Episode 123 | The 5 Fs of Fastpacking
Episode Summary
Learn how to fastpack smarter and lighter - Ryan Jordan breaks down the "Five F's of Fastpacking"—Focus, Fitness, Fuel, Footwear, and Fast & Light Gear—and shares performance-based strategies for moving efficiently with minimal gear over long distances. Includes gear recommendations, training insights, and exclusive content for Unlimited Members.
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Show Notes:
What’s New at Backpacking Light?
- Gear Guide: Down-Filled Backpacking Quilts (Market Survey and Gear Guide)
- Gear Guide: Cottage Gear Innovation Awards
- Find information about all of our upcoming Member Q&A’s, Webinars, Live Courses, other live events, and more on our Events Calendar Page
Featured Brands and Products
Garage Grown Gear is an online marketplace featuring ultralight and cottage-industry outdoor gear, with a selection of backpacks, shelters, apparel, and accessories from independent brands. It focuses on small-batch, innovative products for backpacking, hiking, and adventure travel.
Black Diamond is a manufacturer of climbing, skiing, and mountain sports equipment, producing hardware, apparel, and accessories using aluminum alloys, technical textiles, and performance-driven construction methods for use in vertical, alpine, and backcountry applications.
Warbonnet Outdoors specializes in lightweight hammocks, tarps, down quilts and rain jackets. Our gear is sewn in the USA and made with pride and old-school craftsmanship using the finest materials and attention to detail since 2008.
Use WARBONNETBPL10 for 10% off your first order.
The Grit 28 by Gossamer Gear is a 28L frameless ultralight pack featuring a vest-style harness for stability, roll-top closure for adjustable storage, and durable 100D recycled ripstop fabric with UHMWPE stretch mesh for strength. It includes hydration reservoir compatibility, trekking pole/ice axe loops, reflective accents, and glove-friendly buckles for versatile outdoor use.
The Black Diamond Beta Light 30 backpack features a lightweight yet durable Challenge Sailcloth Ultra 200 fabric, a roll-top closure with taped seams for weatherproofing, and a modular design with removable components like the hip belt and frame pad, while its running vest-inspired harness system enhances comfort and accessibility for fast-paced adventures.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Aero 28 is a 28L frameless fastpack with a 1/8" foam back panel for comfort and structure, a vest-style harness for stability and accessibility, and durable Dyneema fabric for water resistance and rugged use, making it suitable for multi-day fastpacking with ultralight gear setups.
The Five Fs of Fastpacking
- FOCUS – Physiology, environmental, and geographical awareness
- FITNESS – Training and conditioning so you can cover long distances efficiently
- FUEL – Planning your calories and nutrients (both food and hydration) to sustain high output with minimal weight
- FOOTWEAR – Choosing shoes, socks, and foot-care strategies that help prevent blisters and injuries
- FAST & LIGHT GEAR – Much more so than backpacking, fastpacking requires that you keep your pack weight low because you’re expending much more energy carrying that weight at a faster pace, and it requires that you keep your gear kit more compact because you’re moving fast and you need to minimize the extent to which your backpack bounces around
Links, Mentions, and Related Content
- Podcast: Episode 96 | Building Resilience for Backcountry Adversity
- Wilderness Skills: How Much Food Should I Pack? (How to Save Weight on Backpacking Based on Energy Mile Theory
- Masterclass: Minimalist Footwear for Multi-Day Backpacking
- Film: No More Blisters
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