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Prep Guide and Gear List for Your First Spartan Race

June 1, 2019

Ready to take the leap and become a Spartan Finisher? Here are your gear list and guide to get started. The first thing you need to understand is how Spartan Race is structured. Generally speaking, there are three levels of difficulty. Each race has 3 heats (or waves) that are all released at different times:…
Stay on Course with This DIY Blister Kit

February 27, 2019

Whether you are on a leisurely hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, running an OCR race, or in the middle of a six-mile forced march up the Alpha Shelf, painful blisters are a reality. Here is how to make a blister kit. This is the same kit I carried with me during my time in…
Bivy Camping Like a Pro

November 21, 2018

Bivy camping is not only practical at times, it can be a tremendously rewarding experience. There is nothing quite like watching the natural world coming alive in the morning from amongst the elements. Unfortunately, because of the increased risk of exposure (or discomfort for that matter) many opt for a full tent. The truth is,…
Why I Chose the Garmin Tactix Bravo Over the Charlie

July 10, 2018

When looking for an all-purpose GPS watch, I narrowed the choice down to two watches: the Garmin Tactix “Bravo” and “Charlie.” In the end, I chose the Bravo for a variety of reasons. Below I discuss some of the differences as well as my experience. Launched in 2016, the Garmin Tactix Bravo went to market…
How Elevation Affects Your Performance

May 20, 2018

Exercising and performing at altitude is difficult. In fact, it sucks. Being a sea-level dweller who just competed in a Spartan race above 6000 feet, the effects were more than a myth even at a low altitude. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the effects of elevation on human performance as well as some…
How to Keep Perishables When Backpacking or Traveling

March 27, 2018

Perishable foods should really be packed out in such a way that you can enjoy them on any length of trip and in any climate. We also understand you may not always be backpacking through rough country. Many of us are just as likely to trek through cities, moving hostel to hotel, metro to metro….

Why I Started The FieldAthlete Blog

I’m Reid Matsu—a name I chose to keep my personal story anonymous, but the experiences and lessons here are as real as the dirt, rain, sweat, and miles behind them. After years spent in the military, on wild expeditions, battling through ultra races and marathons, and living the grind of outdoor fitness, I wanted a home for the ideas and hard-won guidance I’ve collected along the way.

FieldAthlete.com isn’t about hype or trophies. It’s a place to store the gear tips, survival tricks, tough lessons, and no-nonsense training advice that actually works—shared for anyone who pushes their limits outside the gym. This blog is my way to put the best of that journey in one place, plain and palatable, so you can skip the fluff and get straight to what makes a real difference on the trail, obstacle, or anywhere the terrain gets tough.