My Strategy
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Gear Strategy
Choosing gear for an FKT of this style is wildly different to your average thru-hike. Of course, going as lightweight as possible is the goal either way, FKT or not. But typically on a normal hike, I’ll carry a slightly heavier pack with more gear to add comfort and convenience, whereas on an FKT that matters a lot less. For example, instead of a full length mat, I’ve cut down a foam mat to just my torso length, saving half the weight for minimal warmth sacrifices but relatively large comfort sacrifices. My sleeping bag is false-bottomed and zipless which sacrifices flexibility for a lighter weight. Food will be the heavier portion of my pack, which I’m also trying to minimise as much as possible through dehydrated, high calorie-weight options.
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Food Strategy
My food choices on this adventure matter more than usual, calorie-weight ratio is key ie. choosing foods that provide as many calories as possible whilst keeping weight as low as possible. Typically those choices are dehydrated, high fat foods. My goal is eat around 3,500 calories per day while keeping my food weight to less than 1kg per day. Easier said than done. Chocolate, and other high-sugar foods are my go to, whilst still trying to keep my protein intake high with jerky, cheese and nuts. My Optiventure Core supplement will help fill all the micro nutritional gaps.
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Planned Hike Itinerary
My choice to walk northbound was only decided recently, I wasn’t sure which direction would suit me best. Current FKT holder, Marley Butler chose walk southbound. Both the most northern and southern sections are really tough, with sandy, hilly beaches and dunes in the south and harder, more technical hills in the north. Either way, with pack weight at its peak, it’s a tough way to begin. I’m choosing to start south because having good weather along the coastal sections is more important and I’ll be able to guarantee decent weather by choosing a good start date. Also, walking home to Perth just feels nicer and I’ll have friends and family waiting for me at the end. My daily mileage will start on the lower end, 50-60km and slowly increase as my pack weight lowers.
Types of Support for FKT's:
Supported trips can have as much support as you can enlist, as long as you are entirely self-powered. This can range from one person accompanying you for part of the run, to an entire team that runs with you the whole distance, giving you everything short of physical assistance. Whether it’s just once or continuously, any support at all means it’s a supported trip. On many routes, the supported style can enable the fastest trips due to the ability to carry less weight.
Self-Supported means you may have as much support as you can manage or find along the way, but not from anything or person just for you; any support you employ must be equally available to anyone else. This can include caching supplies in advance, purchasing supplies along the way, staying at motels, and finding or requesting food or water. Camping in a friend's yard would be supported, because it is not available to the public.
Unsupported means you truly have no external support of any kind. You must carry everything you need from start to finish, except water from natural sources. Public taps along the trail are fine, but no water from any commercial source, even if free. This naturally limits the length of an unsupported trip. To be unsupported, all equipment and gear must be carried from start to finish.
The unsupported category tends to favor hikers over runners, as you will be forced to carry all food and gear for the duration from day 1. That means a very heavy pack from the get-go, which suits me well, as I’ve hiked plenty over the last few years, often with lots of weight on my back.
Types of Support for FKT's:
Supported Trips
Supported Trips
Supported trips can have as much support as you can enlist, as long as you are entirely self-powered. This can range from one person accompanying you for part of the run, to an entire team that runs with you the whole distance, giving you everything short of physical assistance. Whether it’s just once or continuously, any support at all means it’s a supported trip. On many routes, the supported style can enable the fastest trips due to the ability to carry less weight.
Self Supported Trips
Self Supported Trips
Self-Supported means you may have as much support as you can manage or find along the way, but not from anything or person just for you; any support you employ must be equally available to anyone else. This can include caching supplies in advance, purchasing supplies along the way, staying at motels, and finding or requesting food or water. Camping in a friend's yard would be supported, because it is not available to the public.
Unsupported Trips (My Attempt)
Unsupported Trips (My Attempt)
Unsupported means you truly have no external support of any kind. You must carry everything you need from start to finish, except water from natural sources. Public taps along the trail are fine, but no water from any commercial source, even if free. This naturally limits the length of an unsupported trip. To be unsupported, all equipment and gear must be carried from start to finish.
The unsupported category tends to favor hikers over runners, as you will be forced to carry all food and gear for the duration from day 1. That means a very heavy pack from the get-go, which suits me well, as I’ve hiked plenty over the last few years, often with lots of weight on my back.
My Strategy
Gear Strategy
Choosing gear for an FKT of this style is wildly different to your average thru-hike. Of course, going as lightweight as possible is the goal either way, FKT or not. But typically on a normal hike, I’ll carry a slightly heavier pack with more gear to add comfort and convenience, whereas on an FKT that matters a lot less. For example, instead of a full length mat, I’ve cut down a foam mat to just my torso length, saving half the weight for minimal warmth sacrifices but relatively large comfort sacrifices. My sleeping bag is false-bottomed and zipless which sacrifices flexibility for a lighter weight. Food will be the heavier portion of my pack, which I’m also trying to minimise as much as possible through dehydrated, high calorie-weight options.
Food Strategy
My food choices on this adventure matter more than usual, calorie-weight ratio is key ie. choosing foods that provide as many calories as possible whilst keeping weight as low as possible. Typically those choices are dehydrated, high fat foods. My goal is eat around 3,500 calories per day while keeping my food weight to less than 1kg per day. Easier said than done. Chocolate, and other high-sugar foods are my go to, whilst still trying to keep my protein intake high with jerky, cheese and nuts. My Optiventure Core supplement will help fill all the micro nutritional gaps.
Planned Itinerary
My choice to walk northbound was only decided recently, I wasn’t sure which direction would suit me best. Current FKT holder, Marley Butler chose walk southbound. Both the most northern and southern sections are really tough, with sandy, hilly beaches and dunes in the south and harder, more technical hills in the north. Either way, with pack weight at its peak, it’s a tough way to begin. I’m choosing to start south because having good weather along the coastal sections is more important and I’ll be able to guarantee decent weather by choosing a good start date. Also, walking home to Perth just feels nicer and I’ll have friends and family waiting for me at the end. My daily mileage will start on the lower end, 50-60km and slowly increase as my pack weight lowers.
The Bibbulmun Track
The Bibbulmun Track is my local thru-hike, 1,000km from Perth to Albany in Western Australia. It's one of the best long-distance trails in the world and one that I’ve spent countless days exploring. I first stepped foot onto the Bibb in 2013 and fell in love with the trail, eventually hiking end to end in 2021. Now I’m excited to head back for another crack, this time with the goal to really challenge myself and see what I’m capable of.
The Current Record
The current unsupported FKT is held by Perth local, Marley Butler. He walked the trail in 2024 in 16d 13h 35m. You can read about his effort here: https://www.marleybutler.com/hiking-trips/bibbulmunfkt
That's the time to beat, and I’ll be pushing for a sub-15-day finish. My plan is to walk northbound from Albany, starting with shorter days of around 50-60km, while my pack is the heaviest.
Current Record
The Bibbulmun Track
The Bibbulmun Track
The Bibbulmun Track is my local thru-hike, 1,000km from Perth to Albany in Western Australia. It's one of the best long-distance trails in the world and one that I’ve spent countless days exploring. I first stepped foot onto the Bibb in 2013 and fell in love with the trail, eventually hiking end to end in 2021. Now I’m excited to head back for another crack, this time with the goal to really challenge myself and see what I’m capable of.
The Current Record
The Current Record
The current unsupported FKT is held by Perth local, Marley Butler. He walked the trail in 2024 in 16d 13h 35m. You can read about his effort here: https://www.marleybutler.com/hiking-trips/bibbulmunfkt
That's the time to beat, and I’ll be pushing for a sub-15-day finish. My plan is to walk northbound from Albany, starting with shorter days of around 50-60km, while my pack is the heaviest.
Powered by Optiventure Core
I will be using Optiventure Core (V2) during my FKT attempt to optimise my micro nutrition, help turn more calories into fuel as well manage my gut health and make sure my sleep, recovery and inflammation levels are optimised.
I have been using our all in one supplement system for months now in training leading up to this FKT attempt and it has truly been a game changer both on and off the trail. If you have an adventure coming up - get Optiventure today to thrive on trail.
