Podcast

Deep powder, shifting wind, a communal hot tent, frozen water, and sub-zero sleep systems shaped the Outdoor Vitals crew's January 2023 ski-in camp near Deer Hollow. Daylight margin, wind layers, shelter maintenance, water protection, and a complete overnight system worked together, but the historical trip still exposed failures in water protection and sleep setup.

Shaun Durkee tells how Alpen Fuel moved from a side-business subscription box to compact backpacking breakfasts designed around field constraints. The 2023 conversation covers hot-or-cold preparation, calorie density, package size, recipe development, conservation work, and the compromises behind a scalable food product.

Tayson and lead designer Brigham break down the historical design choices behind the Oblivion Sleeping Pad, including comfort, insulation, chamber structure, dimensions, valves, and weight. The discussion provides a durable way to compare sleeping pads without treating one specification as the whole answer.

Filmmaker and thru-hiker Elina Osborne explains how she documents long trails without trying to capture every moment. She connects practical storytelling choices with her 2019 Pacific Crest Trail hike, trail-family dynamics, and the very different character of New Zealand’s Te Araroa.

Jeff Garmire traces the progression from a 55-pound first thru-hiking pack to the Great Western Loop, Nolan’s 14, and unsupported FKTs. His experience shows how steady efficiency, personal goal-setting, sound reasons for stopping an attempt, and simple gear systems shape very long days.

Paul Ferraro recounts the purpose, preparation, logistics, and hazards behind his 2015 3,121-mile walk from Virginia to California for the Navy SEAL Foundation. He and Tayson discuss earlier walks, a 90-pound cart, training, route-specific gear, public kindness, severe dehydration, and the need to keep extreme determination in check.

Tayson, Tyler, and Derek describe the historical 2023 OV 100 Mile Challenge and the beta-year experiences that shaped it. They examine why a large goal can change preparation, how continuous and stacked miles serve different hikers, and how a baseline, training framework, shakedowns, live calls, and community can support a dream trip.

Tayson answers listener questions about training for ultras after 50, tent footprints, sunlight and perceived warmth, historical product plans, layering, pack fit, pack capacity, watches, snowshoes, and the Garmin inReach Mini 2. The conversation repeatedly returns to personal experience, actual fit, and matching equipment to the way it will be used.

Tayson gives a January 2023 company update covering Outdoor Vitals’ 2022 launches, private ownership, direct-to-consumer model, customer feedback, conservation focus, product development, and plans for the coming year. The historical forecast included a pad, windbreaker, backpacks, apparel, tent poles, events, and a revised 100 Mile Challenge.

Tayson, Brigham, and Tyler unpack their 2022 trip to ISPO in Munich, where supplier meetings and wholesale conversations put outdoor-product tradeoffs in focus. They discuss direct-to-consumer design, material selection, sustainability, European travel, and the clothing and luggage systems that worked across airports, trains, cities, and cold weather.

French runner Aurelien Sanchez recounts three self-supported attempts on the John Muir Trail before his 2018 south-to-north fastest known time. He and Tayson discuss food and gear failures, Grand Canyon training, severe sleep deprivation and hallucinations, the lonely finish, and how a failed effort can reveal the next problem to solve.

Filmmaker and hiker Kraig Adams joins Tayson to discuss solo travel, fast hiking, minimalism, outdoor storytelling, and the systems behind his videos. They also examine group-trip friction, an iPhone-only filming setup, early gear mistakes, and serious incidents on Mount Whitney and in Alaska.