What is the name of those blue lights people use to purify water?

Question

You can wave them across a jug of un-purified water to purify it? What is that particular light called?

Dose anyone own one? Do they take alot of batteries?

Answer 1

The devices are called Steripen - uses ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and virus' in the water when you stir the water with the pen for 90 seconds.

I've seen one that operates on two CR123 lithium batteries, & I've seen one that uses AA batteries, I've not heard about battery consumption yet.

I have heard that it is difficult to use them in normal sized (32 oz.) Nalgene bottles and almost impossible to use them in Camelbaks.

Answer 2

they purify the water of giardia, bacteria and protozoa---basically the bad stuff that will make you s**+*t and puke at the same time if you ingest it

--in the wild, you never know what might have died upstream from where you are drinking and sat rotting in the water

Answer 3

their called steripens

this link tells all about them http://www.rei.com/product/750366

ive never really used one and i am kinda skeptical about them  but they are pretty sweet