My first fastpack adventure - Snowdonia, Wales
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 มิ.ย. 2021
- Hey! Hope you’re well.
So I’ve been wanting to try fastpacking for a while now. The idea of moving fast and travelling light, finding somewhere to camp and then doing it all again the next day really appeals to me. After finally getting together the gear I needed I set out on my first fastpack adventure.
My plan was to run 21km from Croesor along the slate trail, branching off at Beddgelert and carry on up the valley until Pen Y Pass and then climbing up to the Glyderau range and find somewhere to eat and sleep for the night before returning the same way the following morning.
I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to get out there again.
I hope you enjoy this video. If you do, please consider giving it a like, leaving a comment and subscribing if you haven’t already.
All shot on a GoPro Hero9 (and some footage from iPhone11)
Instagram: mathewsmithmathew
Strava: / strava
All music featured is from Epidemic sounds: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
#trailrunning #fastpacking #snowdonia #wales #fastpack
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Music:
Fastshoes by Headlund
Ebbas Not Right by Peter Crosby
Red Star by Elm Lake
Glacier by Chris Haugen - กีฬา
Really digging videos. This is just what I needed tonight. Chill outdoor vibes and beautiful scenery.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!😁
Don't need more. Protection from the ground, a sleeping bag. Nice fastpack adventure. Nice views form the top. Thank you for sharing and wishing you a wonderful week. Stay Safe.
Great video. Cheers from Norway!
Greetings from Denmark. Enjoying fastpacking myself and really enjoyed your video and got good inspiration for doing one myself next time out there.
Great video and channel! I love fastpacking and used a few different packs for videos on my channel but I am still trying to lock down a good pack. I like what you were using here and great places to run and camp over there!
Beautiful!
Really nicely edited Matthew!
Thank you!
Just beautifully trail running...love it.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it
Great fun, and very well put together little film, thanks for bringing us along 👍
Thank you for checking it out. Glad you enjoyed it.
Really enjoyed your video. You've captured some really beautiful shots of the scenery so thanks so much for sharing the views and your experience. Just getting into fast packing too and I have lots to learn 😊
Thank you so much for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it.
Love it.
Awesome!
Loved it! 🤟🤟🤟
Thank you, Amy!
Great video work! Ive been itching to try fast packing myself and I think your video gave me the kick in the butt to just go for it and try it out.
Thank you! Get out and try it, it's loads of fun, sometimes in that Type 2 fun kind of way haha.
That's a staggering view from where ever you've stood... keep it up... great entertainment and I'll be there soon!! (much slower than you) 🤣
Loved this 🤙
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Love this "fastpacking" idea. Another beautifully produced piece Mathew. Would love to see a recap of what you would do differently, and what worked out well.
Hey Sage - thank you! I came across the 'Fastpacking' idea not too long ago and loved it. Have you seen Jeff Pelletier's TH-cam channel? It's worth checking out, much like yourself, he's a nice guy and makes lovely videos.
I'd love to make a recap/what worked vid - work and life is dampening the productivity at the moment so I'll hopefully get to it when I can. We've finally got some nice weather here in rainy Snowdonia so that always helps.
@@matsmith1984 I have watched a video or two from Jeff a while back when he reviewed the Insta 360 Go 2.
I totally understand the work life balance. I struggle to meet the once a week deadline I gave myself. Sometimes it just doesn't happen. I hope things lighten up for you soon, you know how much I love your videos!
Hi guys, have u checked out Jenny Tough?, she first got me hooked on the idea of fastpacking, all the best✌
Lovely video. Looks amazing
Thank you! Cheers!
I can keep watching this...
Thank you! Glad you like it. I need to get some more under my belt!
@@matsmith1984 great video! May I ask what do you sleep in? a waterproof sleeping bag or a tent?
Hi! I have a Mountain Equipment synthetic sleeping bag, it's not the smallest when packed down but small enough. I paired it with a bivvy bag in this video to keep any rain off and for some extra warmth. On my next Fastpack I think I'm going to try making a tarp shelter a bit more.
Thank you for watching and checking this video out. I appreciate it.
Hi Matthew, really great video of the beautiful country you live in. Thank you for sharing. You have a very pure way of filming. I’ll put the area on my bucket list. Out of curiosity: what camera did you use? I subscribed! Looking forward to the next post. Greeting from the Netherlands. 🙋♂️
Thank you so much for the kind words and I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! I'm hoping to make more this year. I use a GoPro9 for all my filming (with the occasional, still shot, from an iPhone).
I hope you get to visit one day! I'd love to visit the Netherlands.
Beautifully produced video :) Fastpacking is awesome.
Love the backpack you are using. May I ask which salomon model is that? XT-15?
Thank you so much! The pack I use is the XA25.
@@matsmith1984 Thank you. XA25 got it. Too bad not available in the market anymore
@@sunburnsam I think Salomon still do it? I wouldn't be surprised if they bring out a newer/update to it at some point soon.
Great video, and your route looks amazing! Keep it up. Love a fast pack myself, did you use a bivy bag at all? or just the sleeping bag?
Thank you! Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it. It was a cool weekend. I really need to get some more under my belt!
I used a divvy bag and sleeping bag and it did the job!
Ahah, last weekend I ran the same trail, I had the same backpack and also the same snacks. Stayed in a bunkhouse though, so I wasn’t carrying nearly as much.
Great video, just asking if thats the salomon XA 25 or the XA 35?
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. That's the XA 25.
Nice video. Spectacular scenery. Would be curious to know what gear you packed. Looks like you managed to keep weight and volume down to a bare minimum.
Hi Tommy! Thank you. I'm not sure what the weight was in the end. It didn't feel too bad though. Next time I get out (soon, hopefully!) I'll weigh it as I'll be taking all the same gear, pretty much and maybe make a gear list or video of it. There is a flat lay photo on my Instagram of all the gear I took if you are interested.
I think it helped not taking a tent although the trade off is that my sleeping bag isn't the smallest. My pack (25litre) was full to the brim.
Nice vid. Was that the Salomon Xa25 pack? Just bought one as I too want to try fast packing…. Big fan of ultra running but not much knowledge on camping . Been looking at very small light tents, was this a thought for you?
Cool channel. Subbed.
Also, did you have filters on your flasks?
Thank you, James! Appreciate the kind words and glad you enjoyed it. I'd love to try it with a tent but it's one of those things I guess - bring one thing, leave another? It worked pretty well with a sleeping bag + divvy bag (plus a tarp). Can't imagine that would be so good in poorer weather though. I actually want to get trying making some more tarp shelters (I've recently acquired some poles).
The XA25 is a really great pack though, I use it for hiking too.
I took a small filter with me although it wasn't the Salomon soft flask filter which, I'd like to pick up and would be much more useful (and convenient!)
@@matsmith1984 great, good to know
! Thanks
Looks stunning mate, great bit of camera work! Just wondered what jacket you were wearing at 10:37? Looks nice and lightweight, just what I'm after!
Thank you! Appreciate the kind words. The Jacket is the OMM Halo Smock (so a half zip style pull over). It's really nice and light weight. Packs down really small (Tennis ball size, pretty much). They also do it in a full zip jacket. I'd highly recommend it.
Great stuff👏 How much did your backpack weigh?🤔 And if u don't mind, what shoes make would u recommend? (With great grip on wet trails and good cushioning) Cheers mate👍✌
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
I'm not sure how much it weighed, to be honest with you. I kind of go with how it 'feels'. It was light enough, I'll try weigh it next time though. I'm actually intrigued now.
I'm not a massive veteran of shoes but I have really enjoyed my Nike Wildhorse 6 (I think the 7 came out not long ago and looks to be much the same). I have two pairs, if that tells you anything. Really comfortable. Prior to that I wore a pair of Salomon Sense Ride 3 with were great too. Great grip but a little less cushioning.
I'm looking to try some Hoka's next, maybe the Speedgoat 4 or Torrent 2's as I hear good things.
Is that backpack the Xa 25 or 35? I’m not sure which to get…
This one is the XA25 🙂
Thanks!
Brilliant video! What a lovely spot for a wild camp, nothing like sleeping in the hills is there! So jealous of no midge!! 😂 I bet you are hooked now right?
Aww thank you so much. High praise coming from you guys, you always nail it with your videos.
Amen, nothing beats sleeping out (midges aside). I woke up in the middle of the night and the sky was the clearest and so full of stars that I've ever seen it. Beautiful. It's definitely got me hooked although I will concede I thought I'd be able to get out more than I have. More to come for sure! I'll be moving away from here come December so I need to make the most of it while I can.
@@matsmith1984 You moving anywhere with hills? It can always be hard to get out as much as we’d all like, life has a way of getting in the way.
HOPEFULLY to the Peak District, if all goes to plan. So still plenty of running, hiking and elevation to get up, albeit a touch smaller and less rough around the edges.
@@matsmith1984 well that’s not bad as changes go, I’ve always liked the Peak District a lot. Had some lovely snowy wild camps on kinder scout many years ago.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Yeah, it's not too bad at all. It WAS going to be Cheshire at one point which is flat as a pancake. The Peak District, especially Kinder and that area, is kind of our first love when we started venturing into the wilds a bit more so it's a nice spot to return to.
Hey I really enjoyed your video, thanks for making it and uploading it! Good choice of music as well. I've been thinking/dreaming about getting into fastpacking and your video was really inspiring 😊 I know a few people in the comments have already asked about some of the gear you used but I was wondering if you ever thought about making a video for suggestions for gear for anyone wanting to get into fastpacking too. For example talking about what worked for your trip and what didn't and like the type of bivy you used, etc. Hope since the video came out you've been able to get out on more nice trips! Also I'm not sure if you know but the link to your insta in the description doesn't work
Hi Lilla, thank you so much for the kind words. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video! I was planning on making a host of other videos and possibly a 'Gear' video too. Unfortunately I've not been able to get out for more Fastpacks as I'd liked due to one thing and another but I'm hoping to get back into doing some more this year/soon, especially with the nicer weather becoming more frequent.
If you've not, I'd strongly suggest giving it a go!
Jeff Pelletier has some really good videos on Fastpacking and I'd also highly recommend the Cicero Fastpacking book if you're really interested!
Thank you for the heads up about Instagram, I've updated it now! Feel free to give me a follow.
@@matsmith1984 Thanks for the reply! Look forward to more of your videos 😊 it's a shame you've not been able to do more fastpacking but hopefully you'll get a chance again soon. I'm planning a long trip to the Lake District soon and just having trouble making up my mind about tents and lightweight gear that'll be good for fastpacking and (relatively) comfy multi-day hiking too. There's so many choices but like the prices are limiting. I don't know if I can handle a bivi only instead of a tent if it's raining lots, although I guess with a tarp it might be alright.
Have you heard of Jenny Tough? I just found her recently on TH-cam and she does fastpacking and bikepacking. She did a good video on fastpacking gear (I found it after I commented on your video).
Thanks for the suggestions! I like Jeff Pelletier's videos, they're really good and informative but I find them a bit intimidating because he's on a whole nother level compared to me 😂 I think I saw the Cicero book on fastpacking online a while ago when I was first learning about it but I forgot about it until watching your video. I'll get it now cause it'll be helpful so thanks for recommending it!
@@lillaorban8540 Oh no worries! It's really hard to decide on what to take, isn't it! Something that will come with repeat outings. For example, I know I'd absolutely take a tarp with me next time with hiking poles to make a shelter. That Cicerone fastpacking book is really great for ideas and suggestions and practical info (and some cool, inspiring articles too).
Ultimately it's best to take what you think is going to be most comfortable to you. For multi day use, a tent might be better! I wouldn't mind getting one in the future to try out. My biggest advice would be to try everything out before doing anything longer/more remote!
Love Jenny Tough's videos! Really inspiring and useful info. Bikepacking is something I'd love to try one day too. Jeff's videos are really cool but I know what you mean, he does some really crazy big stuff! There must be some websites out there on it but it's been a while since I've looked. Reddit is another one to check for ideas, help and inspo!
@@matsmith1984 Hey thanks again for the reply! 😊 Yeah it seems like a difficult balance between comfort, necessity, and weight. Yeah I think you're right about taking a tarp with you next time cause the weather can turn so quickly, especially in the UK, and weather predictions can be way off. I did see a video where someone accidentally left their hiking poles at home and ended up using some branches for tarp/tent support instead 😂 it was on a channel called Outdoor Magic for a fastpacking trip from London down to the coast.
Trying the gear out on a shorter trip is definitely a good idea! It's good for checking what works or what's annoying and needs adjustments or isn't actually necessary. Like doing a weekend trip before doing anything longer.
Oh that's awesome you like Jenny Tough's videos too! She's great 😁 Yeah bikepacking seems fun too, I definitely want to try that as well. Thanks for the suggestion about Reddit, that's a really good place for any sort of help for sure! I did find a good blog post about fastpacking gear on a site called fionaoutdoors.co.uk I think I just googled "fastpacking gear list" and it was one of the top results.