mat
A sleeping mat is worth the extra weight for the added comfort and insulation from the ground. In bothies these will provide cushioning from the sleeping platform or stone floor.
Foam mats are cheap, light, comfortable and good at insulating against the cold but are cumbersome to carry. Self-inflating mats tend to be fairly light (but often a little heavier than foam), comfortable and pack down small, but are usually much more expensive. There are some very lightweight mats on the market that you can inflate with your breath or even using a ‘pump sack’, which is a stuff sack that doubles as a pump. Some mats are now designed with gaps and holes to reduce weight. As with sleeping bags, there are many options available.
Many running packs, designed for mountain marathons, have a removable back pad that you can use as a sleeping mat beneath your upper back and shoulders. Some people might make do with this, cushioning the rest of their body with their empty pack. If you want to try this, experiment with a one-night trip first.
Shelters – tent, tarp or bivvy?
When should you take a tent versus a tarp? Your choice of shelter depends on the weather and how exposed you are prepared to be. If you are likely to encounter heavy rain or insects, a tent will provide more space, comfort and protection. If it’s going to be dry, you might be happy with a lightweight tarp – a rectangle of nylon or plastic that you set up as a shelter in whatever way best suits your needs. A tarp means sleeping without any walls, groundsheet or insect netting but you will be more connected with nature, as you are essentially sleeping outdoors.
There are also tarp tents, a lightweight hybrid of the two, but as with other outdoor gear there’s a direct correlation between the cost of gear and how much it weighs. Super-lightweight tents and tarp tents that you may like to use on a fastpacking trip aren’t cheap.
Finally, a bivvy bag or even just sleeping bag without a shelter are both options if the weather is going to be good. Read Ronald Turnbull’s classic Book of the Bivvy (Cicerone Press) for advice and amusing accounts of his bivvying adventures.
Camping beneath a tarp while fastpacking on the John Muir Trail, Sierra Nevada, United States (Photo credit: Olly Stephenson)
Tents
Most one or two-person tents weigh around 2kg but advances in materials have seen weights come tumbling down to nearer 1kg or less, although lighter tents will be more expensive. A new tent may be unsealed, seam-sealed or fully waterproof with factory-taped seams. Water can potentially find its way into any tent through needle holes in the seams or through an accidental pinhole or tear, so it’s worth checking the manufacturer’s recommendations for seam-sealing your shelter if this hasn’t already been done. This is usually straightforward and simply means applying a sealant product (available from outdoor stores or online) to all the tent seams. Most commercially available tents have been factory seam-sealed and some will need to be re-sealed every few years, to keep your shelter in good condition.
Top tip
When fastpacking with a second person, split the tent and camping equipment between you.
Tarp tents
A tarp tent is a tent with wall, insect netting and groundsheet but it is significantly lighter than a regular tent because it combines the rain fly-sheet and inner tent into a single wall instead of two layers. Besides its weight, another advantage is that it sets up very quickly in the rain because the entire tent pitches as a complete unit. In addition, some tarp tents can be pitched using hiking poles instead of having to carry additional tent-poles, saving further weight, and some can be turned fully into a traditional tarp, without a groundsheet, in good weather.
Tarps
If you go for a tarp, be sure to try it out before starting your trip, to practise pitching it as a shelter – perhaps even using your running poles. Think about whether you want a groundsheet and/or bivvy bag to complement it. A groundsheet is good if you’re fastpacking in climates where the ground is perpetually damp or if wet weather is expected. Some people even forgo this and sleep on their waterproof gear to save extra weight. Heavy dew can soak a sleeping bag, so some people choose to pair a tarp with a lightweight bivvy bag. Additionally, if bugs and insects are likely to be an issue, you could consider buying a lightweight mesh shelter for extra protection.
Bivvy bags
Bivvy bags are another lightweight option and provide a fully waterproof tube into which you put your sleeping bag. Some also provide a bug screen that goes over your face. You could use this set-up in lieu of all other shelters, but always look for a bivvy bag with breathable fabric, otherwise you may have an issue with moisture from inside the bivvy soaking your sleeping bag.
Head torch
The head torch you should take on a fastpacking trip will depend on how you plan to use it. If you will be doing any night running and hiking, you’ll need something with a powerful output for route-finding and good vision on the trail. Something less powerful and lighter may be sufficient if you are just using it at camp or at your accommodation. Always consider carrying spare batteries.
Top tip
Always carry a head torch on a fastpacking trip, in case you make slower progress than planned and accidentally end up on a trail in the dark or fading light.
Running poles
In mountainous terrain, running poles help enormously with the climbing and technical descents. They reduce effort and impact and help when you’re getting tired. They are also useful for crossing rivers and for testing marshy ground, to see how deep bogs are. There are lightweight poles on the market designed specifically for runners, which can be folded down easily.
Running poles are invaluable in mountainous terrain. (Above Rifugio Genova, Italian Alps)
Clothing
Your clothes will be a significant weight in your pack, and the goal here is to pack minimally while ensuring you have everything you need for the expected conditions. It’s a classic balancing act that requires you to question whether every item has a place on your trip.
While more experienced ultra-runners might manage a hut-to-hut trip carrying only the compulsory kit for the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) race, others might want more gear – but always remember that pack weight will significantly affect your enjoyment of the trip.
General advice
Always take waterproof trousers and jacket, with fully taped seams, even if the forecast looks benign. Conditions can change unexpectedly and hypothermia is potentially fatal. Even if it doesn’t rain, these provide extra insulation and a windproof layer.
Waterproofs should be fully breathable because you will be sweating from running. They will also be subject to increased rubbing from your pack due to your running movement, so it helps to re-proof these regularly.
Merino wool tops are brilliant for fastpacking. They do not smell even after being worn for days, which means that you can usually manage a trip with one or two tops that won’t need hand-washing. They come in different thicknesses and you can get lightweight t-shirts, vests or thicker base layers. You can also get merino underwear and leggings.
