MSR TrailShot Water Filter

No, the TrailShot uses a hollow fiber membrane designed to remove bacteria and protozoa, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. It does not remove viruses, so you should use a chemical treatment or purifier if you are traveling in areas where viral contamination is a concern.

The TrailShot features a simple shake-to-clean mechanism. You just need to shake the filter vigorously to dislodge sediment and restore flow, which is much easier than backflushing systems that require carrying extra syringes or clean water reservoirs.

You can do both. The TrailShot is designed to let you drink directly from a stream or lake by placing the intake hose in the water and squeezing the bulb, or you can use it to fill up your water bottles or hydration bladder.

It is best suited for solo hikers or fast-and-light trips. Because it has a flow rate of 1 liter per minute and requires manual squeezing, it can be tedious to filter large volumes of water for a group compared to gravity-fed systems.

You will notice a significant decrease in the flow rate even after shaking the filter to clean it. If the water flow remains slow despite cleaning, it is time to replace the cartridge.