| 106km | 53km | |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal Long Sleeve Base Layer Top (merino or synthetic, a basic compression top is not suitable) | check | check |
| Thermal Base Layer long pants (merino or synthetic, a basic compression garment is not suitable) | check | |
| Light weight waterproof jacket. With permanent hood, factory taped seams and a breathable multi layer construction | check | |
| Light weight full finger gloves | check | |
| Beanie or other head protection for warmth (not a cap or visor) | check | |
| Head torch with fresh batteries | check | check |
| Spare light (small torch or headlight - phone light not sufficient) | check | |
| Zip lock or similar Bag for rubbish | check | check |
| Basic first aid to include a min of 1 x space / emergency blanket, 1 x compression bandage (10cm x 4.5m) | check | check |
| Whistle | check | check |
| Capacity to carry min 2.0L of fluids | check | check |
| Food portions - at least 200 calories (for example 2 gels) | check | check |
| All the clothes and emergency gear to be in a waterproof bag (zip lock bags or light drybag) | check | check |
| Course Map | check | check |
| Hi Visibility Vest meeting Australian Standards for D/N (day/night) use must be worn after 5pm | check | check |
In Case of High Rain / Winds (to be confirmed by the race organisers prior to the event). In addition to the above, runners must carry the following items.
| 106km | 53km | |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal Base Layer long pants (merino or synthetic, a basic compression garment is not suitable) | As Above | check |
| Light weight waterproof jacket. With permanent hood, factory taped seams and a breathable multi layer construction | As Above | check |
| Light weight full finger gloves | As Above | check |
| Beanie or other head protection for warmth (not a cap or visor) | As Above | check |
| Waterproof overpants - with taped seams | check | check |
| Mid Layer (e.g. light weight fleece or mid layer merino garment) | check | check |
If you are new to trail running or just after some ideas for kit – check out some thoughts below. This is based on our experience, gained after many years of trying (and failing:). If you are looking to acquire some new stuff, please check out all the gear from our friends at Paddy Pallin. This is an Australian outdoor retailer that shares our values of community, ethics, and protection of wild places. Please support them!! Feel free to email us is you need any advice or have any questions.
A very Important bit of kit to carry your hydration, food and all the mandatory gear. Make sure you use it before race day to ensure it is comfortable for you and you can fit all the gear you plan to take. Pre pack it and go for a run. They can bounce around and create pinch points which you want to sort out well before race day. We suggest a min of 12L and no more than 20L. A vest style set up is generally the snuggest fit designed specifically for ultra running. There are loads of good packs out there. We particularly love the Salomon ADV Skin 12
Basically 3 options – basic plastic drink bottle. Not a great option for drinking on the run or pre mixing hydration powder but very cost effective. Most runners these days use either a bladder, soft flasks or a combo of both. Advantage of a bladder is large carrying capacity and easy on the run for consumption while soft flasks offer the ability to mix and match different hydration products, are much easier and faster to refill at the CPs and are easily checked for volume.
We love merino wool based thermals and have been using them for decades. It works and it lasts. We suggest a 125 to 200 weight as a base layer. They are great to double up as well for colder mornings that require some multi layering. A 250 or higher would suit slow movement in cold and windy conditions. Ice Breaker are a good choice for quality and choice and there are some great synthetic thermal options as well which are cheaper and still definitely work well for ultra running.
Don’t skimp on socks. They should be well fitted without compacting your foot too much. Breathable, made from merino or synthetic moisture wicking materials, lack big seams and pinch points and not be too hot or heavy. We prefer crew height for trails to stop stones getting in and because they look cool!! For something different the Injini separate toes design are great for allowing your foot to spread and protecting toes from rubbing. They are tricky to put on so if you are doing a change mid race, we suggest be very well practiced or go for a standard sock. Check out some good options HERE
If you are running a lot at night, a good head torch is going to make life a lot easier. We have slogged it out with basic camping head torches in the past and this is doable but they can be shaky, not sufficiently bright and hard to precisely adjust. Running specific head torches have solved these problems and are definitely worth the investment. They are light, comfy, don’t shake and tend to have good battery life. We love Petzl head torches and our favorite for Running is the Nao RL .
We suggest a light weight breathable jacket with taped seams that is designed for running or active, light weight applications. On race day this is an emergency garment in case you are moving slowly late in the day or otherwise need protection from heavy wind and rain. A heavy duty shell meant for hiking is going to take up all your space so there is a need to trade off between size, weight, weather protection and breathability. Please note that basic non breathable jackets without taped seams are not adequate for remote trail running.
This is a big world of products. Our best tip is to make sure you have plenty of battery life for your race and have something that is easy to use while in brain fog after hours of running. Make sure it has clear data that is organised in a way that is useful during the race. You don’t need to spend a whole mortgage payment to have an effective piece of tech – one of our crew is still happily running with his trusty 2014 Garmin 920xt and it hasn’t seemed to slow him down too much 🙂
Another big topic. We will let you to do your own research and experiment with different designs but will leave you with this – don’t expect shoe technology to make you run better or protect you from injuries. That is up to you. Running strength is not just about hours on the trail. Make sure your chain is strong. From your foot to your lower legs, glutes and core. Do this off the trail, and, as a proactive measure, not just post your physio visit. Be consistent, make it part of your running lifestyle – listen to your body and you will not need to rely on shoe technology to keep you healthy.
