No engineer can sit alone and proclaim a design innovative. True innovation is defined by consensus, in the field, by thousands—if not millions—of customers. Our focus on delivering that level of performance has allowed a number of our products to attain such a level of recognition over the last 40 years. The timeline below represents our legacy of achievements—a direct result of our commitment to create products that enhance the outdoor experience.

Innovations Timeline

  • 1972

    The revolutionary self-inflating Therm-a-Rest® mattress is invented. The lightweight, portable mattress allows mountain climbers and outdoor enthusiasts to sleep better in warmth and comfort.

  • 1973

    Dehydration is discovered as a main cause of Acute Mountain Sickness. In response, the world’s first remote-burner stove, the MSR® Model 9™, is developed to efficiently melt snow for drinking water at high altitude.

  • 1974

    In response to requests from the cycling community, the MSR Climbing Helmet design is tweaked to better meet the safety needs of cyclists, becoming one of the first bicycle helmets in existence.

  • 1975

    Marking their first use in a consumer product, lithium batteries are incorporated into MSR® headlamps, extending burn time and increasing reliability in the outdoors.

  • 1976

    Durable, weather-proof outerwear becomes more comfortable with the incorporation of the first zippered underarm vents (a.k.a. “Pit Zips”) into the MSR® brand line of rain jackets and parkas.

  • 1984

    The legendary MSR® WhisperLite™ backpacking stove is developed to operate quietly in its natural surroundings and sets the standard for lightweight, liquid-fuel backpacking stoves.

  • 1986

    Keeping important gear dry in wet environments becomes easy with the introduction of a double-stiffener closure for SealLine® dry bags, creating the most waterproof roll-down closure on the market.

  • 1987

    Mountaineering safety takes a huge step forward with the unveiling of MSR® Coyote™ Snow Pickets, uniquely designed to provide a 20% increase in holding power over similar snow anchors.

  • 1991

    Meeting backcountry users’ needs for a reliable water treatment device, the MSR® WaterWorks® filter is the first of its kind to incorporate both carbon and ceramic technologies for superior performance.

  • 1994

    Cascade Designs builds on their innovative Therm-a-Rest® technology with the launch of the Therm-a-Rest® Synergy System™ sleeping bag, the first of its kind to feature a built-in sleeve for a sleeping mattress.

  • 1995

    The groundbreaking MSR® Denali™ Snowshoe utilizes the first injection-molded plastic snowshoe deck to offer versatility and extreme durability in all snow conditions.

  • 1996

    Frustration with cumbersome water storage products leads to the creation of the Platypus® flexible hydration solutions. Lightweight and durable, they can be tucked away for easy packing when empty.

  • 1998

    The inconveniences of filling and cleaning hydration storage systems are eliminated with the revolutionary Platypus® Big Zip™ reservoir. Featuring a first-ever wide-mouth opening.

  • 2002

    Originally developed with the DARPA to allow soldiers to purify any water, the MSR® MIOX® purifier is introduced to the outdoor market. The MIOX purifier is the first to bring electrolysis and mixed-oxidant technology to consumers.

  • 2004

    MSR® Hubba™ 1-person and MSR® Hubba Hubba™ 2-person tents utilize a one-pole hub and swivel design to deliver the perfect combination of light weight and livability that make it the best-selling ultralight tent in the world.

  • 2005

    Featuring extra warmth in the torso and feet, women-specific Therm-a-Rest® ProLite™ Series mattresses are designed to meet women’s frequent requests for a warmer lightweight mattress.

  • 2007

    The MSR® Reactor® Stove System is introduced. Providing the ability to rapidly boil water in challenging conditions, it is the first stove ever to employ radiant heat and primary air combustion while regulating canister pressure.

  • 2008

    The introduction of the Platypus® CleanStream™ Gravity Filter. With no moving parts, an ultra-efficient, hollow fiber membrane makes pump-free filtering possible by harnessing gravity to deliver 4 liters in just 2.5 minutes.

  • 2015

    MSR, in partnership with PATH, created theSE200 Community Chlorine Maker. The small device generates chlorine using just water, salt and electricity from a car battery. One device can support the safe-water needs of 200 people.

  • 2016

    Therm-a-Rest, along with a group of other sleeping pad manufacturers, began developing a standard methodology for rating the insulative properties of sleeping pads, that would become known as the ASTM F3340-18 standard. This standard allows campers to look at two or more sleeping pads and directly compare the R-value of each.

  • 2016

    With military-grade engineering and game-changing technology, in 2016 the Guardian™ Purifier became the safest, easiest way to purify water virtually anywhere on earth.

  • 2018

    Designed in conjunction with renowned polar explorer Eric Larsen, the Polar Ranger winter sleeping bag wins a Backpacker Editor’s Choice Award: “Not only is this bag warm enough for deep, sub-zero cold, it also has features that we often don’t see all in one package.”

  • 2019

    The 2019Paragon™ binding offers an unabashed minimalist approach to security & comfort in technical terrain, continuing a legacy of snowshoe innovation that began with the revolutionary 1996 Denali.

  • 2020

    As technology allows us to craft lightweight, high-volume mattresses, WingLock™ and TwinLock™ valves are developed to make inflation and deflation faster and easier than ever before.

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