What we carry for hut-to-hut fastpacking

[@JeffPelletier]

Links to all of the products we mention are in the description!

[@magnusottonybofolke8645]

Very informative! A video like this, but focused on self-supported fastpacking would be awesome!

[@mariond.3007]

Thanks for the detailed kit recommendations, and also the 'softer advice'. As a woman I always appreciate seeing Audree's picks too!

[@heighRick]

Jeff, Audrée, thanks for sharing your insights with us, helps a lot!

[@christopherquinn-x1z]

Agreed on all here. A few variations: one change of clothes, today’s washed at the end of the day, and the fresh dry set tomorrow (my experience is that many huts don’t have warm dry places to dry stuff). By tomorrow night, the first set should be dry (if not overnight, then hanging off the pack all day, plus the second night). I have a pair of Xero sandals that double as hut slippers and village wear (to spare my mountain shoes), and have enough traction to get me off the mountain if a shoe fails. Finally, I charge my devices (phone and watch and headlamp) off of the battery during the day, then charge the battery in the evening at the hut, overnight if necessary. This means I don’t have to keep checking on the charge of devices during the evening, and only have one thing to charge.

[@ChrisSalmonYYC]

This is THE video I've been waiting for. I'm doing more Refugio to Refugio routes (Camino de Santiago) so this is great timing. Thanks for posting!

[@jonathangardn]

I knew Audrée would have thrown in the espresso 😂 Great video as always guys!

[@audreelafreniere2258]

That’s 80% of our budget so it had to be said ;)

[@alexbregulla8883]

Currently planning my first hut-to-hut fastpack in the Dolomites and this is THE video I was looking for. Thanks for sharing your experience and have fun on your next adventure 🙌🏼🏔️

[@1519Spring]

Another scenario to mention that can cause an extended stop on the trail (and thus the need for warmer clothes) is stopping to help an injured person (could be from your group or a stranger on the trail). Another great thing to "bring with you" onto the trails is current certification in wilderness first aid and CPR. It can be a lifesaver!

[@JeffPelletier]

💯

[@cowymtber]

On the earplug topic, I'm a long time user of earplugs, and I highly recommend soft silicone earplugs over foam earplugs. The soft silicone ones block much more noise than foam. Its a big difference and help you sleep, especially in a windy tent or crowded hostel.

[@DramasaurousRex]

Agree. I have come to love my Loop earplugs.

[@LetsGoGregg]

Thank you so much for these gear reviews. Nice meeting you at Hardrock! I appreciated that you took the time to talk gear with me.

[@DP11LLP]

I love this idea of soft packing right up my street 🏃🏻‍♂️ 🏔️ ☕️

[@andysiegel725]

Love this video, very informative! My friend and I have fastpacked the TMB and in Jotunheimen, both times using the Salomon Adv Skin 12. We’ve managed to fit all the items you mentioned, but it’s a TIGHT fit haha. The Adv Skin 15 seems intriguing…

[@PilafBarbels]

Absolutely love Audrée’s accent!

[@PatrickDelorenzi]

Best channel & best videos

[@vincentstrgar441]

Thanks! You guys are so helpful!

[@IrishGuyRuns]

Great video, thanks 👍🏼

[@geoedov2964]

Thanks for the info. Your experience is very valuable .

[@BTTNmusic]

Great video, thanks a lot !

[@bharding2727]

Thanks! My wife has been a pretty hard sell when I’ve pitched backpacking trips, but I’m hoping this “soft packing” might be just the thing for us :) Can you comment on nutrition for the running portion of the days (gels, tailwind, etc)? Thanks again!

[@JeffPelletier]

We typically just rely on whatever is available en route in towns we pass through or from the huts. For example, in Patagonia, we were able to buy packed lunches which included various snacks. So it usually just means a lot of chocolate bars and sandwiches!

[@bharding2727]

@ Thanks!

[@swalling]

On the safety front, you need to add a paper map! Phones get wet or otherwise broken.

[@audreelafreniere2258]

true! we forgot to mention it but we often have a paper map with us :)

[@lovrolamovsek5118]

You were in Slovenia. Nice 👍

[@HoRiGa94]

I will try fastpacking eventually but I'm still torn about whether its worth it for me ...I tend to hike 33-45km/day anyway (with tent and all) so going much further seems unlikely for the time being and staying in the refugios is expensive. That being said, having an UL tenting setup while going slow (for fastpacking) might be way to do some actually crazy distances over 3-6 days maybe.

[@VictorChavesVVBC]

I have the venta gloves but I wonder what kind of salad fingers Arcteryx uses for hand model because even using the XS size the tip of my fingers remain flabby. Other than that, it's a solid glove. I use it even for snowboarding. Just like mentioned, even after wet they do a solid job keeping me warm.

[@1519Spring]

I'm the opposite with most gloves. Sometimes the XL will work, sometimes even they are not large enough. I can "palm" a basketball, though!

[@carstenbeinecke5493]

I want to emphasize for cash in the Alps. We did a 4 day trip around the „Wilder Kaiser“ in Austria with 4 people. Food and lodging can get expensive. Check before your hike.

[@SiriusScientist]

I know this can be variable depending on departure and arrival location, and airline, but do you have tips for flying internationally with poles or the multi tool you showed? I’m departing from the US and my biggest fear would be lost checked luggage if the destination is fast packing where that gear, like poles, would be needed and expensive to replace. Great video! This summer I tried out some of the shirts Audrée mentioned in a gear recommendation video and loved them. I’m a bit over 5’11” (~181 cm) so it’s a huge win when I find clothing that actually fits without having to purchase the men’s line as an alternative

[@JeffPelletier]

I’ve got an older video with tips for travelling with gear that might answer your questions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGGcXoeNrNCDfrssi=V1bQo_U8BB4bt46H Poles unfortunately have to be checked, along with blades over a certain size.

[@GiraffeSlapper]

I'd be curious to know how you handle water and food. I mostly run self-supported and I've found more often than not that water fountains are inconsistent in their availability. Thus how much water are you looking to carry typically? and what is the total weight of your packs generally on such adventures?

[@JeffPelletier]

This varies a little from route to route, with some having water taps available. But generally, like with any trail run, we’d rely on a water filter like the Salomon XA filter cap to pull water from creeks.

[@justinhongphotography]

Hi Jeff! I have two flight related travel questions if that’s ok! 1) I was wondering if your carry on is just the gear you listed in this video including trekking poles. Or do you have another bag that you store in a locker somewhere until you return from your hut to hut 2)I’ve seen that it basically depends on the TSA agent if they would let collapsible 3 section poles through. Has your experience been generally that most international airport security lets them through? Thank you and sorry if you already answered these questions and I missed the answers.

[@JeffPelletier]

It depends on the route, but we usually leave the rest of our luggage at a hotel near the start to pickup later, especially when doing a loop like the TMB. On a point-to-point, it’s sometimes possible to hire a bag transfer service to ship your bag to the end of the route. I wouldn’t risk carrying poles in carry on. Here’s a video I made a while back that talks a little more about this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGGcXoeNrNCDfrssi=DwGXdzugQ1jcsiDT

[@justinhongphotography]

@ thank you so much for the info, Jeff! I hope you had a happy holidays.

[@SarahMoore-f6q]

What is the make of your sunglasses that you usually wear in most of your videos please?

[@JeffPelletier]

I usually wear sunglasses from Smith. Very high quality lenses and fairly scratch resistant.

[@SarahMoore-f6q]

@ thanks so much! BTW, both me and my partner love ur videos!

[@trailsofanoldrunner]

How many lumens do you recommend for an emergency headlamp?

[@sarac9812]

Many refuges don’t allow to book in Europe before January… and it’s super limited spaces and overpriced for a room full of people. We aim to do the tmb route and will do a mix of refuge and camping. Any recommendations for a tent that is waterproof and weather resistant that will not rob us of our savings? I know I may be asking for something that isn’t existing 😂

[@JeffPelletier]

I’d recommend spending some time in the Ultralight forums on either Reddit or Facebook. You’re going to need not only a tent but a sleeping bag and pad that are both light enough and packable enough to fit in a reasonably sized pack. Otherwise, there’s a slippery slope where heavy and bulky gear slows you down to the point where you’re spending too many extra days to complete a route. If this is a ‘one off’ trip for you, then you won’t save money compared to just staying in the refuges. But it could be a good investment if you’re planning on backpacking more in the future.

[@sarac9812]

@JeffPelletier thank you Jeff! This is exactly what I am weighing investing/saving etc. I hope it will be enjoyable for me to wanna repeat. I will give all another though!

[@darrinkinney2268]

Curious how the marketing world progresses with sponsorships all locked out by the same brands and products we hear everywhere - as opposed to real choices runners should be making. Arcteryx is like GUCCI. Not something normal people consume. Great stuff, but still beyond the reach of most

[@JeffPelletier]

We’re a little biased, admittedly, living just a few blocks from their head offices here in North Vancouver. Arc’teryx is quite popular in our community.