Fastpacking for Busy People: How to Cover More Ground In Less Time
If you’ve ever wanted to cover more ground, explore new places, and maximize your time in the outdoors—fastpacking might be your golden ticket. It’s not just for elite athletes or ultrarunners. Fastpacking is about moving efficiently through the backcountry, trimming your gear to the essentials, and discovering how much you’re capable of when you focus on strategy over speed.
I sat down with Tayson Whittaker, founder of Outdoor Vitals, to dive deep into fastpacking. We talked about gear choices, nutrition, hydration, and the mindset needed to thrive when you’re out there covering big miles. Whether you’re thinking about transitioning from backpacking to fastpacking, or you’re just looking to streamline your kit, there’s something here for you.
Key Takeaways
Fastpacking gives you the freedom to cover more ground, even with a busy schedule.
Dialing in your gear makes a bigger difference than you might think—it’s about carrying less and moving smarter.
Hydration isn’t just about water; salt and electrolytes are critical for endurance and recovery.
Layering smartly means you’re always ready for changing conditions, without carrying extra weight.
Planning your day around effort, fueling, and rest makes those 20-30 mile days much more achievable (and enjoyable).
Tayson Whittaker, founder of Outdoor Vitals. Image courtesy of Outdoor Vitals.
What Is Fastpacking and Why Should You Try It?
At its core, fastpacking is the hybrid of ultralight backpacking and trail running. It’s about traveling light and fast, jogging flats and downhills, and power hiking the climbs. But it’s not a suffer-fest. It’s a tool for maximizing your time in the outdoors, especially if you don’t have months to devote to a thru-hike.
For Tayson, fastpacking is the key to unlocking more adventure, even when life’s busy. He’s a dad with limited time to get out, so fastpacking allows him to turn a three-day backpacking trip into an overnight adventure—still covering huge ground and seeing more of the trail.
Gear Strategy: What You Actually Need for Fastpacking
Outdoor Vitals Skyline 30 Fastpack. Image courtesy of Outdoor Vitals.
One of the biggest takeaways from Tayson’s approach to fastpacking is this: trim the fat, not the essentials. His kit is streamlined, not stripped. Here’s a look at his go-to system.
Shelter & Sleep System
OV Fortius Tent: Lightweight, simple, and easy to pitch—perfect for solo fastpacking missions.
Top Quilt vs. Sleeping Bag: Tayson swears by a top quilt for fastpacking. It’s lighter, packs smaller, and you can still stay warm.
Sleeping Pad: He pairs a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir inflatable with a ⅛ inch foam pad. The foam adds comfort, boosts insulation, and doubles as a sit pad for breaks.
Backpack: The Fastpack Advantage
The Skyline FastPack is Outdoor Vitals’ take on a true fastpacking pack. Vest-style harness, bottles up front, and streamlined access to everything you need on the move.
Key feature: The ability to snack, hydrate, and adjust layers without stopping.
Cooking Setup: Less Is More
Tayson uses an alcohol stove for shorter trips—simple, light, and efficient.
Pro tip: Alcohol stoves shine on 1-2 night trips, where the weight savings really add up.
He switches to canister stoves (like the MSR PocketRocket) in cold weather or longer trips.
Layering for Fastpacking: Lightweight, Breathable, and Smart
Outdoor Vitals Altitude Sun Hoodie. Image courtesy of Outdoor Vitals.
Fastpacking means constant motion, and your layering system needs to keep up.
Base Layers
Merino wool wins for breathability and odor resistance.
Fit matters: snug enough to wick, loose enough for comfort.
Active Insulation
Tayson’s go-to is the Ventus Active Hoodie—lightweight, breathable, and something you can wear all day, whether you’re on the move or taking a break.
For colder trips or higher elevations, he brings the Vario or Novapro Jacket for camp use or early morning starts.
Rain Protection
The latest Tushar Rain jacket is a lightweight reliable option that packs down small
For moderate conditions, active insulation can double as a light rain layer—but know when to bring a dedicated shell.
Hydration and Electrolytes
Tayson’s a self-proclaimed “Category 5 salty sweater” status makes hydration and electrolytes non-negotiable.
Salt Intake
He uses Re-lyght Salt Capsules, taking two capsules per liter of water on moderate efforts, more on high-output days.
Cramping, fatigue, and poor hydration can often be traced back to electrolyte imbalances.
Hydration Systems
Bottles over bladders: easy to refill, monitor, and drink on the go.
Soft flasks and water bottles up front keep you hydrated without breaking stride.
Nutrition for Big Mile Days: Eating to Move, Not to Camp
Image courtesy of Towfiqu barbhuiya
Fastpacking shifts your fueling strategy from big meals to consistent calorie intake.
Calories Per Hour
Tayson aims for 80-100 grams of carbs per hour when moving fast (borrowed from the ultrarunning world).
For backpackers moving at a slower pace, you can get by with less, but regular fueling is still critical.
Snacking vs. Meals
Small, consistent snacks every 1-2 hours prevent calorie crashes.
On a Wind River trip, Tayson forgot his lunches and pivoted to an ultra-style fueling plan—100 calories every hour, and it worked.
Favorite trail foods are gummy bears, tortillas, nut butters, meat sticks, and salt capsules in drink mixes.
Fueling for Climbs
Drinkable calories are your friend for big climbs.
Tayson recommends “juicing up” with quick carbs like gummy bears before heavy exertion.
Planning the Perfect 20-Mile Day (Or More)
Image courtesy of Outdoor Vitals.
Fastpacking isn’t just about gear—it’s about how you plan your day.
Start Early
Tayson’s rule: be on the trail by 7 AM, even earlier if you can.
Eat a small snack on the move and have breakfast after warming up.
Breaks and Pacing
Never go more than two hours without a break.
Use breaks to eat, hydrate, and reassess pace.
Tailor your pace to the terrain, not the clock.
Learning from Mistakes: Fastpacking Fails and Lessons Learned
Tayson’s journey into fastpacking wasn’t mistake-free. Here are some hard-earned lessons:
Don’t start too late—early starts save you from hiking in the heat.
Hydrate aggressively, especially in exposed terrain.
Dry bag your sleep system—always.
Don’t skip electrolytes, or altitude and fatigue will crush you.
Test your gear before big trips, especially when trying something new like an alcohol stove.
How Fastpacking Can Change Your Outdoor Life
For Tayson, fastpacking is about freedom.
More trail time, less camp time.
Smaller packs, lighter loads, and faster movement.
The confidence to push your limits, explore more terrain, and get creative with limited time.
Whether you’re looking to weekend fastpack a local loop or knock out a big route in fewer days, the strategies Tayson shares will help you get there. If you want more insight on how Tayson approaches fastpacking (plus all his lessons learned on the trail), make sure to listen to the full podcast episode here with Tayson Whittaker.
And if you’re new to backpacking and looking to get up to speed quickly, check out my backpacking course here, where we cover everything from gear selection to trip planning.
Episode Chapters and Links
Introductions and catching up
The Growth of Outdoor Vitals
Game-Changing Gear
Fastpacking vs. Traditional Backpacking
Nutrition & Hydration in the Backcountry
The Evolution of Down vs. Synthetic Insulation
Lessons Learned from Long Days on the Trail
What’s Next for Outdoor Vitals?
Thanks for stopping by!
If you found this helpful or inspiring, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below or contact me at emory@byland.co.
- Emory, By Land
Recent Episodes and Blogs
Learn how fastpacking can help you cover more ground in less time. Outdoor Vitals’ Tayson Whittaker shares his trail-tested strategies on gear, nutrition, and planning for big-mile days in the backcountry.