Triple Crown Finisher and Fastpacking Enthusiast Kevin Gagnon

This week I sat down with Kevin Gagnon, a Triple Crown thru hiker who completed the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail by the age of 25. Kevin showed me the ropes of ultra running and long distance endurance feats when I was getting into the sport. He has so many different stories from thru hikes, fast packing long distance routes, and ultra marathons. Cohos Trail (last week), Arizona Trail, Northern Colorado Trail, Midstate Trail, Bay State Circuit the list goes on and on. He is always putting down tons of miles. We talk about it all and why you gotta get out and see these places while you can.Over the years I have refined my ideal kit and gear for the mountains. Below are some of my favorite pieces of running and hiking gear. By using the affiliate links below, I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the channel! 🙏⛰️ESSENTIAL TRAIL RUNNING GEAR:GPS Watch: https://amzn.to/4wT0bQq In my experience, Garmin has the best GPS accuracy in thick, dense forest in the Northeast. I trust the mileage and vert data from Garmin over any other watch.Summer Running Vest: https://amzn.to/4feeEzr Salomon has been the gold standard for trail running vests. I have always worn Salomon vests and still have all my original packs. In the summer, I use a 5L because I am usually bringing less gear. Lightweight Water Filter: https://amzn.to/4vErYTK A water filter top for a soft flask is one of the most essential pieces of gear for trail running. I always bring the least amount of water possible and fill up at any stream. Winter Running Vest: https://amzn.to/4aVAoP7 Solomon has been the gold standard for trail running vests. I have always worn Solomon vests and still have all my original packs. In the winter, I use a 12L because I am bringing extra gear and it all fits fine. 👟FAVORITE TRAIL RUNNING SHOES:Hoka Speedgoat 7: https://amzn.to/3RdDZRSThe shoe I have worn for the most miles in the White Mountains. It's a higher stack height but I like that for running fast down steep descents. The Speedgoat 7 is lighter, and slightly reduced stack from the old version and I have been loving it.La Sportiva Prodigio Pro: https://amzn.to/3T1u0Qi My top pick for a super shoe in technical terrain. Light, fast, and has really good grip. Mid tier stack is pretty stable but also has some cushion to absorb downhill impact. These shoes want to go.Saucony Endorphin Speed 5: https://amzn.to/4wGHWh5 One of my favorite pair of road trainers. An uptempo, fast shoe which I use on my road runs to work on turnover and speed.🎤PODCAST & CAMERA EQUIPMENT:RodeCaster Pro II: https://amzn.to/4wCO0XRInitially I recorded the podcasts through my laptop and a mixer box but it was a nightmare. I fully suggest anyone looking for podcast equipment to get an all-in-one audio production studio that handles mixing, processing, and internal multi-track recording. Shure SM58 Mic: https://amzn.to/4fdhEvQ The gold standard in microphones. Insta360 Go 3S: https://amzn.to/3RdE344 I recorded my first handful of videos using this. Super tiny 4k camera that you can clip to your hat and get really cool POV videos.Portable Battery Pack: https://amzn.to/4f4rbqb This is what I use to run my RodeCaster Pro II from my truck bed. Will run the unit for several hours on a single charge.