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Each episode explores the gear, skills, stories, and trail-tested lessons behind better outdoor performance. From ultralight backpacking tips and gear design insights to real-world testing, backcountry strategy, and honest conversations from the Outdoor Vitals team, this podcast is built for people who want to get more out of every mile outside.

Live Ultralight Podcast EP 137 - Before You Hike the Highline Trail...

EP 137 - Before You Hike the Highline Trail...

Outdoor Vitals ·

Tayson and Tyler break down their Uinta Highline Trail attempts using route, weather, water, footwear, and watch data. The discussion is a planning aid for high-elevation wilderness travel, not a claim that the route is easy or universally safe. It preserves the source’s historical limits and leaves current decisions to current conditions and verified product information.

Live Ultralight Podcast EP 136 - Barkley Marathon Finisher Aurélien Sanchez - Torn Pages, 10 min of Sleep, & Cheeseburgers

EP 136 - Barkley Marathon Finisher Aurélien Sanchez - Torn Pages, 10 min of Sleep, & Cheeseburgers

Outdoor Vitals ·

Aurélien Sanchez recounts completing the 2023 Barkley Marathons in 58:23:12 on his first attempt. He and Tayson unpack the race’s navigation, steep terrain, food, sleep, transitions, and the years of preparation behind the finish. It preserves the source’s historical limits and leaves current decisions to current conditions and verified product information.

Live Ultralight Podcast EP 135 - NEW BACKPACK: CS40 Ultra Coming Soon - Here's What To Expect

EP 135 - NEW BACKPACK: CS40 Ultra Coming Soon - Here's What To Expect

Outdoor Vitals ·

This historical preview follows Tayson, Brigham, and Derek through the design priorities behind the CS40 Ultra Backpack. They explain load transfer, minimalist organization, field testing, and why low weight could not come at the expense of comfort or durability. It preserves the source’s historical limits and leaves current decisions to current conditions and verified product information.

Live Ultralight Podcast EP 134 - Ramen Bombs, Thru-Hiking & Bidets: Interview With Youtube's Frozen

EP 134 - Ramen Bombs, Thru-Hiking & Bidets: Interview With Youtube's Frozen

Outdoor Vitals ·

Jason “Frozen” looks back on his Appalachian Trail thru-hike, the mileage and gear changes that followed, and the food habits he would approach differently. His account also gets candid about social media, ramen bombs, and backcountry bidets. The details are historical; current decisions should follow current conditions and verified product information.

Live Ultralight Podcast EP 131 - Hiking A Perfect 20-Mile Day

EP 131 - Hiking A Perfect 20-Mile Day

Outdoor Vitals ·

Tayson and Tyler lay out the 2023 “perfect 20-mile day,” a schedule of early movement, planned walking blocks, maintenance breaks, dinner before camp, and a short evening finish. They also discuss reserve mileage, group delays, lightweight routines, and why the template must be scaled to conditioning and terrain.

Live Ultralight Podcast EP 130 - Hot Tents, Sub-0° Gear & Drinking Butter - Trail Tale

EP 130 - Hot Tents, Sub-0° Gear & Drinking Butter - Trail Tale

Outdoor Vitals ·

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.

Live Ultralight Podcast EP 129 - The Best Breakfast On The Trail? Alpen Fuel's Shaun Durkee

EP 129 - The Best Breakfast On The Trail? Alpen Fuel's Shaun Durkee

Outdoor Vitals ·

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.

Live Ultralight Podcast EP 128 - Sleep Better Outdoors: Oblivion Sleeping Pad Deep Dive

EP 128 - Sleep Better Outdoors: Oblivion Sleeping Pad Deep Dive

Outdoor Vitals ·

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.

Live Ultralight Podcast EP 127 - How to document your adventures with Elina Osborne

EP 127 - How to document your adventures with Elina Osborne

Outdoor Vitals ·

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.

Live Ultralight Podcast EP 126 - The Man Who's Set Over A Dozen FKTs: Jeff Garmire Interview

EP 126 - The Man Who's Set Over A Dozen FKTs: Jeff Garmire Interview

Outdoor Vitals ·

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.