend packing a wide-mouth water bottle to make stirring the SteriPEN easier.
Would I Recommend It?
Water-born illnesses are no joke and can ruin your trip if you become infected. Allowing travelers to drink water safely and with ease, this innovative piece of technology is well worth the investment for piece of mind and healthy travels.
Worth every penny, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the SteriPEN to all travelers heading to Bolivia.
Have you used the SteriPEN while traveling? Share your experience in the comments below:
It would nice if they were sold in Bolivia! (Are they?) My Bolivian colleague was super impressed by mine when we traveled together and I would love to buy her one as a present.
Hi Megan. Unfortunately I’m not sure where exactly in Bolivia you can purchase the SteriPEN. If you go into a camping store (e.g. La Paz’s Spitting Llama – Calle España #615), they might be able to point you in the right direction. Alternatively you can purchase a SteriPEN through Amazon here
I use a SteriPen. I like how it saves me money and means I’m not contributing to the ever growing problem of more plastic bottles in the world. The downside to it is that if the water doesn’t taste great then, even cleaned, the water doesn’t taste great. I’ve taken to carrying drops with me to flavor the water when I don’t care for the taste. I’ve been trying to spread the word about SteriPens for years now, I’d love to see them used by more travelers!
Hey Karen, yeah great as they are the SteriPens don’t do anything about the flavor of the water. I can’t remember where exactly, but there were only a few places throughout Latin America where I found the water unpleasant to drink. In those cases, I resorted to flavoring the water with those sachets of powdered cordial you can find pretty much everywhere, or just boiling it to make tea (in which case I wouldn’t use the SteriPen). Having the SteriPen was a definite win overall though!