Steripen stirring container

The Steripen Adventurer is an excellent choice for use in water treatment. It is light weight (3.5 oz) and will effectively and quickly rid water of viruses, bacteria and protozoa and protozoa spores. To use the Steripen, the instrument is activated and used to stir the water being treated. The stirring exposes the water to intense UV radiation which deactivates the DNA of disease organisms.

The problem with using the Steripen is stirring the water in most water bottles. Small neck water bottles will not accept the UV wand of the Steripen at all and wide mouth bottles still restrict the stirring motion potentially leaving some of the water untreated. I solved this problem by using a cut-off 2 liter club soda bottle as a water dipping, stirring and pouring container. The following photos show how it works.

First, pour a liter of water into the bottle and mark the level with a permanent marking pen. Make another line around the bottle an inch above the one liter mark and cut the top off along this line using scissors.



The resulting container weighs a bit under an ounce.



Heat the edge carefully and then pinch to form a pouring spout



To use, fill the container to the one liter mark, activate the Steripen and stir the water as directed in the Steripen instructions.



When you finish treating the water, pour the water into the drinking bottle using the formed pouring spout.



I store my stirring container by fitting it over the end of my rolled Thermarest Prolite 3



I use a fine mesh metal screen to remove particulate matter and always use chemical treatment if the water is turbid.

Hi Pika:

Just wondering... why not use a 1 or 2L Platypus bladder and lob off the top? They have a gusseted bottom, so same advantages as a cut-off bottle, but much easier to roll up and pack away when not in use?

That is a convenient idea. Thanx for sharing.
-Barry

Good idea! I'm sure it would work and also would be a lot easier to store. The main reason I haven't done that (other than not thinking of it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ) is that I get the 2 liter bottles as a by-product of buying club soda, one of my favorite beverages, whereas I would have to spend real money for a Platy to behead. And, since the bottle bottom fits well on my Thermarest I wasn't too concerned with storage in the pack.

I see. I bet you will have many more of these bottles after the July 4th celebration! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Good solution! I started thinking about this same thing when I got my steripen. I came up with a slightly different solution.

Have you seen these new disposable plastic containers with screw-on lids? Ziploc calls them Twist 'n Loc containers I think (I use a store brand of the same thing). They are transparent but fairly durable. They have marks at 1 cup, 2 cups, etc. So I can use that to measure my water and stir with my steripen. But even better than that I found that the 4 cup size is exactly the size to hold a Heineken pot. I put my fuel, liter, dishtowel, and windscreen in the pot and put the pot in the container and screw on the lid and it holds it all tight so it doesn't rattle. I use it mostly as a cosy. I put my freezerbag filled with boiling water and my dinner into the container and screw on the lid. It keeps the heat in and saves my food if the zip closure on the bag fails. When it's done I open the freezerbag and fold the edges over the rim of the container and it's my bowl as well.

If I need to use the Steripen I just take the pot out. Fill the container with 4 cups of water (about a liter) and stir. Then I pour it into my Platy or whatever.