Camelbak's UV Water Purifier

Camelbak has  launched the All Clear, a UV Water Purifier which incorporates a Steripen-style UV light bug zapper in its own bottle and which will be available in the UK from January 2010.

Apparently you simply fill the bottle, close it, then hold the power button down for 4 seconds to trigger an 80-second burst of UV light which will purify 900cc of water killing both viruses and bacteria. An LCD screen on the cap tells you when the water has been fully zapped.

The All Clear is either powered by two non-rechargeable CR123 batteries or can be bought with a rechargeable battery pack. The cap of the bottle complete with purifying mechanism can be used with most non-Camelbak models provided they have a 63mm cap.

The principle is basically the same as Steripen, but in a neat, self-contained package. It has the same strengths and weaknesses too. Because it relies on light transission to kills the bugs, you need to pre-filter water to remove sediment and debris before treating. On the plus side it will, when the water is clear, kill both baterica and viruses.



The All Clear should be available in the States in October 2009 with the basic model retailing for $100 and the version with the rechargeable battery pack $130.  UK Camelbak distributor Zyro tells us that the new range will be available in the UK from January 2010.

The All Clear Microbiological Water Purifier with non-rechargeable batteries will retail for £119.99 and has a blue bottle.

The All Clear Deluxe Microbiological Water Purifier, which is a grey bottle and a rechargeable battery pack will retail for £139.99.

And finally you'll be able to buy a kit to convert the non-rechargeable version to rechargeable for £44.99.

More Camelbak information at www.camelbak.com.