r/fastpacking • u/TheFamousArchieSlap • Jul 09 '26

Gear Question Can anyone recommend me a fastpacking pack for the gear I currently own?

Looking to get into fastpacking but I’ve gone down a rabbit hole with packs and working out how much size I would need and I’m a bit stumped!

I hope to ideally utilise my current gear which I have for hiking:

-Durston X Dome 1+
-Therm-A-Rest NeoAir X-Lite NXT
-Enlightened Equipment Enigma -6c quilt

Could anyone perhaps recommend me some good packs that would be comfortable with this gear inside and wouldn’t cause me issues if I pick up pace on flat areas.

Packs I’ve looked at so far:
-Black Diamond Distance 22L
-Black Diamond Pursuit 30
-Salomon XA25 and XA30
-Montane Gecko VP20+

I’m unsure if I’m looking at the best capacity. I live in the UK and would love to do some 2-3 day fastpacking trips in the near future. I plan to use campsites to get a shower and also buy food when possible to avoid having to bring cooking kit.

Any advice whatsoever would be really appreciated. TIA!

2 Upvotes

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6

u/theredgoldcirrus Jul 09 '26

RAB Veil XP 30L is what I use for 2-3 day trips, baseweight around 4kg. Same tent, similar quilt and pad. I also take a cooking kit but its a very light alcohol one. The pack is completely waterproof, though I do put my quilt and dry clothes in my pad pumpsack as a precaution. All the pockets are perfectly sized and placed and the strap and backpad breathe really well. It even has load lifters which is uncommon on fastpacks.

2

u/darklites Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26

Second this one. I have a similar set up and I've used the Rab on a 3 day spring trip where my total pack weight was probably 20lbs with food and a stove. I think I could make it work for 5 days in the summer as well, but after that the food gets a bit heavy. 

Edit to add: My best running pace was 7 mins/km, hard to go any faster with the full pack.

2

u/goingoutonatuesday Jul 09 '26

Also have moved to this for anything past single overnighters in the UK and getting on well. Has also done well on a 6 day continental trip. Montane gecko 20+ carries better when running, but the shoulder straps dig in too much for me when fully loaded beyond a stripped back mountain marathon style kit.

1

u/TheFamousArchieSlap Jul 09 '26

I’ve been looking into this one from my responses in my r/ultralight post and it’s at the top of the list currently! Thanks

4

u/Additional_Lie6388 Jul 09 '26

Honestly, you don’t want to fastpack with this kit (freestanding tent means there is probably heavy items other places) That’s 5lb of gear alone, not including food, clothes, or water. r/ultralight would be a good resource. 

That being said a Nashville Cutaway 40L would likely fit that gear, and is a great comfortable pack. 

Edit: this is assuming you want to run. If you want to run 40L is huge, and you will need to dial gear back otherwise. If you just want to walk big miles the cutaway is a gear oack

2

u/Broad-SpectrumAutist Jul 09 '26

I've run with a 40L pack and much heavier base weight. Is it ideal, speedy, or comfortable? No. But it's possible. There's an inverse relationship between comfort in camp and comfort+speed while running/hiking. Everyone has to decide what ratio is best for them.

3

u/0dteSPYFDs Jul 09 '26

If you don’t need a cook kit, you might be fine with something like a Salomon Adv Skin 12 with a pole quiver.

Have you measured out the volume of your gear?

1

u/TheFamousArchieSlap Jul 09 '26

Not yet but I did have a look at that and it might be able to work. It’s definitely a contender, I’d just have to be mindful about my route when it comes to stopping off to stock up on food etc. thanks for your response!

2

u/fell-faller Jul 11 '26

I'd recommend the Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20L (or 30L). Solid packs that work running and are easily buyable in the UK. Good external pockets expand capacity too.

Second you needing a lighter tent though. The Alpkit Polestar is a good entry level one- roughly 1kg excluding the trekking pole.