The MSR Thru-Link Inline Water Filter is a device that you can fit to any bladder water container on the drinking tube section to instantly purify water you’ve collected on trail. It’ll save you time so you can ‘scoop and go’ from water sources with the water being purified as you drink though it. It’ll remove bacteria from water, has a flow rate of 1.5L per minute meaning drinking from it is effortless and the filter is good for about 1000 Liters.
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Full Review
This latest water purification system from MSR improves on the MSR Trailshot that I reviewed last year. In the past you had to manually pump water into a bottle or use gravity but now with this ‘inline’ option you can simply fill any kind of bladder water storage that you have and attach this small lightweight filter to the drinking tube to purify water as you drink.
Fitting to Existing Bladders
Fitting the unit to any existing bladder and drinking tube is easy. You simply pick a convenient point on the drinking tube and cut it.
The MSR Thru-Link filter comes with a male and female connector that you now attach to the two new ends of your drinking tube. You can now easily attach or disconnect the inline filter so you have the option to use the filter, or leave it off when you are sure of your water source.
Filtration
The filtration removes all bacteria and microorganisms from water and has a built in activated charcoal layer to remove unusual flavors in the water. The filter is rated for about 1000L of use. Like many filtration systems that use this method you must be aware that it wont filter out viruses or any chemical pollutants so be sure to know the pollution status of the area, try to use a fast flowing clear stream and potentially use water purification tablets to kill the bacteria.
Size and Weight
The unit only weighs about 2.6 oz and size wise its a bit bigger than a large chunky pen.
Closest Contender
The MSR Trail shot ( which you use as a small manually hand pump) or the Katadyn Befree ( which purifies inside the soft flask) are two other effective options but both are more expensive than the Thru-Link Water Filter and heavier.
Verdict
The MSR Thru-Link Inline Water Filter is a device that you can fit to any bladder water container on the drinking tube section to instantly purify water you’ve collected on trail. It’ll save you time so you can ‘scoop and go’ from water sources with the water being purified as you drink though it. It’ll remove bacteria from water, has a flow rate of 1.5L per minute meaning drinking from it is effortless and the filter is good for about 1000 Liters.
Features
- Keep Moving: Don’t stop to filter–just scoop and go. Engineered specifically for high-flow, easy drinking.
- Two-Stage Filtration: Fast-flow hollow fiber removes pathogens, particulate & microplastics; activated carbon reduces chemicals, tastes and odors.
- Quick-Connect: Compatible with any hydration reservoir system on the market.
- Proven: Used by the U.S. military for more than a decade; rugged ultrasonic welded housing for reliable durability.
- Effective Against: Bacteria (99.9999%), protozoa (99.9%) and particulate (dirt, microplastics). Meets U.S. EPA drinking water standards* and NSF protocol P231 testing standard for removal of bacteria and protozoa.
Specs
Color:Grey
Weight (Standard):2.5 oz
Weight (Metric):0.07 kg
Width (Standard):1.6 in
Width (Metric):4.2 cm
Length (Standard):7.5 in
Length (Metric):19 cm
Height (Standard):1.6 in
Height (Metric):4.2 cm
Effective against bacteria:Yes
Effective against chemicals/toxins:Yes
Effective against particulate:Yes
Effective against protozoa:Yes
Effective against viruses:No
Filter media:Hollow Fiber
Filter pore size (microns):0.2Flow (L/min):1.5 liters per min
Field cleanable:Yes
Field maintainable:No
Material(s):Hollow Fiber, ABS, Nylon
Country of Origin:Made in the U.S.A. of U.S. and Imported Materials
About MSR
In 1969, Seattle engineer and lifelong mountaineer Larry Penberthy formed Mountain Safety Research as a one-man crusade dedicated to improving the safety of climbing equipment. The fuel behind Larry’s passionate fire was a simple belief that still drives our team today.
From that notion evolved a pioneering outdoor company whose innovations have revolutionized the way people experience the outdoors worldwide. Today, we’re a close-knit team still obsessed with designing the most reliable, high-performance gear possible, using our knowledge of engineering and science to find better solutions to the challenges of the mountains.
At MSR, we are engineers, tinkerers and passionate outdoor users–each with strong perspectives on how a product should work based on our own experiences in the wild places we love. But collectively, we believe that innovative solutions are bred by challenging convention, and that functionality, simplicity and reliability are the governing elements of enduring design.
Today, many MSR products are still hand-built on manufacturing lines just a floor below where we concept them.
Sharing is caring. Thanks for sharing this with the community. We must filter water before drinking it. I agree. It also true that earlier we found a different taste of water after filtration. That’s for the materials contained in the water. Now most of the water purifiers along with these portable water filters provide the same taste water through RO water purification system as well. Drink safe, live safe.
Nice to hear from you Max !
Garrafa Termica The word thermos is a genericized trademark used sometimes, since the early 20th century, as a term for any vacuum-insulated flask regardless of manufacturer.