How To // Brightside Thru-Hiker Straw

[@jacobyonke5064]

Just applied for a long distance permit today. Pct here i come!

[@Jerrymc1975]

Jacob Yonke sake here! What date were you Abel to choose? I’m March 11th

[@jacobyonke5064]

Jerrymc1975 april 20

[@stephenegli4387]

Thanks. I built a low tech version of this using heavy duty, capped, ridged, flexible straw from a hospital hydration mug that I bought at a thrift store for 25 cents. The straw fits tightly through a Smart Water bottle sports cap reamed just slightly with a drill. Good video.

[@gaylewalker4239]

What a great invention I've got to make one of these. Thank you soooooo much for sharing. Clean straw with bleach.

[@mars_hikes967]

Thanks for sharing. If somebody isn't into DIY and wants to use less plastic, similar straws are available commercially. One option is the speed straw from Salomon (with a straight mouth piece), another one comes from Inov8 (with an angled mouth piece). As they are lighter, they are also flimsier. Usually they attach to soft flasks, which can give you problems when filtering water directly into them but the soft flasks sometimes adapt better to your pack straps, especially when you are having fixed pouches on them, like on a Atompacks or similar.

[@glenwoofit]

I think hiking the PCT makes you an expert to us mere mortals.

[@karahikes]

I have been intrigued by this straw watching your videos. Thanks for sharing the "how to" vid.

[@fauxname9577]

This is awesome! Thanks for posting!!! I’m definitely going to try this out. 👍🏻😁 One of the biggest reasons I stopped using a bladder is that I couldn’t tell how much water I had left. Drinking from a bottle, my water awareness is better so I don’t accidentally skip a water source when I shouldn’t have.

[@pauletteskalko5909]

I became addicted to using a drinking cup that covered and had a straw. Forced bc it was policy that we couldn’t have any open containers at the nurses station. I used a q tip and a wooden skewer to push it through (worked but awkward) also used pipe cleaners. I was thrilled when I found some reusable plastic replacement straws at Walmart that came with a special cleaning brush that works much better. It was in the camping section. Ozark Trail brand. It comes with 4 straws. I am excited to try to make this before my next hike!

[@mari.johnson]

Ooh good tips for cleaning the straw! Thanks

[@rs3585]

Thanks for sharing Mari, cheers me up to see these Vlogs. PCT next year hopefully! :)

[@ronaldcorrigan4737]

I have been wondering about straw also. But I would like to about the packs that Nick used on His Shoulder straps Thanks love Your PCT videos.

[@ryanhikes]

Invaluable content. We applaud 👏👏

[@monicarandeen8698]

Awesome! Looking forward to the gear videos!

[@johnclements6614]

To clean the straw I would run some warm water through it to remove the mold. Then soak in soapy water and repeat. You may be able to get a brush to clean inside but you should avoid things that will scratch because the scratches will provide homes for stuff. Then sterilise with a babys bottle sterilising liquid making sure the liquid is inside the straw. You can probably sterilise everything else the same way but the liquid may effect some gaskets, bite valves.

[@traildarling2777]

Been following your journey. Can’t wait for the video on the gear you used! Especially deets on the long sleeved shirt you wore lol.

[@mari.johnson]

In the meantime, here's the shirt! geni.us/tgkTEX The exact print I had isn't listed right now, but maybe later?

[@crosenau1195]

Nice! Tell Bright Side if he doesn't market it, someone else soon will.

[@koko-rl9zm]

You read my mind! How about how you acquired water & how you purified/filtered it. Thanks!

[@mari.johnson]

I used a sawyer squeeze (geni.us/ZEH2) and streams/rivers/lakes/any water source!

[@PhilipTaramai]

@@mari.johnson Oh dear, that link has a slight error on it, the last bracket shouldn't be there so just take it out and you are good to go :-). So unfair though, Amazon informs me no sellers are shipping that item to NZ, but I am sure something similar can be found here.

[@afair937]

This is THE BEST Mari, thank youuuu! You know I’ve been dying to have one of my own! So excited to make one.

[@mikeakafrostyhumphreys6993]

Thank you , thank u. Thank you for the intel

[@M_Hess]

It is such a great design and helps to make sure to keep hydrated. It was such a pain taking the bottle out/back in of my pack during my AT Thru, I know I did not drink enough. I have to make sure to change that especially in the desert. This will be useful this year for my PCT thru. Nonsense your experience is great to help other prepare. O no.... you should have introduced yourself as Taco Salad 😃 since you are Hiker Trash now. Keep up the great videos.

[@khh42]

first! :) i’m definitely gonna be making this haha. I can’t wait to see your gear videos, it will be super helpful!

[@mari.johnson]

Hope it turns out well!

[@bstheory]

securing the bottle is important too! I tried a similar setup using a soft flask (HydraPak UltraFlask600, horrible bite valve though) and the straw would slap my face when running around. Thanks for sharing!

[@GoThruIt]

Thank you so much for making this video! Great idea.

[@bettyjorodgers8552]

Can't wait till the next video. Thanks

[@thinkinoutloud.1]

Excellante Mari!👍

[@jeffreyrule8143]

Thank you. I was curious along with everyone else.

[@alyssahermosa]

This is so neat thank you for the content

[@bertman4]

Thanks Taco Salad! Thanks Brightside!

[@tinmanandoliveoylsadventur7129]

Hi. Oliveoil and I use a similar system. She actually thought of it. I copied. Agree on the bladders. I don't like them, you can't tell how much water you have left, it tastes nasty and they are very bulky in the back pack. Thanks for a cool video.

[@SleepingElephant]

Cool idea and explanation

[@alfredobatista9818]

Very useful, thanks.

[@tammymartinez7488]

I have something similar. I bought it from camelbak though. This is cheaper It it a tube that attaches to one of camelbacks water bottles and I put it the side pocket and the tube acts goes around to the front of my backpack.

[@TheExbarista]

Thanks for showing us this Mari! Is it possible to suck water straight out of the Camelbak on/off valve? I hate drinking through bite valves 😣

[@mari.johnson]

hmm maybe! sorry i haven't tried it!

[@SychJess]

I tend not to drink enough if I don’t have water right in my face. This is SOO helpful! Thanks Brightside and Mari!! Edit: piece #1 isn’t available right now. Is there another option?

[@mari.johnson]

Haha same! Here’s another link - hope you can find it! sourceoutdoor.com/en/accessories/22-convertube-hydration-system

[@hikerJohn]

If you want to go super simple use a drip tube that cost almost nothing and drill two holes in your bottle cap. The vent whole is smaller than the straw hole . . . imgur.com/a/DOpcHwU . . . The water bottle is better because it gives you a method of rationing your water as you hike. (1/2 liter bottle per so many miles or hrs)

[@PorterSpeaks]

Yay yay yay I commented about this earlier! Thanks!

[@golferpatbug]

Thanks Mari, Unfortunately, the cap is unavailable on this site, may be out of stock but I'll keep my eyes open for it.

[@Jerrymc1975]

Pat Wilkinson you could drill a hole into a bottle cap and slide the tube through. I would use a plumbers tape so o leak from the cap

[@lorismith8479]

That's funny, I was going to ask where you got this straw :) The tubes of the water bladder freeze in colder temperatures, so you need to make sure there is no water in the tube....it might burst...

[@annaswanson5903]

This is awesome 👏 👏👏

[@BigDukeX]

Mari, (and BrightSide) thanks so much for providing the design details on the drinking straw, very much appreciated👊😎... BTW, have you sent in your application to Globe Trekker yet?

[@mari.johnson]

Haha no, I still don’t know what it is 🙈

[@oceandrew]

@@mari.johnson Ever see the Lonely Planet TV travel series? That's it.

[@BigDukeX]

Google: Globe Trekker Host application. Send something in.., you never known what opportunities are just around the corner.

[@kevinp8108]

Hi Mari, I was curious to see how much weight did you lose after finishing the PCT?

[@toadevergreen2561]

Source Tactical SNEP Convertube //search on amazon

[@briannafischer938]

Hey Mari, love your videos! How did you and Nick divvy up shared items like your tent? And how did you decide to share one tent vs. have individual tents? Did most couples you encountered do one or the other? Thank you!

[@mari.johnson]

Nick carried the tent because he's nice like that :) I'm pretty sure all the couples I met shared a tent - better for body warmth!

[@thesweetstitcher5387]

Neither #1 is available 🙁

[@ISBayHudson]

Gonna make this for my niece... Typo in link 2 😆

[@MaxZomboni]

Maybe you should manufacture them and sell them yourself. :)

[@johneason6540]

Get Nick involved for Dude stuff. Thanks

[@jmsbohannon]

Dang both #1 options are not available. Folks must have jumped on this idea! lol

[@squishyfaceguy]

Jiblets

[@EpicBladeTime]

You spoiled it... Sounds like you finished!?? Congrats!!

[@MishkaTravels]

instagram.com/p/B3KNYU0li4v/

[@EpicBladeTime]

@@MishkaTravels I don't really do instagram

[@captainnemo2150]

Do a free solo up mt. Everest...