Patrick French Biography:
Patrick French is an American survivalist, professional backpacker, and long-distance thru-hiker from Concord, New Hampshire. He is also known by the nickname Dosu Kinuta, a reference to the Naruto character and the name he uses across parts of his outdoor and survival community.
French became known through Discovery’s Naked and Afraid franchise. He has appeared on the original series, Naked and Afraid: Castaways, Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing, and the 2026 spin-off Naked and Afraid: Shipwrecked.
Who Is Patrick French?
Patrick French is an endurance athlete whose outdoor experience comes mainly from long-distance hiking and living on the trail. He has completed 23 different long-distance trails and logged more than 21,000 miles of thru-hiking, according to his official biography.
His approach to survival is shaped by movement, endurance, navigation, and self-reliance. French has spent long periods travelling with minimal possessions, testing equipment, and learning how to live outside traditional homes.
He often refers to himself as a “Legend Slayer,” a nickname that reflects his competitive attitude on survival television. His public profile also describes him as a 10-crown thru-hiker.
Age and Birthday
Patrick French was born on March 8, 1982, in Concord, New Hampshire. He is 44 years old as of March 8, 2026.
Early Life in New Hampshire
French grew up in Concord, New Hampshire, and graduated from Concord High School in 2000. He developed an interest in nature at an early age, especially during visits to his father’s home in Warner.
After his parents divorced, French spent time exploring the wooded area behind his father’s house. He built forts, trapped small animals, and became comfortable in the outdoors.
His first backpacking trip with his father took place when he was in second grade. That experience introduced him to long-distance hiking and eventually influenced the direction of his adult life.
Career as a Thru-Hiker
French did not begin as a full-time professional backpacker. After high school, he worked in his family’s antiques business and followed what he described as a conventional path involving a home, a car, and a stable routine.
At 33, he decided to pursue long-distance hiking full time. He began with the Appalachian Trail, later completing the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail.
Some of his major hiking achievements include:
Hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.
Completing the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail.
Completing the 3,000-mile Continental Divide Trail.
Walking more than 21,000 miles across 23 trails.
Setting fastest known times on selected routes.
Completing multiple National Scenic Trails.
In 2022, French hiked more than 7,000 miles and set two fastest known times, according to local reporting.
Life on the Trail
French has lived a nomadic lifestyle since 2015 and has spent long periods sleeping outdoors rather than maintaining a traditional home. His work includes testing backpacks, footwear, camping equipment, and other outdoor gear.
His trail name, Dosu Kinuta, has become closely connected to his identity as a backpacker. He has also built a following among people interested in thru-hiking, lightweight gear, endurance walking, and minimalist outdoor living.
That experience helped prepare him for Naked and Afraid, but the television challenge introduced a major difference. On the trail, hikers usually choose their route, carry carefully selected equipment, and plan their food and water. On the show, French has to survive with almost nothing and work within rules he cannot control.
Naked and Afraid
French first appeared on Naked and Afraid in Season 15. He took part in a 21-day challenge in Argentina, where he had to adapt his hiking and outdoor skills to a new environment.
The challenge tested him in ways that long-distance hiking does not. He had to find or create shelter, secure water, make fire, locate food, and cooperate with a partner while dealing with heat, insects, hunger, and exhaustion.
French later appeared on Naked and Afraid: Castaways, adding another experience to his record in the franchise. IMDb lists him among the show’s survivalist cast members across several programmes.
Last One Standing Season 2
French competed on Season 2 of Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing, which aired in 2024. The season took place in South Africa’s Oribi Gorge and placed experienced survivalists in a competitive 45-day format.
Instead of simply completing a standard challenge, contestants had to compete for tools, food, shelter advantages, and continued access to the game. The season offered a $100,000 prize to the final winner.
French entered the competition with a strong hiking background and previous survival experience. His assertive personality and competitive approach made him one of the more noticeable contestants in the cast.
Last One Standing Season 3
French returned for Season 3 of Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing, which premiered in May 2025. The season moved the competition to the Australian Outback and featured 14 returning survivalists.
He competed against experienced cast members including Darrin Reay, Jamie Frizzell, Ky Furneaux, Trish Bulinsky, and Patrick French’s fellow Season 3 contestants.
French was eliminated after failing to start his fire during one of the competition’s survival tasks. His departure showed how quickly a small mistake can end a challenge, even for a survivalist with extensive experience.
Naked and Afraid Shipwrecked
In 2026, French joined the cast of Naked and Afraid: Shipwrecked. The Discovery spin-off premiered on August 2, 2026, and features 12 returning survivalists stranded near the Philippines.press.
The contestants believe they are taking part in a Lost Coast challenge in the South Pacific. Instead, they are shipwrecked at night and must reach land with only the supplies they can recover.
The cast must survive for 35 days and eventually rescue themselves. The challenge includes:
Finding food and fresh water.
Building shelter from limited materials.
Recovering useful equipment from the wreck.
Navigating a tropical island.
Managing rain, heat, hunger, and exhaustion.
Working with a group of experienced contestants.
Completing the map and planning an escape route.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s cast announcement listed French with 110 previous survival days, placing him among the most experienced contestants in the group.
Survival Strengths and Weaknesses
French’s biggest strength is endurance. Few contestants have his experience walking long distances, living outdoors, managing equipment, and staying focused through extended physical strain.
He also understands navigation, camp routines, weather changes, and the mental discipline required to keep moving when conditions are difficult.
His competitive personality can be both an advantage and a risk. Confidence can help a survivalist take control during a crisis, but it may also create tension when working with people who have different ideas about food, shelter, or strategy.
Personal Life
French has kept details about his romantic life and family private. There is no reliable public confirmation that he is married or has children.
He has spoken more openly about his trail life, outdoor goals, and survival work than about his personal relationships. His public identity is closely connected to hiking, endurance, gear testing, and television.
Height
Patrick French’s official height has not been confirmed by a reliable public source. Approximate measurements listed by biography websites should not be presented as verified.
Net Worth
There is no verified public figure for Patrick French’s net worth. His income may come from outdoor sponsorships, gear testing, hiking projects, survival television, speaking, content creation, and other adventure-related work.
Online estimates ranging from $250,000 to $700,000 are speculative because his contracts, sponsorship income, and personal finances are private.
Patrick French uses the Instagram handle @thedosukinuta. His profile highlights his work as a thru-hiker, survivalist, and outdoor athlete. It also references his 23 trails, more than 21,000 hiking miles, television appearances, and 110 survival days.
Quick Facts
Full name: Patrick French
Nickname: Dosu Kinuta
Date of birth: March 8, 1982
Age: 44 in 2026
Hometown: Concord, New Hampshire
Education: Concord High School
Occupation: Professional backpacker, thru-hiker, survivalist, and outdoor athlete
Long-distance trails: 23
Reported hiking distance: More than 21,000 miles
Naked and Afraid appearances: Original series, Castaways, Last One Standing, and Shipwrecked
Latest show: Naked and Afraid: Shipwrecked, 2026
Previous survival days: 110, according to Discovery’s cast announcement
Relationship status: Not publicly confirmed
Net worth: Not publicly verified
Instagram: @thedosukinuta
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Patrick French?
Patrick French is a New Hampshire-born thru-hiker, survivalist, professional backpacker, and Naked and Afraid cast member.
What is Patrick French’s nickname?
He is known as Dosu Kinuta, a name he uses in his outdoor and survival work.
How many miles has Patrick French hiked?
He has completed more than 21,000 miles across 23 long-distance trails, according to his official biography.
Has Patrick French appeared on Naked and Afraid Shipwrecked?
Yes. He is part of the 2026 cast of Naked and Afraid: Shipwrecked, a 35-day survival challenge near the Philippines.
Did Patrick French compete on Last One Standing Season 3?
Yes. He competed in the Australian Outback during Season 3, which aired in 2025.
Why was Patrick French eliminated from Last One Standing Season 3?
He was eliminated after failing to start his fire during a survival competition.
Is Patrick French married?
His current relationship status has not been publicly confirmed.
What is Patrick French’s net worth?
His net worth has not been verified through reliable public financial information.
