SteriPEN Ultra Water Purifier Review

Over the past eight months the SteriPEN Ultra has become my go-to backpacking water purifier. Previous SteriPEN models had design and functionality flaws that severely impacted their performance, but my experience with the Ultra has been a different story. The Ultra is easy to use, works fast, kills all the bad stuff (protozoa, bacteria, and viruses), and best of all, it doesn’t require any pumping, squeezing, backflushing, or chemicals. Like all backcountry gear, there are downsides to the SteriPEN Ultra, but on the whole, I think it’s an excellent choice for backcountry water purification.

STERIPEN ULTRA SPECS

PRICE: Cost is one of the biggest downsides to the SteriPEN Ultra. Though much cheaper than the best pump filter (MSR Guardian), the Ultra is more than twice as expensive as the popular Sawyer Squeeze. That said, I personally feel the convenience of the Ultra makes it well worth the price, especially if you plan to put it to good use over many years.

WEIGHT: 5 ounces (4.7oz on my scale). The Ultra is light enough to take on any backcountry trip, including thru-hikes. It isn’t quite as light as the Sawyer Squeeze (3oz), but the minimal weight difference is well worth the upgrade in convenience. In addition, the Ultra weighs less than half as much as popular pump filters like the Katadyn Hiker Pro (11oz) and MSR Guardian (17oz). Water purification chemicals like Aquamira (2oz) tend to be the lightest option, but you’ll have to wait 30 minutes before drinking and I prefer chemical-free water whenever possible.

PURIFICATION METHOD: The Ultra uses ultraviolet (UV-C) light rays to safely purify clear water. The UV rays destroy 99.99% of protozoa (including Giardia and Cryptosporidia), bacteria and even viruses. The downside with UV purification is that it won’t work with murky, sediment-laden water. Most pump/squeeze filters quickly clog in those conditions as well, so this isn’t a complete tradeoff. The majority of my backpacking trips are in climates where, especially with a little planning, I know the water sources will be clear enough for the Ultra. If I am forced to drink from an unideal source, I can always strain out particles or use a chemical tablet for certainty. If you commonly expect to purify water from murky sources (mud puddles, animal pastures, etc.) and you want to avoid chemical treatments, you may be looking for a beast like the MSR Guardian.

BATTERY: Internal Lithium-ion battery. The Ultra comes with a built-in rechargeable battery and USB cord for charging. This means you won’t have to worry about replacing expensive, heavy, and hard to find batteries like previous models.

BATTERY LIFE: The Ultra will purify 50 liters on a full charge, which works out to roughly a 10 day water supply for one person or 5 day supply for two (4-6L per day depending on conditions). That daily estimate is based on my personal experience and is actually a little conservative (I’ve purified well over 50L on a single charge). I initially didn’t like the feeling of having my water treatment method tied to a battery, but over time the Ultra has gained my trust.

LAMP LIFE: The bulb in the Ultra is rated to work up to 8,000 treatments before it burns out. At 4-6L per day, that’s the equivalent of 4.4 years of clean water for one person. Also, if you do actually use up your Ultra bulb, SteriPEN will replace your Ultra for free.

DIMENSIONS: 7.3 x 1.65 x 1.3 inches. The SteriPEN Ultra is about 1 inch longer than a standard pen and about as wide as a golf ball at its thickest part. It easily stashes away in a side pocket or front mesh pouch for quick access.

DISPLAY - The Ultra has a straightforward display that works well. Simple symbols display the unit’s battery life, lamp life, liter settings, a countdown timer, a smiley face when the water’s ready to drink, or a frowny face if something goes wrong. The display will be upside down while purifying with the plastic bottle method, but it’s still easy to read.

BACKUP PURIFICATION - I’ve started using my phone for photography on most backcountry trips, so I’ve also been bringing a small Mophie power bank to keep it charged. If need be, I could use my power bank to recharge the Ultra, but so far that hasn’t been necessary. Also, I always bring backup purification pills just in case I have an equipment malfunction or encounter a truly gross/murky water source.

WATER BOTTLES - I use my SteriPEN Ultra with cheap 1L plastic water bottles that have standard small-mouth openings. There’s nothing special about the bottles themselves, they’re just light, strong, affordable, and easy to replace. Smartwater bottles tend to work well because they’re long and skinny, which makes them easy to fit into backpack water bottle holsters.

DURABILITY - The Ultra feels very sturdy and I expect it to last for a long time, even in tough conditions. There’s a hard case that covers the bulb of the Ultra and a soft case that protects the entire unit. The bulb of the Ultra is glass, so be careful not to drop it when the bulb is exposed. With a little care, I expect the ultra to last for many years of tough backcountry use.

SUMMARY OF PROS

• Easy to use - No squeezing, pumping, backflushing, or chemicals.
• Fast - 90 Seconds per liter.
• Effective - Sterilizes 99.99% of protozoa, bacteria, and viruses
• Lightweight - Only 2-3 ounces heavier than the lightest purifying methods.
• Durable - Compact design with a sturdy case

SUMMARY OF CONS

• Price - Twice as expensive as the Sawyer Squeeze. 
• Battery powered - Not a good choice for long expeditions with no recharging options.
• Murky water - UV purifiers won’t work in murky, sediment-laden water. Most filters don't work well in those conditions though. Read “Purification Method” section above for more info.
• Glass bulb - the Ultra isn’t fragile, but you’ll want to make sure not to drop it when the bulb is exposed. When inside its case, the Ultra is well protected.

CONCLUSION

The main reason I like the SteriPEN Ultra is its convenience compared to other purifying methods. With the Ultra, I no longer have to awkwardly crouch over streams and tire out my forearms pumping water. I also avoid squeezing cold bags/bottles to filter my water, which tires my hands and chills my fingers. Instead, I have a hassle-free purifier that that provides clean, safe drinking water in 90 seconds with minimal effort. While the Ultra isn’t the lightest or cheapest purifier and on the market, its considerable strengths make it my go-to choice for water purification.

Sierra Designs Nitro UL 20 Sleeping Bag Review

Sierra Designs just launched their new Nitro UL 20 Sleeping Bag (available in 0°F, 20°F, 35°F, Women's 0°F, and Women's 20°F models) and we were fortunate enough to get our hands on a pre-launch model to test it out. We've been using the Nitro UL 20 for a few weeks now and we think it's a solid offering in the sleeping bag world. The Nitro is comfortable, warm, keeps weight to a minimum, and is sold at a competitive price.

Note: Make sure to check out our Best Sleeping Bag & Quilt Guide for our top recommendations and critical considerations before buying a new sleeping bag.

Sierra Designs Nitro Specs

TEMPERATURE RATING: The Sierra Designs Nitro is available in three different temperature ratings (0°F, 20°F, 35°F, Women's 0°F, and Women's 20°F). Remember, temperature ratings like these are based on EN Lower Limit testing, so we recommend adding about 10°F for a more realistic estimate (read the temp rating sections of our sleeping bag guide for more info). For example, the EN "Lower Limit" of the Nitro 20 bag is 17°F, but it’s EN "Comfort” rating is 28°F, and the comfort rating is a much better guideline in our opinion. We tested the 20°F Nitro for this review and found it to be true to its temperature rating. For most 3-season backpackers we’d recommend the Nitro UL 20 model, which will keep you warm when temps dip to freezing or just below.

PRICE: Quality down sleeping bags tend to cost a lot of money, which is a bummer. The upside is that they’ll last for decades if taken care of properly, but the upfront cost can be prohibitive for some. The Nitro isn’t an inexpensive sleeping bag, but it does deliver a lot of value compared to the competition. We wouldn’t list the Nitro as a budget bag, but there are very few sleeping bags in its weight, warmth, and cost class. For that reason, we think the Nitro is a solid deal. Check out current pricing for the Nitro UL 20 here.

WEIGHT: Given its temp ratings and cost, the Sierra Designs Nitro is surprisingly competitive in the weight category. The 35°F regular size Nitro weighs 1lb 6oz, the 20°F Nitro weighs 1lb 12oz, and the 0°F Nitro weighs 2lb 8oz. These aren’t the lightest sleeping bags on the market, but they’re very competitive, and in our books this is a big win.

DOWN FILL: The Nitro comes with 800 fill DriDown insulation, which is a balanced choice for keeping weight down without decreasing compressibility and affordability. DriDown will help keep your insulation dry in wet conditions and will help your bag dry out much faster if it does get wet (but don’t let that happen). All in all, a well balanced choice.

ROOMINESS: In our view the Nitro has a comfortable and balanced fit. It’s not so tight that it feels claustrophobic and not so roomy that it feels drafty (which can create cold spots and cut down on warmth efficiency). The Nitro is offered in regular (fits up to 6' tall) and long (fits up to 6'6" tall and is a bit wider too) sizes, so make sure to choose the appropriate model for your height (we recommend going larger if you're right on the edge). If you typically find sleeping bags to be too constricting, you may want to try a lightweight quilt for more freedom of movement, but quilts do tend to be drafty and a bit chilly at lower temperatures.

ZIPPER: The Nitro has a 40 inch zipper, which runs a little past halfway down the bag. This is a key downside in our books, as we prefer the flexibility of full-length zippers. On warm nights it can be nice to fully unzip a sleeping bag and use it like a blanket, but that option isn't really viable with a shorter zipper like this. Longer zippers do add weight and cost, which is probably why Sierra Designs kept the Nitro zipper shorter. Some sleeping bag users don't mind a shorter zip, so if that's you, the Nitro will be a great fit. Also, the Nitro does have a cool zipperless footvent (more info below) which helps with ventilation on warmer nights.

ZIPPERLESS FOOTVENT OPENING

FOOTBOX: The Nitro has an ergonomic footbox that feels comfortable and kept our feet warm. The one truly unique feature of this sleeping bag can also be found in the footbox: a zipperless footvent. The zipperless footvent opening allows you to quickly stick your feet out of the bag whenever you’re feeling hot. We found this to be a nice touch and appreciated the ventilation. When not in use, the foot vent lies flat and holds heat in well, so we didn’t experience any unwanted drafts.

HOOD: The hood of the Nitro has an ergonomic design and two drawcords that can easily be adjusted from within the bag. The draft collar near the hood opening also helps to hold heat in. The hood is simple, comfortable, and effective.

FABRIC: The Nitro is built with 15d shell and liner fabrics that feel comfortable against the skin and help keep weight down. The shell fabric feels durable, but like all lightweight sleeping bags, you’ll want to be careful around sharp objects.  

DRAFT TUBE/COLLAR: The Nitro has a draft tube (down-filled flap) that runs the length of the zipper and a draft collar around the neck of the bag. These draft tubes help hold heat in, which increases warmth efficiency and reduces cold drafts. Both are nice touches. 

Summary of Pros

• Warm: 3 EN-tested models that are true to their temperature ratings.
• Price: Good value, especially considering overall weight and quality materials.
• Weight: Very competitive weight to warmth ratios.
• Comfort: A slightly relaxed mummy cut with fabrics that feel nice against the skin.
• Fill: 800 Fill DriDown insulation. A balanced choice for weight, cost, and compression.
• Zipperless Footvent: A convenient new feature that helps with temperature control.

Summary of Cons

• Price: Though a good value, the price may still be too much for budget backpackers.
• Zipper: We prefer full-length zippers for maximum flexibility on warm nights. The Nitro has a 40-inch zipper, which runs about 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the bag.

Conclusion

We think the Sierra Designs Nitro UL 20 is a solid new offering in the sleeping bag world. It’s comfortable, warm, keeps weight to a minimum, and comes at a competitive price, especially given the quality of its construction and materials. We wish it had a full-length zipper, but the zipperless footvent is a nice feature that helps increase ventilation on warm nights. If you want to see how the Nitro stacks up against some of our favorite sleeping bags, check out the CleverHiker Sleeping Bag Gear Guide.

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent Review

The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 is one of our all-time favorite backpacking tents and one of Big Agnes’ best selling designs. The Copper Spur strikes an excellent balance between weight, livability, convenience, and weather protection. It’s a great choice for backpackers wanting to keep their packs light without giving up convenience and comfort. We think the Copper Spur HV is one of the highest quality freestanding tents on the market, so if you’re looking for a new tent, we highly recommend putting it on your list.

Note: The Copper Spur HV UL2 earned Best All-Around Tent in our 2017 Best Backpacking Tents List. Check out the CleverHiker Gear Guide for our other favorite backpacking equipment recommendations (backpacks, sleeping bags/pads, stoves, etc.).

COPPER SPUR HV SPECS

Price: The Copper Spur is not a budget backpacking tent, but in our opinion it’s well worth the cost if you put it to good use. The Copper Spur is one of the lightest and highest quality freestanding tents on the market, and as is often the case, you get what you pay for. To see if it’s in your budget, find current pricing for the Copper Spur HV UL2 here at REI, Amazon, Backcountry, Campsaver, and Moosejaw . If you’re willing to carry more weight for a lower-priced tent, check out our top lightweight tents list or our budget backpacking tents list.

Weight: The Copper Spur HV UL2 is among the lightest double-wall freestanding tents on the market, which is a big win in our books. It’s packed weight is 3lb 1oz (including stakes, guy lines, etc.), which is very light for a two-person freestanding tent, especially considering the interior space of the Copper Spur. Carrying a lighter overall load has a ton of benefits, but simply stated, we find lightweight backpacking to be far less exhausting and much more enjoyable.

Freestanding: The Copper Spur is a fully freestanding tent, which means it’s main body can be pitched almost anywhere. This type of design is extremely convenient, quick to set up, and can come in handy when pitching on hard ground or solid rock. The shape of the Copper Spur is asymmetrical, with more room at the head of the tent, but it’s clips and poles are color coordinated to make setup nearly foolproof.

Living Space: Interior space is another key highlight for the Copper Spur. It’s bent-pole structure and top crossbar create nearly vertical sidewalls, which provides a lot of headroom. The UL2 has enough space for two regular-width sleeping pads lying side-by-side and a small stuff sack or two stored by your head. Your backpack, shoes, and any wet gear will easily fit in the medium-sized vestibules. The Copper Spur HV comes in four different sizes: 1-person, 2-person, 3-person, and 4-person. What size you choose may depend on your backpacking style. If you prefer hiking light and crushing miles, stick with the listed model (example: get the UL2 to sleep 2 people). If you’re willing to carry more weight for increased interior space, you may want to bump up one tent size (example: get the UL3 to sleep 2 people).

Seasons: The Copper Spur is a 3-season tent, meaning it will work well under most spring, summer, and fall backpacking conditions. The Copper Spur can handle a light amount of snow, but it’s not designed to be a winter backpacking tent.

Weather Protection: We’ve tested the Copper Spur throughout the Pacific Northwest in very wet conditions and it has performed well, keeping us bone dry inside while pouring rain outside. As far as wind resistance goes, tents like the Copper Spur (spacious, double-wall, freestanding) tend to perform worse than low-pitch pyramid tarps/tents, but we feel the Copper Spur will still withstand a good amount of wind exposure, especially with the four storm guylines staked out. That said, you should always limit your wind exposure when choosing a campsite, regardless of your shelter.  

Durability: The floor and rainfly of the Copper Spur are made with 20-denier silicone impregnated ripstop nylon. The “denier” denotes the thickness of the fabric, and 20d is on the thinner side for tent floor fabrics, though not as thin as some ultralight tents using 10d or even 7d nylon. This fabric is a big part of why the Copper Spur is so light, but it does slightly reduce its long-term durability. If you’re hard on backpacking gear, this might not be the best tent for you. That said, the Copper Spur is a popular choice among thru-hikers of the AT, PCT, and CDT, all of which are notoriously tough on gear. It’s important to remember that a sharp stick or rock will puncture almost any tent floor and small rips/holes can easily be repaired with tenacious tape. In our opinion, if you take good care of this tent, it should last for many years and thousands of miles. Also, if you're nervous about tent floor durability, you could pick up the Copper Spur HV UL2 footprint (more info below, sold separately, 6 oz).

Walls: The Copper Spur HV is a double-wall tent with a top crossbar to help make the sidewalls nearly vertical. Double-wall tents are preferred by many backpackers because they create separation between the mesh tent body and the rainfly. In wet conditions, it’s common for condensation to build up on the inside of a tent rainfly and the mesh barrier will help keep you from rubbing up against it.

Doors: The Copper Spur HV UL2 has two large side doors and vestibules that are easy to open and pin back for ventilation. This design is excellent, especially for multiple users. Having separate entrances will ensure that you’re not climbing over a tentmate and two sets of gear every time you want to get in or out of your tent.

Vestibules: Each vestibule on the Copper Spur provides about nine square feet of space. One stake is used to guy out each vestibule and we think this design is excellent. The vestibules aren’t huge (we’d say they’re medium-sized), but they provide plenty of room for your backpack and any gear you want to keep protected at night (shoes/boots, wet jackets/pants/clothing, etc.).

Pole Structure: The DAC featherlite pole setup for this tent is easy to use, sturdy in rough weather, and keeps weight to a minimum. The poles are also color coordinated (orange pole tips fit with orange tent tabs), which makes pitching the asymmetrical Copper Spur really easy. We love the simple pole structure of this tent and wonder why more manufacturers don’t use a minimal yet sturdy design like this.

Rainfly: The rainfly on the Copper Spur is made of lightweight 20d silicone impregnated ripstop nylon. The material feels very light and is fully waterproof. One downside with sil-nylon rainflys is that they sag a bit when wet and cold (when it rains for example). While this won’t affect the weather resistance of your tent, you may want to re-tighten your rainfly when temps drop for a completely taught pitch.

Zippers: Two zippers open each main body door on the Copper Spur (one zipper along the bottom and one on the top). This makes each door easy to open and close, even with one hand. The rainfly zippers on the Copper Spur do have a tendency to snag on the storm flaps at times, especially when wet (we find this to be a common tent problem). This is easily avoided with the use of two hands and a little care, though we do see it as a small downside.

Stakes: The Copper Spur comes with eight lightweight J stakes. That’s enough stakes for a standard pitch (one for each tent corner and four for the rainfly), but you’ll need four extra stakes to pin down the Copper Spur in bad weather. On most trips we pack eight stakes with this tent, but if we’re expecting to encounter rough weather (sleeping above treeline or storms expected), we bring four extra stakes. The J stakes included with this tent are okay and will get the job done under most conditions, but they're not great. If you’re looking for sturdy stakes with better holding power, we like Kungix Aluminum Reflective Stakes

Ventilation: The Copper Spur has one large top vent on the rainfly which helps keep interior condensation to a minimum. The vent has a velcro stay that can easily be opened and closed. This is a quality design feature we really like.

Pockets: The Copper Spur has three well designed and useful pockets. Each side has a rectangular pocket by the head and there’s one large rectangular top pocket as well. This isn’t the most important detail in a tent, but these pockets are very convenient, and we think they’re some of the best of any tent we’ve tested.

Guylines & Clips: The guylines for the Copper Spur come attached and ready to go, which is a great convenience. They’re also reflective to help avoid nighttime stumbles and they have adjustable line tensioners attached. The rainfly is connected with color-coded buckle clips, which make it easy and fast to deploy. This attention to detail is one of the reasons the Copper Spur is such a high quality product.

Footprint: The Copper Spur HV UL2 footprint is sold separately and weighs 6 ounces. A footprint will protect your tent floor from abrasion, so your tent will last longer and need fewer repairs, but they’re not required. We often backpack without them, but if you’re willing to carry a little extra weight to extend the life of your tent, consider picking one up.

SUMMARY OF PROS

• Incredibly lightweight
• Quick and easy to pitch
• Freestanding double-wall design
• Good interior space due to pole structure
• Two large doors and vestibules that pin back nicely
• Waterproof and wind resistant with four storm guylines attached
• Large top vent helps reduce condensation
• Three convenient and spacious pockets
• Main door zippers function easily with one hand
• Attention to detail and quality materials all around

SUMMARY OF CONS

• Expensive, but worth the cost in our opinion
• Thinner floor materials (20d) reduce long-term durability (read durability section)
• Rainfly zippers sometimes snag on storm flaps
• Tent stakes are light, but only okay in quality, and four more are required for storm guylines

CONCLUSION

The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 is one of our all-time favorite backpacking tents and we recommend it to friends and family all the time. We love getting the comfort, convenience, and weather protection of a freestanding, double-wall tent in such a lightweight package. If you’re a backpacker looking for balance between camp comfort and trail weight, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 is an excellent choice. If you’re willing to carry a bit more weight for increased interior space, we also really like the Copper Spur HV UL3.