Are FKTs a bad thing?

[Shawn]

I have noticed a lot of people are going for FKTs lately.

For those that don't know what that is, an FKT means Fastest Known Time and it's basically the fastest hike or trail run on a trail or route. People compete for it and try to be the top FKT. Usually there is an overall FKT, male and female, supported and unsupported.

There is a website for it, too:

Home

The best routes: what are they, who did them, and how fast?

fastestknowntime.com

So, here's my question though. I read the comments on FKT news posts and see a lot of people complaining about it. They say FKTs turn hiking and trail running into a competition and make others feel like they're not good enough to do the route,

How do you feel about FKTs in general? I'm interested in seeing a discussion about this topic!

 

[krJoest]

I have noticed a lot of people are going for FKTs lately.

For those that don't know what that is, an FKT means Fastest Known Time and it's basically the fastest hike or trail run on a trail or route. People compete for it and try to be the top FKT. Usually there is an overall FKT, male and female, supported and unsupported.

There is a website for it, too:

Home

The best routes: what are they, who did them, and how fast?

fastestknowntime.com

So, here's my question though. I read the comments on FKT news posts and see a lot of people complaining about it. They say FKTs turn hiking and trail running into a competition and make others feel like they're not good enough to do the route,

How do you feel about FKTs in general? I'm interested in seeing a discussion about this topic!

I think it's awesome, I like to read about them! I've never seen anything negative about the FKT website.

 

[Shawn]

I think it's awesome, I like to read about them! I've never seen anything negative about the FKT website.

I too think it's a great thing.

But some people are against them. I've seen some pretty crazy comments and opinions about them on social media.

My response is always this one: hike your own hike, not someone else's...