well, since my last posting, I had an excellent string of good luck with my steripen...until a couple weeks ago! Actually it wasn't the pen itself itself, but rather some brand new batteries straight out of the plastic wrap that were defective. Very irritating, seeing as how as I was in the backcountry. I boiled water...til my fuel ran out. Oy! But it was a great trip all the same. And I still like my steripen.