How to pack your mandatory gear and save valuable time on race day

Packing your mandatory gear properly in an ultra, will save you time, ensure you are comfortable, and give you peace of mind come race day.

There are mandatory gear requirements, and random mandatory gear checks during most trail events, where you will be asked to produce one or two specific items out of your pack. If you don’t want to be standing there for 10 minutes unpacking and repacking your bag, you need to be organised.

Practice packing your gear before the event

Make sure you practice carrying all of the compulsory gear on at least two of your long training runs, preferably more. You need to know that everything will fit, and you can experiment with packing the bag slightly differently each time you run until it sits most comfortably. Getting to the night before a race and finding out that your full mandatory gear list wont actually fit in your pack is extremely stressful. Do yourself a huge favour, and start practicing now.

6 tips to successfully pack your gear

After years of doing ultras, I have come up with a system, that is simple and works for me every time. Follow these few tips to help your race go smoothly on race day.

  1. I use a Salomon Advanced Skin S Lab 12 pack, but there are many makes and models of packs available for trail runners. Make sure you pick one with sufficient volume for the gear required for your event
  2. Roll all your clothes items into tight cylinders and put a rubber band around them
  3. Put all your clothes separately into ziplock bags and put a label on each item so you can quickly identify what it is. Make sure you put the label inside the bag so it doesn’t get ripped off or destroyed if it is wet
  4. Have a strategy for where everything goes. Emergency items like your compression bandage and space blanket can be tucked away where you don’t need immediate access to them
  5. Put all the heavy clothes items in the bottom of your pack. Heavy items lower down will be more comfortable and they will bounce around less during the race
  6. I use a Naked Running Band in conjunction with the running vest. The running band will hold two 500ml soft flasks, plus any gels or food items I need.

If you follow these tips, when you are stopped on race day by a race official, you can quickly produce the item they need and be on your way.

Helpful hints for race day

  • Arm Warmers– These are great to help you keep warm on the start line if it is a cold day. Instead of wearing your thermal gear, a pair of arm warmers can keep you warm initially, and they are easy to remove after a few km’s when you have warmed up. Pass them to your support crew or shove them in the back of your pack for later.
  • Extra soft flasks / drink bottles – I usually carry a couple of extra soft flasks in my pack. You can put your powder / nutrition inside the flask before the race and simply add water to it when you reach the check point. This will save you time and help you keep on top of your nutrition strategy for the race
  • Race Belts – These are simple and very effective way to carry your number rather than pinning it to your shirt. If you are changing layers during a race, your number can always be seen. The Naked Running Band doubles as a race belt with two toggles on the front of it to hold your number.
  • Carrying Your Poles – If you are racing with poles, you need to work out an effective way to carry them so they are easy to access while you are running. The Naked Running Band can also carry your poles. It has two big elasticated loops on the back.