Essential Gear List for Trail and Ultrarunning

Running is not typically considered a gear-intensive sport, but the remote nature of trail and ultrarunning means there are some gear essentials that improve comfort and performance as well as increase a runner’s safety. Here is an essential gear list meant to ensure new trail and ultrarunners have the basic equipment to train effectively and safely. We’ll start with a checklist for quick reference, and then scroll down for short explanations about why each piece of gear is helpful for athletes taking their running from the pavement onto the trail.

Essential Gear Checklist for Trail and Ultrarunning

• Trail Running Shoes
• Hydration Vest/Belt
• Navigation Aids (Tech and Analog)
• Technical Clothing
• Protective Clothing
• Emergency Blanket
• First Aid & Blister Kit
• Sun Protection
• Trekking Poles
• Gaiters
• Lighter
• Portable Battery Charger

More Details on Essential Gear

Checklists are great and convenient, but making actual gear choices is more nuanced. We’ve provided more context and details in the sections below about how to choose the gear that’s going to work best for you.

Footwear and Foot Protection

Trail shoes (in comparison with a road specific running shoe) provide enhanced traction, which tends to be more stable for less uniform surfaces such as dirt, gravel, roots, rocks and sand. They also provide more protection both on the upper portion of the shoe as well as the sole. While there are considerable differences and specialized trail shoes, just as there are for track and road running shoes, finding a shoe that is comfortable and feels stable on the surfaces typical of your area is a good place to start.

Shoe gaiters go over the shoe and rest just above the ankle to keep dust and debris out of your shoes. Most runners understand how annoying even the smallest pebble underfoot can be, and dust and sand can be the precursor to blisters as they create friction points. There are a variety of styles, and most are universal, meaning they’ll work with any shoe.

Small first-aid/blister kit. While we won’t discuss the details of what should be included in a trail running first aid kit, suffice to say it’s wise to add this to your basic gear list and it should include a small blister kit. This may include blister tape (BSN, Leukotape-P or Leukotape-K for example) a needle or small razor for draining blisters, an alcohol swab or lighter to sanitize the needle or razor before it contacts the skin, and a lubricant such as Squirrel’s Nutbutter, Trail Toes, or an antibacterial crème to place over the blister before applying tape. Here is an in-depth article that addresses blister care.

Hydration/Nutrition Pack

By nature, trail running tends to be more remote than road running. Training sessions for ultramarathon running also tend to be longer than road and track workouts so it’s vital to have a system for carrying nutrition, including fluids and calories. Running vests and belts, often in combination with handheld water bottles, are popular options for transporting hydration and energy needs for what is often multiple hours on the trail in a single training session. Again, comfort is key, as is the ability to readily access hydration flasks or bladders and ample pockets for calories and additional gear. A vest and belt are sometimes used in combination when a large amount of nutrition and/or gear will be carried.

Navigation Aides and Tech

It’s important to know where you are and where you’re going. Its good practice to look at the route you’ve traced while you’re out on the trail to improve mapping skills and to be sure you are following your intended route. Having one or more navigational tools is key to being able to navigate well and to explore new areas. Digital options are by far the most popular and it’s helpful to have the option of downloading maps for offline use before you venture into areas where cellular service may be limited or non-existent. Here is an article that discusses some of the more popular mapping apps. Practicing in familiar surroundings is a good place to start. As you become comfortable with the navigational tools, you will have the confidence to use them to guide you throughout training sessions and trail explorations off the beaten path.

Compass and printed maps. While it’s uncommon, some events require analog navigational skills to be used rather than relying on digital directions. It’s also a good skill to have since devices and technology inevitably and eventually fail. Adding a handheld compass and a waterproof, printed map are two advanced pieces of gear that can be very helpful when one understands how to utilize and deploy them.

Remote charger. If we’re talking about mapping apps and navigational aids, we must consider battery life. Battery capacities are getting bigger but watches and devices are also becoming more powerful and drawing more power. Some runners may find they want the option to charge devices while they are in motion or at an aid station during a race where power may not be an option. Having a remote charger either in your drop bag, with your crew or carrying one in a running vest, may mean the difference between having navigation for the duration of the outing or going without.

Technical Clothing

Investing in high quality technical clothing will keep you both comfortable, light weight, and help modulate body temperature in both hot and cool to cold weather. The most common fabrics used for technical running are synthetic options including nylon, polyester and spandex, or a blend of these three. Natural fibers, including  bamboo, hemp, and cotton, are starting to regain popularity and are sometimes blended into the three materials above. Be aware that there are various weights or weaves of fabric. The lightest and thinnest fabric will pull sweat away from your skin to help you feel more comfortable and decrease the chance of chaffing and allow for the most airflow. Thicker fabric, those woven more tightly, will allow less airflow and increase the insulative properties while still wicking moisture away from the body. It may seem like a slight difference, but both the material and weight of a fabric can drastically alter the amount of heat your body can or can’t dissipate. Experiment with different weights of fabric in different temperatures and humidity levels to find out what works best for you.

Protective Gear

Ultrarunners need to carry clothing they can use to adapt to significant weather changes, including massive temperature swings and exposure to rain, wind, snow, hail, etc. Over time, you’ll create an inventory of clothing that addresses a wide range of temperatures and conditions. High elevations and fast-moving weather systems often mean big temperature swings. Being able to add layers when it becomes cool and windy or a light rain jacket if it’s cool and precipitating can not only keep you comfortable, but it can also keep you from being in a situation where you’re threatened by hypothermia. Gloves can keep your hands warm, which is essential for your safety and well-being in cold situations. If you can’t access navigation tools, emergency devices or first aid, your nutrition, or zip your jacket closed, you may find yourself in a vulnerable situation very quickly. A buff is a multi-functional piece of gear. When wet, they can be worn around the neck to help keep runners cool, used as a hat or face covering on cold days and can help keep dust out of your respiratory tract when worn to cover your mouth and nose. They can even be used as a sling in first aid situations. These small but simple additions to your gear list will expand your ability to stay safe and remain comfortable while you’re on the trail.

An emergency blanket or small space blanket weighs just a few ounces and takes up very little space but could be lifesaving in certain situations. If you experience an acute injury where you’ll need to stay in place, this small piece of gear provides a temporary shelter that can keep you warm and dry until help arrives. All trail runners, from the novice to the elite runner should keep an emergency blanket or bivvy in their running vest or belt at all times.

Runners should have a plan for sun protection. It may be as simple as a brimmed hat and sunscreen (including lip balm with sunscreen). More extensive sun protection might include sun sleeves (these can double to help you stay cool when they are wet, especially in arid climates), neck shades attached to hats, wearing long hair down verses pulled back, and compression calf sleeves. Not only will sun protection decrease the chances of skin cancer, but it will also lower the likelihood of sunburn, which when moderate to severe has the potential to negatively impact subsequent training sessions.

Cooling Gear

Removeable arm sleeves can offer sun protection and when wet, will provide a cooling mechanism in dry climates. Runners can also place ice and/or snow into the sleeves for additional cooling during hot races and training sessions. They can be easily removed, stowed, and put back on or simply be moved down to rest around the wrist when they are not needed.

Racing in hot weather is challenging and there are a few items to help runners manage the heat, ice bandanas are one of them. These are worn around the neck and can be filled and refilled with ice at aid stations to lower a runners core temperature which in turn lowers stress and allows more blood to be directed to the digestive system to support the utilization of calories ingested during the race. They can be used for training sessions where a runner sets up their own aid station such as at their car at a trailhead that contains a cooler stocked with ice. Ice bandanas can be the difference between imploding in the heat or managing to continue moving along the trail.

Gear for More Advanced Ultrarunners

The above items are adequate to support new to moderately experienced athletes training for trail and ultramarathon events. In time, runners often find a few additional pieces of gear may add efficiency, speed and options for increasing the duration of single sessions and races. Here is a list of items that would be considered useful for a more experienced trail runner:

• Trekking poles: These are a helpful tool for adding stability late in an ultramarathon (typically a challenging 100k or longer) or for courses with steep grades. They can add propulsion for uphill sections and with proper technique, can add agility to technical descents and can spare lower leg muscle damage by transferring some of the load to the upper body.
• Lighter: The ability to light a fire either for a smoke signal in an emergency or if necessary to stay warm, is a small, relatively light piece of gear that can also provide peace of mind. As mentioned above, it can be used to sterilize a tool before draining a blister.
• Emergency locator/communicator: An emergency device such as a Garmin InReach or a SPOT device can bring additional peace of mind, communication options and an increased level of safety. While newer phones do have satellite communications properties, it’s not yet common place so an emergency device can be relied on to relay critical information to supporting party members or to call emergency responders in the case of a true emergency.
• Microspikes: Modular traction is another gear piece that can enhance the ability to travel safely over frozen snow and ice, especially on steep terrain.
• Water filter: Rather than carrying all hydration needs for a long outing from the beginning, carrying a water filter is a great option for collecting water from sources along the route. Filter options range from those designed to drink directly from the water source as a sort of straw, to filters that have the capacity to filter several liters per minute and filters than can be placed directly onto a hydration flask and consumed in motion. The greater the filtering capacity, the more weight and larger the unit and the lightest filters will require runners to spend more time filtering for their hydration needs. There is no single best option here, the duration of the outing and time/distance between water sources should be the determining factor of the water filter size.

Gear That Grows With Your Experience

Experienced trail and ultrarunners have closets full of gear. Although you don’t need to rush out and get all of it at once, here is a look at what your gear collection might look like after a few years in the sport.

Even More Clothing Options

To increase the range of temperatures you can safely and comfortably handle, you should carry warmer layers any time there is a chance of cold or wet weather, such as an afternoon thunderstorm or major elevation changes where temperatures could be much colder at the high points. Just like there are ranges in fabric density for basic running attire, wind and rain jackets, gloves and rain/wind pants also come in a variety of weights and serve different purposes. The lightest of these are meant to be used in an emergency and have more limited insulative properties but they are usually very light weight and take up minimal room in a running vest. As such layers become heavier, they hold the potential to keep a runner warmer and drier, while also becoming bulkier. Ultimately having several jackets, from very light weight to 100% waterproof layers is ideal because there will probably be use case scenarios for all such layers in different climates, seasons and situations. It’s best to practice with each piece of gear several times so that you understand its properties and how to best carry it for comfort and accessibility.

A Wider Variety of Shoes

There is a wide variety of trail running shoes on the market. Some trail shoes have minimal traction and are lightweight. This type of shoe is designed to be smooth and fast over non-technical terrain such as packed soil or sand. At the other end of the spectrum are shoes with aggressive traction and potentially rock plates for puncture protection. These are meant for muddy conditions or surfaces with a lot of loose rock or soil or routes that may not follow a trail for extended stretches. Some shoes have minimal cushion and others have more density. Typically, shoes that offer more cushion are geared toward longer events such as the 100k distance and longer. Shoes for shorter distances tend to be lighter and feature less cushioning. In short, there are a lot of options because there are plenty of applications for different shoes. Some will perform better than others in certain conditions. As with any piece of gear, tested shoes in a variety of situations and decide where a particular shoe makes sense.

Any runner entering the trail space should have the basics. Again, trail shoes, the ability to carry hydration and calories, sun protection and navigation tools is a good starting point. As events and training sessions become longer, more remote, and occur in conditions that require more gear to remain comfortable and safe, the gear list will naturally expand. Don’t be afraid to ask experts in the space for their recommendations, get onto the trail with experienced trail and ultrarunners to see when and how they use more advanced pieces of equipment and continue to experiment with additional layers supplies and soon enough you will be the veteran that new runners ask for advice.