The Ultralight Subreddit, Pack Fabric Pros and Cons, and Not Triple Crowning (Yet) with Whitney "Allgood" La Ruffa (BPR #374)
Release Date: 09/14/2026
Designing and Sewing All of Her CDT Gear with Eliza "Swerve" Sweeney (BPR #379)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Eliza “Swerve” Sweeney, a textile design graduate who’s taking on the CDT with an almost entirely homemade kit, including her backpack, tent, quilt, and even her underwear. In this one, Eliza walks us through skipping her final physics exam to squeeze the PCT into her summer break, turning her senior design project into the gear she’s now trusting to get her across the country, and learning to let herself take a damn zero after spending an entire thru-hike racing to get...
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Influencer Fined for Petting a Marmot, Grey Beard's AT Success, Evading the Feds on Trail, and Minor Discomforts that are Major Problems
Backpacker Radio
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at . Gossamer Gear: Use code “BPR10” for 10% off shelters at . Darn Tough: Use code “BACKPACKER” for free shipping from . Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code “BPRADIO15” for 15% off at . Segments Trail Goss Episode 4: Influencer Fined for Petting Mount Rainier Marmot Trek Propaganda: by Katie Jackson QOTD: How long do you think you could evade the feds on trail after committing a white collar felony? Trail Work Thing of the Week: Triple Crown of minor discomforts that are actually major problems Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out...
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Sleeping in an Outhouse on Christmas, 5.5-Pound AT Baseweight, and the Arkansas Triple Crown with Austen McDaniel (BPR #378)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by our longtime pal Austin McDaniel, aka P.I., a Triple Crowner, Ultralight masochist, and full-time tennis instructor. In this one, we dive into Austin hiking the Ouachita Trail in ten days while recovering from COVID, navigating the Ozark Highlands Trail through freezing January temps, and surviving record-breaking 18-degree winter freezes on the Florida Trail. We also cover his pitch for the "Arkansas Triple Crown" consisting of the Eagle Rock Loop, Buffalo River Trail,...
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Thru-Hiker Death at Katahdin, Hobbies You Continue to be Bad At, Trail Magic Cravings, and the Triple Crown of "Back In My Day's"
Backpacker Radio
Segments Trail News: by Katie Jackson Trek Propaganda: by Kelly QOTD: What’s one hobby you wish you were good at and have actively tried but you continue to be bad? Question Thing of the Week Triple Crown of ‘Back in my day’s’ - things that existed in your youth that no longer do 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples Award...
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Thru-Hiking the AT on a $2,000 Budget with Livvy "Stumbles" Weld (BPR #377)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Livvy "Stumbles" Weld, a Triple Crown thru-hiker, Trek Writer, and budding ultrarunner. In this one, Livvy breaks down how a tub of frosting earned her the trail name "Sugar Mitts," how her own thru-hikes accidentally talked her dad into becoming a thru-hiker himself, and how a kitten she found under a car turned into her cat back home. Livvy goes deep on how she was able to thru-hike the AT on less than $2,000 (nearly 75% less than the average AT thru-hike), her take as a former AMC...
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Fake Hiker News AI Slop, The Most Important Gear Maintenance Tasks, and The Worst People on a Road Trip
Backpacker Radio
OnX Backcountry: Use code “TREK70” for 70% off at . Topo Athletic: Use code “Trek15Hike” for 15% off at . Segments Trail Goss Episode 1 Trek Propaganda: QOTD: What gear maintenance task do you take the most seriously / do the most consistently? Triple Crown of people you absolutely do not want in the van for a road trip 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank...
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The Loowit Trail: 30 Miles Around Mount St. Helens with Zach, Katie, and Jabba (BPR #376)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, myself along with, Katie, and Jabba break down our recent hike of the Loowit Trail, a 31-mile loop circumnavigating Washington's active Mount St. Helens volcano. In this one, we dive into the chaotic road-trip logistics that involved our rental van nearly melting down on on the way to the trailhead, navigating technical rope-assisted gullies and sharp lava boulder fields, trekking through the tree-barren northern blast zone, and a golden-hour summit at Windy Pass, and the...
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The Wildest Trek Blog Ever Written, The Worst Smells, and The Most Annoyed Professions
Backpacker Radio
OnX Backcountry: Use code “TREK70” for 70% off at LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at . Segments Trail Goss Episode 3 Trek Propaganda: by Peg Leg by Brock “Dubs” Miller QOTD: What is the worst thing you’ve ever smelled? Triple Crown of the most annoyed professions Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Bob...
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PCT Meltdowns, Side Quests, & Animal Encounters, and Traveling to 56 Countries with Michael "Broadway" Grant (BPR #375)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and LMNT, we are joined by Michael "Broadway" Grant, a world traveler who has visited 56 countries, cycled across America, and is currently daily-vlogging his way through the PCT. In this one, Broadway dives into getting bitten in the face by a six-pound chihuahua while hitching a ride to PCT Trail Days, his terrifying pitch-black 11:00 PM alpine start up Mount Whitney's snow chutes, and his infamous "Day 50" meltdown in the Sierra, where he melted a carbon trekking pole, burned holes through his...
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Nick Fowler's PCT FKT, The 2040 Zeitgeist, Katie Devours a Big Mac, and the Triple Crown of Emojis
Backpacker Radio
OnX Backcountry: Use code “TREK70” for 70% off at Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code “BPRADIO15” for 15% of Segments Trail Goss: Nick Fowler’s PCT FKT Trek Propaganda: by Katie Jackson QOTD: Predict one aspect of the Zeitgeist in 2040 Fantasy Football Thing of the Week Triple Crown of emojis 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples...
info_outlineIn today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by OnX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, we are joined yet again by our pal Whitney LaRuffa, known on trail as AllGood. AllGood has hiked thousands of miles with his K-9 companions over the years, including his first thru-hike of the AT way back in 1996. AllGood is one of the most entrenched figures in the world of hiker trash, with several thru-hikes under his belt, serving as former president of ALDHA-West, and having worked for several prominent brands in the industry, he eats, breathes, sleeps, and poos all things thru-hiking.
In this one, AllGood gives his take on Durston Gear's rapid rise, Big Agnes's early misstep pairing Dyneema tents with heavy buckles, and the challenge he foresees with Osprey's sewn in hip belt on their new UL pack, he breaks down the cost tradeoffs between Alula, DCF, and Robic pack fabrics, and he tells the story of how the Ultralight subreddit’s roughly half million members helped sink a quilt brand's business, and why even a three person company needs a PR plan for when things go sideways online.
We also cover his philosophy that rain gear on trail is about staying warm rather than staying dry, why he still hasn't finished his Triple Crown despite years spent handing out certificates as ALDHA-West president, his love affair with Jolly, how he balances long-distance hiking with marriage and aging by leaning into shorter trips as his priorities shift, and his personal bucket list of trails.
We wrap the show with some big PCT FKT news, Katie devours a Big Mac as fast as she can in the name of improving her fantasy football draft slot, the triple crown of emojis, and we opine on what we think the zeitgeist will look like in the year 2040- flush with intentional grammar mishaps and shaming the shamers.
OnX Backcountry: Use code “TREK70” for 70% off at onxmaps.com
Topo Athletic: Use code “TREK15TOPO” at topoathletic.com.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code “BPRADIO15” for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com
57 Hours: Use code “TREK100” for $100 off your booking at 57hours.com
Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.
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Interview with Whitney La Ruffa aka Allgood
Time stamps & Questions
00:06:00 - Reminders: Use code “donttrustafart” for 15% off hats at the Trek’s store, sign up for the Trek’s newsletter, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon And 2026 AT thru-hikers: take the 2026 AT Hiker Survey here!!
00:10:50 - Introducing Allgood
00:12:30 - What’s something you feel passionate about in the outdoor industry right now?
00:15:40 - Is it a net positive for the ultralight trend to become more mainstream?
00:19:40 - What’s been your go-to pack recently?
00:21:12 - What are your thoughts on Durston Gear?
00:25:20 - Have you tested the Mountainsmith Zerk?
00:26:20 - What is your take on Alula?
00:31:25 - Discussion about rain gear
00:34:35 - Discussion about natural fibers vs plastic
00:38:00 - Is there a stinkiest fish?
00:38:50 - What’s the product you’ve pushed for the most since joining Gossamer Gear?
00:43:05 - Is Alula more or less expensive than DCF?
00:46:00 - Discussion about gear longevity
00:49:15 - What’s your take on the ultralight subreddit?
00:59:11 - Why haven’t you hiked the PCT?
01:04:00 - Describe ALDHA-West and your role
01:06:30 - Discussion about the feeling of completing the Triple Crown
01:11:50 - Discussion about shorter vs longer trails
01:13:34 - How do you balance your hiking and your marriage?
01:19:15 - What trails and routes are currently at the top of your bucket list?
01:26:00 - Discussion about She-ra and the impact of wildfire smoke
01:35:27 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance enhancing or backpacking hack?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Fastest PCT Hike in History: Nick Fowler’s 45-Day Thru-Hike Sets New Overall FKT by Katie Jackson
QOTD: Predict one aspect of the Zeitgeist in 2040
Fantasy Football Thing of the Week
Triple Crown of emojis
5 Star Review
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