SHAKEDOWN 2.0: WILL PETERSON'S AERO 28 FKT/FASTPACKING KIT
Words and Photo from Will Peterson
We're longtime fans of Will Peterson here at Hyperlite Mountain Gear. His humble but wry smile and "Hold my sports drink and watch this" attitude never ceases to impress, nor does his ever-expanding and incredibly impressive FKT and adventure resume. The R&D Team here was thrilled to hear that our local homie had big plans that lined up perfectly with some of the development phases of the Aero 28 fastpacking pack, and his testing feedback was greatly appreciated! Recently, Will broke the FKT for a supported go on Vermont's Long Trail, adding to his current unsupported FKT record on it, too.
When I'm packing for a 100+ mile FKT effort, my goal is to strike the ideal balance between weight and functionality. Speed is the ultimate goal, but that doesn't mean minimizing weight at all costs. The way to speed is through efficiency. Carry too much weight, and your pace inevitably declines, but carry too little, and you won't be prepared to manage the challenges that the trail throws your way. Both scenarios are less than ideal and will ultimately slow you down. Finding a balance between weight and functionality is my guiding star when packing my Aero 28. Here, I'll walk through what I carry for an unsupported 100-mile effort.
*Disclaimer – I receive free gear from some of these companies, including Craft Sportswear, Infinit Nutrition, and Hyperlite Mountain Gear. None of these companies are paying me, and I am under no obligation to say anything about their products. The opinions expressed are my own authentic opinions.
CLOTHES
Some of the most important decisions you make about your gear while fastpacking revolve around clothing. I wear a lightweight Craft running shirt, Infiniti running hat, one-inch inseam running shorts with the liners cut out, and nine-inch ExOfficio Sportsmesh boxer briefs. This combination has worked well for me in minimizing chafing. Perhaps the most important decision is what you put on your feet. I've found a combination that works remarkably well for me, and it's a setup that has allowed me to run 100-300 milers with next to no blisters. I wear Injinji NuWool toe sock liners with Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion socks on top.
For footwear, I first consider the overall technicality of the terrain. If the terrain is relatively non-technical, I gravitate towards the Craft Pure Trail because it is the lighter, more nimble option and still has a pretty rugged outsole. If the terrain is highly technical, then my shoe of choice is the Altra Olympus. They are heavy shoes to be sure, but I have still yet to find a shoe that grips as well as the Olympus on the steep, gnarly terrain in New England. Finally, I wear a pair of Dirty Girl gaiters to ensure that I don't get mud and rocks in my shoes.
On top of what you wear, the clothing you decide to pack is just as important. I need to stay light, but I also need to be prepared for the notoriously volatile weather of the mountains out here. I find that bringing a few different lightweight layers is the best option for versatility. For a raincoat, I opt for the Craft Pro Hydro running jacket or my Dyneema "The Shell" from my friends over at Hyperlite. I generally bring one long-sleeve athletic shirt made of wool or polyester. I always bring a pair of lightweight gloves, and lastly, I generally bring an extra pair of Injinji liners and Darn Tough socks. Depending on the forecast, I may also opt to bring an extra Craft pullover in addition to the layers listed above.
ELECTRONICS
Having a good system for electronics can make or break a fastpacking trip. Not only do you need certain pieces of electronic gear, but you need to ensure that they don't fail you. That's part of the reason why I highly value water resistance in my packing, which is another reason that I tend to use Hyperlite packs on my adventures. On top of that, I keep all of my sensitive electronics and batteries in a dry bag. To track my runs, I use the Garmin Enduro 2. The battery life is unbelievable; I recently just set the FKT on the 272-mile Long Trail in Vermont, and my Enduro 2 had 17% at the end without charging it during the effort.
I carry my iPhone, standard Apple Earpods, a SPOT device for SOS and live tracking, my Ultraspire 600 lumen waist light (with extra batteries), my Petzl Nao RL headlamp, a 5,000mAh charging block, and cords for all those electronics. I carry both a headlamp and a waist lamp because the combination provides superior visibility at night and helps provide more depth perception and proprioception.
FOOD SYSTEM
Simplicity and efficiency are the name of the game for me when it comes to nutrition on an unsupported 100-miler. I am a fan of Infinit Nutrition, a total nutrition powder that I mix into my water. It provides carbohydrates, electrolytes, protein, and more. Infiniti is incredibly simple because all I have to do is drink 500mL of drink mix per hour, and I'm good to go for both hydration and nutrition.
I generally keep two small water bottles in my front chest pockets on the Aero 28, and I keep extra Infinit servings along with my Katadyn BeFree water filter in the side pockets. Sometimes, I carry an extra Smart water bottle in the other side pocket if I know that I'm going to have a long stretch without a water source and need more water-carrying capacity.
MISCELLANEOUS STUFF
The rest of what comprises my bag falls under the category of "miscellaneous." This includes my minimal first aid and toiletries. In my first aid kit, I carry Leukotape, Sportshield, Tylenol, alcohol swabs, and various bandages. My first aid kit would be more extensive for a multi-day backpacking trip, but with this kit, I am only really concerned about it getting me through about 24-48 hours. In my toiletry bag, I carry a toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. I find that brushing my teeth can significantly improve my mental state when I'm deep into an ultramarathon. Finally, at the bottom of my Aero 28, I stash an emergency bivy, and if the route requires river crossings, I pack a small towel to dry my feet. I keep a pair of Xero Shoes sandals in the back external pocket of the Aero for easy access when I come to a river.
PACKING
When you need to move fast through the mountains, determining how to pack your pack is of the utmost importance. You want to make sure you have everything you need readily available, and you want to make sure that things are well organized so you're not spending unnecessary time fumbling through your pack. I tend to stash as much of my nutrition on the outside of my pack as I can, along with my water filter, because those are the things I need most often.
Sometimes, I stash extra nutrition mix in the pocket on the bottom of the Aero 28. I also stash my phone and headphones in the chest pockets for easy access. Additionally, I keep my Sportshield and Leukotape stashed on the outside of my pack for easy access for chaffing and blister prevention. I stash most of the rest of my clothing in my pack in clear plastic bags. I do this because it's easy to see the contents of the bag, and it lets me group the remaining gear in a simple and useful manner.
Comments
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Will, do you mind sharing what your custom Infinit Nutrition fuel blend is?
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