As many hikers, backpackers, and even bikepackers use hydration reservoirs instead of water bottles these days, MSR decided to make it easier for them to get filtered water on the go. In place of a separate filter system to carry in your pack or bike bag, the new Thru-Link in-line microfilter quickly connects into any reservoir for filtering as you drink.
“With the MSR Thru-Link, there’s no need for hikers and backpackers to stop and filter their water — they just fill up their reservoir and go,” says Sarah Courtney, Water Category Manager at MSR. “They have clean water instantly because the Thru-Link filters as they drink.”
Originally developed as an on-the-move water filtration solution for the U.S. military in the early 2000s, the Thru-Link has been in use by service members for more than a decade. The Thru-Link Filter weighs just 2.5 ounces and can filter up to 1.2 liters of water per minute. You can filter 1000 liters of water before needing to replace it.
The Thru-Link meets NSF Protocol P231 for the removal of bacteria and protozoa. Its two-stage filtration chamber includes fast-flow hollow fiber for the removal of pathogens, particulates, and microplastics, and activated carbon that reduces chemicals, tastes and odors. NSF Protocol P231 compliant water filters are proven to purify water at the microbiological level. This is a level of certification generally sought out by organizations that require the highest levels of drinking water purity, such as military bases, schools, restaurants, and food processing plants.
The Thru-Link Filter features no moving parts and is compact, making it easy to pack for any length of adventure, from a single day hike to a weeks-long backpacking trip. In addition to providing in-line filtration as a drink-through filter on the trail, the Thru-Link can be used as a gravity filtration system by your hydration reservoir at camp.
The MSR Thru-Link Filter retails for $39.95 and will be available starting February 2020.