You’ll need the right gear to get you through those ultra miles. And that’s where UltraRunner Magazine comes in! We’ve asked a few of our ultra runner friends for a sneak-peak into their essential gear and top picks that will help you traverse some of the toughest terrains and finish your ultramarathons with ease!
A big thanks to everyone who supplied their race kits for this article!
We’ve been given access to ultramarathon kits for 50k, 100k, 100 miles and 200 mile races to week-long multi-day events. You will notice the differences! So who is up first…
Race Kit 1: Georgia Szollosi. My goal is to be as light as possible, especially in Summer. This was my Salomon Serpent Trail 100K kit. Minus my shoes and fuelling – I eat real food and couldn’t include all my sandwiches and bars!
Hoka Speedgoat 5 shoes (not pictured)
Technical Shirt
Salomon Advanced Skin 5 vest with 2 x 500ml soft flasks
Running belt
Inov8 UltraShell jacket
Skort
Socks
Sport bra (not pictured)
Headband
Survival blanket and whistle (inside the vest)
Reusable cup
Garmin Fenix 7 Solar Sapphire (the 6X Pro is pictured but have bought the new one since)
Race Kit 2: Charlotte Hurst. I had to forfeit some items for the Marathons Des Sables in order to take a kg of medical supplies and equipment for Type 1 diabetes which I obviously couldn’t mess with too much. It was 8kg max for a week in the desert.
The people, the experience, the journey, the lessons – it was all such an incredibly positive and life changing experience for me!
Backpack (and whistle)
Roadbook/spot tracker/water card
Head torch and x3 batteries (really handy)
Safety pins
Compass (with 1° or 2° precision)
Lighter
Knife with metal blade
Medical pack inc. antihistamines, Panadol, immodium, silicone toe covers, tensoplaast, topical disinfectant and anti-venom pump, etc
Signalling mirror
Aluminium survival sheet
Lip balm/Suncream
Cash/passport/medical certificate/ECG/Race number
Shoes (plus 1 insole)
Gaitors (they were imperative! And having the velcro sewn on my trainers I think is the best solution for the sand problem)
Socks x3 (x2 spare)
Underpants
Shorts
Shirt
Buff
Cap (with neck skirt)
Sunglasses
Garmin and charger lead
BG watch and charger lead
Iphone and charger
Insulin driver and charger
Narrow compress sport headband
Recovery tights
Long sleeve top
Earplugs
Compress sport waist band/pole carrier
Bottles x2
Sleeping bag
Mat
Spoon/Swiss Army credit card (brilliant!)
Hat
Portable charger
Poles (a vital kit item)
Mighty Vibe music player and lead
Headphones x2
Face wipes/toothbrush and toothpaste
Toilet paper/Handie Andy’s x2
Electrolytes/salts 6+8+8+14+8=44
For a more detailed Nutritional overview of what Charlotte stocked in her MDS kit click here
Race Kit 3: Bonnie Rye. Her kit list for the Centurion SDW100 mile race included…
Hoka Torrents ×2
Harrier Kinder 10l hydration pack
Decathlon Eveidict hydration pack (spare)
Buffs ×4
Socks ×4
Running tops and vests ×3
Hat and viser
Water bottles for crew swap over ×4
Suncream and moisturiser
Various glucose nutrient bars
Sunglasses
Gloves and base layer for overnight
Head touches with high vision lumin spec ×2
Fold away cup
Waterproof jacket (race spec)
First aid kit
Race Kit 4: Lyni Sargent. Her kit list for the Montane Summer Spine – Sprint race, 46 miles of the Pennine Way, from Edale to Hebden Bridge. It took her 15 hours and 28 minutes to complete!
Buff hat
Harrier Helvellyn Pro poles
Goodr sunglasses
Race jacket
Socks
Gloves
OMM vest (she highly recommends!)
Painkillers
500ml water per hour/travel cup
Veloforte for electrolytes
Lip balm
Sun cream
Flapjacks and marmite sandwiches
Little notes of encouragement from friends and family. I don’t necessarily get my notes out when I’m running, but I find that I don’t dip into dark moments if I know that I have love in my pocket.
Race Kit 5: Oliver Mallinson. I was preparing for Devon Coast to Coast 100km along the Two Moors Way with Climb South West. The ultramarathon started at 9pm so most of the event is during darkness.
Base layer
Waterproof trousers
Waterproof jacket
Cap
Buffs x2
Electronics – powerbank, charging cables, red tail light, head torches x2, spare batteries, extra hand torch
Poles
Tissues
Hand gel
Lip salve
Whistle
Toilet paper and nappy bags
Spare socks
Thin hat
Gloves
Heart rate monitor
Map of route
First aid
Sun cream
Squirrels nut butter
Emergency survival bag
Race pack
Nutrition and hydration – Soft flasks x4, Tailwind Nutrition sachets, Veloforte chews, Super Natural pouches, Maurten bar, Gu gels and Precision Hydration electrolytes
Race Kit 6: Kate Wenham. I ran the Cairngorms Ultra Trail 50k. It was my first ultramarathon and I used:
Harrier Catbells poles
Silva Compass
Tailwind, big bag and sachets to carry (Mandarin is the best flavour!)
Veloforte bars and chews, plus a couple of their gels (so tasty)
Precision Hydration salt tablets
Harrier mini first aid kit
Garmin Vioactive 4 watch (and mini power bank)
Shockz trekz titanium headphones
Ronhill soft flasks
Decathlon Womens trail running waterproof trousers (they pack tiny)
Higher State waterproof jacket
Harrier emergency shelter
Montane Trailblazer 25l bag
Harrier buff
Foldable cap
Lip balm
Most importantly, MARMITE SANDWICHES!
Dextro energy blocks (for emergency)
I also ran in Happy Strides shorts, More Miles socks and Saucony Xodus Ultra shoes.
Race Kit 7: Steven James (PFM Coaching). My kit was for the South Wales Wildhorse 200 last year which I was running without a crew and so I had packed more than usual (inc. a drop bag). I also packed for it to rain the entire race being in Wales in April, but we didn’t have any!
I have a number of running packs that I use, a couple of decathlon packs, an ultimate direction pack and also a Grivel pack. The first consideration I gave to which pack was which of my packs would hold all of the gear I would need for a 200 mile event.
You can read more of Steven’s blog here
Grivel Mountain Runner 20l Pack (with whistle)
Electronics: Suunto Spartan Ultra Watch, Garmin Etrex 30x, Komoot app on phone, various charging cables, Ledlenser Neo10R Headtorch & spare batteries, Ledlenser Flex7 charger pack, lightweight petzl backup head torch
Hoka Speedgoat 4 Wide Fit
Altra Lone Peak 5 SE
Oofos Sliders
Hilly Monoskin Ultra Socks (numerous pairs)
Hilly Twin skin socks
1000 mile twin skin socks
1000 mile racer mid height running socks
Niksa Running Boxers
Adidas Terrex Aggravic Pro trail Running Shorts
Kiprun Mens Marathon Shorts
Flyte Eos Reflective Tights
Asics thermal trail tights
Blueball Compression Running Shorts
Attiq Quantum Trail Long Sleeve
Higher State Crew Long Sleeve Running Top 2.0
TCA thermal long sleeve base layer top x2
Salomon mid layer long sleeve
Hagloffs L.I.M Essens Jacket
Several short sleeved tops (race freebies)
Lightweight Kalenji Running Hat
Running Cap
Ronhill Running Gloves
Lots of buffs, some hi-vis reflective for night time
Evadict Waterproof Trail Running Trousers
Trespass Waterproof Trousers
Ultimate Direction Waterproof Ultra Jacket V2 (x2)
Cheapy disposable ponchos
Alpkit Numo Inflatable Sleeping Mat
Sea to Summit Spark II sleeping bag
Travel Pillow
Titanium spork
Wildo fold a cup & metal mug
Harrier Helvellyn Carbon Poles (tips switched to Leki Flex Tip)
Swiss army knife with scissors and nail clippers
Kalenji Soft Flasks x2
High 5 bottle (back up)
Salomon Filter soft flask
Self Care/First Aid: Handy Pack tissues, baby wipes, microfibre towel, KT tape, tincture of Benzoin, Deep Freeze, Tiger Balm, Paracetamol (only used if dropping), Immodium, Vaseline, Engo blister patches, blister plasters & dressings, Toms Blister Shield talc and wipes x2, General First Aid Kit (bandage, sterile wipes etc)
Emergency Foil Bag
Toiletries
Ear plugs
Wiggle brand energy gels x 120 (used 76)
Active Root Energy drink in various flavours (pouches for in bag, tubs in drop bag)
Various food items and drinks
For a more detailed Nutritional overview of what Steven stocked in his Wildfire 200 kit click here