Fastpacking and Speedhiking; are these different names for the same sport?

Actually, I think you are fasthiking, or maybe speedpacking.
Whatever you want to call it, enjoy!
50% pack weight reduction- well done, mate.

cheers,
fred

here's my interpretation :

Fastpacking – going fast and light.
1. unsupported, or basically completely self contained except for water. food drops ? not sure if this is allowed.
my definiton says no, yours might say yes.
2. going far enough so you must stop and make some sort of camp for sleeping purposes. if you do not make a sleeping camp of any sort then you are not fastpacking, you are simply speed hiking.
3. #2 above obviously implies a multi day effort.

Speed Hiking – going fast and light.
1. may be supported, or not, depending on your plans.
2. you do not stop and make a camp for sleeping. if you do stop and sleep it is at a camp others (your support crew) have set up for you.
3. may be any distance from part of a day to multi day (supported if multi day).

Thanks for the input John! That was my first thought some months ago; call it whatever as long as I'm having fun!

Art; you are right-on with my observations lately. It seems to me that speedhiking involves some type of contest.

In mid of 2007, speedhiking was declared a sport by the New York Times and shortly thereafter (Aug), the first race worth 25 grand (16 miles) was held at the Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vt.
While researching for light boots, I have seen that Merrell and Mammut have introduced boots for speedhiking and fastpacking; thus, drawing a difference.

As Art stated, fastpacking have beed defined as "running multiple days on the trail while carrying a pack with food and tent." —Ad Crable, "Running wild," Lancaster New Era, June 18, 1993.

I admire speedhikers and do follow/monitor their reports when available. There is plenty to learn from them. I do have more of a fastpacker attitude. I have a 42 mile fastpack hike coming up in Aug1 out in the eastern Sierras. Although I plan to be done in about 18 hours, I am taking enough gear to be able to change my mind in a moment's notice if I so desire (or need to!) and make it a three day hiking trip; that, I think, is an essential characteristic of a fastpacker — flexibility.

Keep the comments coming!!

jd

Art
Completely agree with these definitions.

I like to combine both.
Unsupported, or basically completely self contained except for water.
At the same time have no camping equipment or any particular place to camp. Just have enough warm clothing to be able to survive through a 30 minute nap and then keep moving on.

I've had people call this:
Stupid hiking
What are you thinking hiking
That's just crazy hiking

It works for trails such as the TRT or JMT, (my backyard) when the temps are mild and your not out for more than a few days.

When you are going supported and not carrying a pack like Kilian and thus covering the first 100 miles of the TRT in 17 1/2 hours, that's just called supported running.