Podcast

Originally released in November 2023, this conversation follows Kristian Morgan’s repeated Appalachian Trail attempts and the southbound fastest known time he had recently completed. His story shows how specific failure review, legitimate fallback goals, crew relationships, repeatable daily systems, and adaptation can make a difficult objective more resilient.

Originally released in November 2023, Tayson and Derek worked through gift ideas for backpackers, hikers, campers, children, and people who enjoy being outside. Their conversation is most durable as a guide to matching a gift with the recipient’s real trips, repeated frustrations, fit needs, and willingness to buy a small comfort upgrade for themselves.

Originally released in October 2023, Tayson and Brigham break outdoor sleep into a complete system: pad insulation, bag or quilt ratings, dry clothing, campsite choice, moisture, and comfort. Their conversation also covers pad tuning, bedtime routines, small warming aids, sleep accessories, and protecting an inflatable pad before it fails in the field.

Originally released in October 2023, this conversation follows Ben Vaughan from a 22-year Navy career into the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Hayduke trails, then into dog mushing in Alaska. Tayson and Ben discuss reducing pack weight through experience, choosing footwear for the individual, responding to cold and snow hazards, navigating remote canyon terrain, and learning a specialized job from the ground up.

Originally released in October 2023, this conversation follows Ryan Van Duzer’s path from Peace Corps service and a ride home to public-access television, YouTube storytelling, ultrarunning, and bikepacking. Tayson and Ryan discuss low-overhead creative work, chosen difficulty, human connection on the road, bikepacking gear, and the historical story behind The Long Way Home.

Originally released in September 2023, this product deep dive traces how a cold, wet Highline trip shaped Outdoor Vitals’ thinking about lightweight lower-body insulation. Tayson and Brigham discuss the historical Highline Thermal Leggings design, including warmth-to-weight tradeoffs, brushed fabric, fit, layering, camp and sleep use, and changing insulation as activity and weather shift.

Originally released in September 2023, this conversation follows Jeremiah and Bridgette Stringer’s Camino de Santiago walk, from choosing a more comfortable long-route format to building a daily rhythm around towns, lodging, meals, and shared miles. Their account shows how route design, flexible comfort, trail friendships, quiet time, and a common purpose can make a long trip work for two people with different relationships to backpacking.

Originally released in September 2023, this conversation follows Devin Ashby’s path from outdoor education and early gear videos into full-time Backcountry Exposure work and gear-company management. It also revisits a cold-water incident in the Paria River corridor, group decision practices, an unexplained-fatigue trip, and the difference between personal gear impressions and verified product performance.

Originally released in September 2023, this conversation follows Jonathan Conti’s path into winter backpacking, travel near Everest Base Camp, and a difficult solo trip in Idaho’s Bitterroot Mountains that led him to activate a Garmin inReach SOS. The account examines changing snow and water conditions, the limits of satellite communication, a disputed local response, and how pre-trip contacts and honest debriefing can preserve options without promising a particular rescue outcome.

Originally released in 2023, this product deep dive follows Tayson and Brigham through the design thinking behind the Skyline 30 Fastpack. They examine fastpacking efficiency, load stability, barreling, on-the-move harness adjustments, hydration and fuel access, pocket placement, and the limits that come with a compact overnight pack.

Originally released in 2023, this race debrief follows Tayson’s second Tushars 70K attempt and Darren’s first ultramarathon, the Tushars 100K, with Tyler helping reconstruct the day. Their stories cover changed course conditions, pacing, snow and navigation decisions, severe heat and fatigue, aid-station judgment, late-race finishes, and what the final clock could not explain.

Originally released in 2023, this conversation follows Maggie Slepian’s Great Divide Mountain Bike Route attempt from improvised early setups to roughly 1,600 miles of loaded riding. Tayson and Maggie discuss transportation logistics, surface and wind, mileage pressure, mechanical access, the remote illness that ended the trip, outdoor writing, gear testing, and horse stunt work.