Why Are Thru-Hikers So Obsessed With Smartwater?

There are many things that make my home of Ashland, Oregon a contender for the perfect outdoor town. “13 miles of single track from your back door!” “Thirty minutes to a community owned ski resort!” “Famous ultra-runners own businesses here!” But I would argue the most outdoorsy thing about our town is that it’s a restocking hub for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. Without fail, the moment spring turns to summer each year, our town becomes thick with grizzled thru-hikers, hitching into town, waiting in line at the post office, and looking hornily at fresh produce in the co-op. I’ve interviewed hundreds of these PCTeasers (as us townies call them) for gear tips over the past decade, during which time I have seen the sturdy boots turn into light trail runners and the packs shrink in capacity by about half. Yet one piece of kit has maintained complete supremacy through the years among thru-hikers: Smartwater bottles.

Continue reading todive into the exactly why thru-hikers love Smartwater, written by Joe Jackson.

Foto thumbnail Blog Otè
Ekriven
Joe Jackson

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR & GEAR TESTER

Joe Jackson has 25 years experience in the outdoor industry as a guide, retail employee, magazine editor, and gear tester. He is best known as the author of Outside Magazine's Gear Guy column, with over ten years of bylines, which has given him the opportunity to test thousands of pieces of gear across running, hiking, backpacking, camping, water sports, and more. He has run two 50-mile ultra marathons and wants you to be impressed by it.

Jackson's love of the outdoors started young, surfing coastal Los Angeles in his youth. During his early years in the outdoor industry, from 2005 to 2010, Jackson lived in his truck and worked as a white water rafting guide between magazine gigs (RIP Paddler Magazine and Canoe & Kayak). Thereafter he joined Outside Magazine, where he still contributes, in addition to earning bylines for Popular Mechanics, Canoe & Kayak Magazine, Deseret News Magazine, Men's Journal, SPY, among others.

Now a father, Jackson still makes time to kayak class IV/V whitewater (when in shape) and take his family rafting every weekend he can, in addition to ski instructing for Oregon Adaptive Sports during the winter, racing skimo, climbing volcanoes to ski, and more.

Eksplore Plis kontni

Medya Mansyone

Smartwater bottles have a useful shape that fits well in skinny pack pockets and, more importantly, they're compatible with hikers' favorite water filter, the Sawyer Squeeze.

Danielle Vilaplana
Ekriven

Medya Mansyone

The simple design is easy to use and you’ll find it has a long life with reliable, high output.

Mikaela Ruland
Editor in Chief

Medya Mansyone

It's fragrance-free and safe for use on the whole family, clothing, shoes, and gear.

Libby Sentz
Contributing Writer & Editor