We engineered the Thru-Link™ inline water filter to keep you moving fast and light on your biggest days. This minimalist, ultralight filter connects directly into your hydration reservoir system, letting you filter your water with each sip you take. In your pack, the Thru-Link is barely noticeable. At a mere 71 g (2.6 oz), it eliminates bulky gear and makes water treatment simple, easy and compact. Whether you’re increasing the miles of your day hikes, or carrying a big load for a long thru-hike, the Thru-Link has you covered with safe water on the go. Check out the video to see it in action!

Filtering on the move

The Thru-Link filter’s inline functionality means you never have to stop to filter your water along the trail. Simply fill your reservoir, click the filter into your hose system and go. We gave the Thru-Link a quick-connect design that allows it to snap directly into any hydration reservoirs that feature quick-connect fittings between their hose and bladder. If your reservoir doesn’t have quick-connect fittings built in, we provide fittings to adapt your system. When you’re trying to go farther and cover more terrain in a day, water is crucial to your success. We designed the Thru-Link for these types of days.

High-flow, easy drinking

Hiking quickly steals your breath and makes it harder to drink when you need a hit of water. Because of this, we spent a great deal of time engineering the Thru-Link’s high flow rate. The filter is intended specifically for inline use, so we needed to make the drinking experience as easy as possible. We’re proud to say the Thru-Link has the fastest drink-thru flow rate of any inline filter on the market.

2-Stage Filtration

To rid your water of harmful pathogens, like bacteria and protozoa, as well as dirt and taste, the Thru-Link uses two filter media types. First, the water flows through a hollow fiber membrane. These fibers feature microscopic pores (or holes) that allow water to pass through, while trapping the harmful bacteria and protozoa, and dirt. With the “larger” contaminants caught, the water flows through an activated carbon element. This carbon piece takes care of the tiniest contaminants, including chemicals, tastes and odors. The carbon reduces them so that you enjoy only taste-free, clean backcountry water. Like all MSR filters, the Thru-Link passes the EPA drinking water standards and NSF Protocol P231 test for removing bacteria, like E. coli and Salmonella, and protozoa, like Giardia. NSF P231 protocol is the scientifically accepted standard for backcountry filters. Our on-site water lab helps us conduct rigorous testing and we’re grateful to have staff scientists who advise on every filter we engineer.

Military-grade engineering

The origin of the Thru-Link begins with a request, a decades ago, from the U.S. military. MSR’s expertise in water science is often sought after by humanitarian organizations, the U.S. government, and academic institutions researching water treatment solutions for all kinds of needs. The Thru-Link was developed to provide service members with a way to drink safe water on the go. Since then, thousands of Thru-Link filters have been used in the field thanks to their efficient design and rugged housing.

Gravity filtration at camp

The Thru-Link’s design is both efficient and versatile—it doubles as a gravity filter at camp. Simply hang your reservoir and let gravity do the work. This versatility makes it a solution for overnight missions that demand a minimalist kit to get you through. The Thru-Link’s high-quality engineering is perfect thru-hikers seeking to minimize their gear (now there’s no need to DIY your own inline solution!). It also offers day hikers an ultralight option for clean water on big endeavors. From 5 to 10 to 25 miles in a day, your objectives shouldn’t be limited by your gear. We designed the Thru-Link to help you achieve your goals.