What is fastpacking?
This article is your complete introduction to fastpacking — what it is, how it differs from trail running and backpacking, and why it’s such a rewarding way to explore the outdoors. We’ll cover the essentials of fastpacking in the UK, from the kit you’ll need to how to get started, plus tips for planning routes and finding the right balance between speed and comfort.
What is fastpacking and how does it differ from backpacking?
Fastpacking is the sweet spot between trail running and backpacking. It’s what happens when you want to move faster than a hiker but still carry everything you need to sleep wild, stay safe, and keep going for multiple days. If that sounds like a niche pursuit for ultrarunners and weight weenies, don’t worry — fastpacking is more accessible than it looks.
Try fastpacking for the first time
Join one of our guided fastpacking adventures across the UK — the perfect way to try your first overnighter, build confidence on the trail, and put lightweight gear to the test (we’ll supply the good stuff). Ready to move fast and sleep wild?
So, what is fastpacking exactly? At its core, fastpacking is about efficiency. You move light and self-sufficient, usually on foot, typically running the flats and downhills, hiking the ups, and covering more ground than you would on a standard backpacking trip. All the while, you’re carrying a stripped-back kit — usually a lightweight shelter, sleeping system, food, water filter, and some spare layers. Enough to survive a few nights out. Nothing more.
Fastpacking in the UK can take many forms. It might be a single overnight loop in the Peak District, a multi-day push across the Cairngorms, or a quick weekend microadventure from the edge of Sheffield. There are no hard rules — but once you try it, the freedom is hard to beat.
Fastpacking vs trail tunning
Trail running is all about speed, rhythm, and that glorious feeling of flow. You’re usually out for a few hours at most — zipping along ridgelines, ducking through tree tunnels, maybe catching golden hour on a trig point — before heading back to a warm bed or a well-earned pint. You’ll likely carry a tiny running vest with some snacks, water, and a just-in-case waterproof. But you're not out there to sleep rough. You're out for the movement.
Fastpacking builds on that same momentum — but throws in a tent, a sleep system, some food, and a good dose of self-sufficiency. Now you’re not just moving through the landscape, you’re living in it. You’ll still run when the terrain allows — especially on mellow trails, smooth descents, or forest tracks — but you’re not racing to camp. You’re moving with purpose, not chasing a segment.
You can absolutely start fastpacking as a trail runner. In fact, it’s a natural evolution. Just ease into it: go shorter, go lighter, and learn how it feels to run with a loaded pack. When done right, it turns a good trail day into a truly memorable night out.
Fastpacking vs backpacking
Backpacking is about the long haul. You carry everything you need for days or weeks in the wild — a bigger pack, a bit more comfort, and the time to take it all in. You move slowly, rest often, and build your days around tea breaks, big lunches, and the occasional long sit staring at a view. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s brilliant.
Fastpacking, though? It’s backpacking with its sleeves rolled up. It keeps the overnight freedom, but swaps out bulk for breathability and dawdling for dynamism. Your pack is smaller. Your gear is lighter. Your pace is quicker. You’re aiming to cover more distance in less time. That means making compromises on comfort in favour of efficiency — the core fastpacking mindset.
Where a backpacker might carry a full-size stove, camp chair, and a paperback or two, a fastpacker carries a pot, a spork, and a headtorch that might double as a reading light (if they even remembered a book). Your meals are simpler. Your sleeping setup is dialled for packability. Every gram earns its place.
But here’s the thing: backpackers make brilliant fastpackers. If you’ve already spent nights wild camping in the hills, you’re halfway there. Lighten your load, up your pace, and you’re in. It’s a mindset shift more than a skill leap — and once you make it, you’ll see the trail in a whole new light.
What fastpacking isn’t
Fastpacking isn’t a race. There are no medals for the most distance, fewest breaks, or least comfortable sleep. You don’t have to run every step, and you definitely don’t need to suffer to count it as fastpacking.
It’s not a gear competition either. Sure, there are some incredibly light and expensive kits out there — but you don’t need a sub-1kg shelter and a titanium spork to get started. What matters most is that your kit is light enough to let you move comfortably. Fastpacking for beginners should always prioritise simplicity, safety, and a bit of fun.
And perhaps most importantly, fastpacking isn’t inaccessible. You don’t need to be a mountain marathoner or long-distance backpacker to give it a go. Start small. Start local. Run two short days back-to-back with a wild camp in between, and you’re fastpacking. Welcome to the club.
Not sure about where to go for your first fastpacking trip?
Check out our article on wild camping in the UK for a full breakdown on land access and advice on where to go for your first night under the stars.
Come fastpacking with us
Join one of our guided fastpacking adventures across the UK — the perfect way to try your first overnighter, build confidence on the trail, and put lightweight gear to the test (we’ll supply the good stuff). Ready to move fast and sleep wild?
