Vertical-feed personal hydration system

A vertical-feed hydration system, the system comprising:

• a venting cap assembly configured to couple to a hydration vessel comprising an interior volume that defines a reservoir;
• a removable straw coupled to the venting cap assembly, wherein the removable straw is configured to extend into the reservoir;
• a fluid delivery tube having a first end coupled to the venting cap assembly, wherein the venting cap assembly comprises a first interior pathway defining a first flow path between the removable straw and the fluid delivery tube;
• and
• a mouthpiece comprising a position-latching flow control valve, the mouthpiece coupled to a second end of the fluid delivery tube, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a second interior pathway defining a second flow path between the fluid delivery tube and a drinking port of the mouthpiece;
• and
• wherein the venting cap assembly comprises an equalization valve configured to open in response to a suction applied to the mouthpiece, to pass an equalizing air into the reservoir from an environment external to the hydration vessel;
• wherein the position-latching flow control valve is configured to remain in an open state after cessation of the suction applied to the mouthpiece until a subsequent actuation force is applied to close the position-latching flow control valve;
• and
• wherein the system is configured such that fluid remaining in the fluid delivery tube drains back into the reservoir through the removable straw when the suction applied to the mouthpiece ceases and the position-latching flow control valve remains in the open state.