Everything This Ultralight Backpacker Took on a 2,160-Mile Hike | Condé Nast Traveler

Ultralight backpacker Joe McConoughay, known on the trails as ‘Stringbean’, holds the speed record for the Appalachian Trail and is here to share his essentials for the 2,160-mile hike. On the go for 50 miles a day, Joe’s goal was never to remove his pack while moving, allowing him to cover 2,160 miles in only 45 days. From storing the right amount of food to serious chafe prevention, see how Joe packed his ultralight 20lb bag for his record-breaking trek.
Trail Footage Provided by Michael Dillon
Director: Alice Roth
Director of Photography: Eric Brouse
Editor: Leticia Villarinho
Host: Joe McConaughy
Producer: Alyssa Marino
Field Producer: Vara Reese
Line Producer: Joe Buscemi
Associate Producer: Josh Crowe
Production Manager: Melissa Heber
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Camera Operator: Alfonso
Sound Mixer: Lily Van Leeuwen
Production Assistant: Noah Bierbrier
Post Production Supervisor: Andrew Montague
Post Production Coordinator: Holly Frew
Supervising Editor: Christina Mankellow
Assistant Editor: Justin Symonds
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[@barrypanaretou9124]

Amazing fitness but for me it's all about taking in your surroundings not running past them! However each to their own and what this guy achieves is simply remarkable!!! Respect

[@mountainlaureldesigns9382]

He is showing a Mountain Laurel Designs (MLD) SuperLight Bivy Sack and MLD Pro Poncho Tarp.

[@chowly]

Well shot, beautifully produced video! Super impressed with Stringbean; great presenter, super knowledgeable about all the gear and explains it well. Love all the b-roll he captured while conquering this incredible feat!

[@davidstaunton2386]

Wow - what a beast! Amazing achievement. Absolutely next level athlete ❤

[@woodsman335]

Amazing! Sacrificing for the record. Love it

[@jeffg3895]

The part where you were squeezing through the rocks, you could tell how much weight you lost. Crazy!

[@MyWildRawLife]

Not the sawyer mini

[@The666knives]

Which Victorinox model did you use? Thank you!

[@richardpham4473]

Really insightful!

[@MaudieGoes]

Super impressive!

[@jayv.8298]

Anybody knows the brand of the bivy?

[@paulcontursi5982]

What about a shelter and sleep system?

[@whatsup3076]

He was sleeping in a bivy bag

[@basicviolet]

there are shelters along the AT

[@whereisthemessiah]

Could I use my garmin watch instead of a spot tracker as proof?

[@aafhans8326]

gps satellite cant connect with Garmin in any way

[@sebastianestrada4690]

​@@aafhans8326how does garmin keep track of your runs/hikes then?

[@enthalpy7679]

Garmin will drain battery, the spot tracker is more efficient

[@elijahoconnell]

you said it wrong

[@DonHavjuan]

Running. The best way to miss the whole point and everything else about a trail. Waste of time.

[@bastien8418]

It's an incredible feat of endurance, just because he didn't do it the way you like doesn't make it any less meaningful. Such a pitiful take on this video...

[@ninalispi]

Hike your own hike 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@xanderhartwood7936]

I can tell you haven't tried running a long trail before. It's an amazing way to experience things - yes there are a few small sites you miss, but even in races people stop to appreciate views. Running allows people who don't have time to hike a trail to experience it - it would take 4-5 months for someone to hike the AT, and not everybody has that time. Because Joe was moving fast he was able to experience maybe 95% of the trail instead of 0%. I'm saying this as somebody who has ran multiple trail ultra-marathons and is going after an FKT in another year or so.

[@jasonleavitt7193]

Also that runners high you get and doing it on an awesome trail. Bravo