There is a bewildering array of choice on the market, so for anyone thinking of taking on one of these races, or something similar, here’s what worked for me:
Jacket
“Jacket with hood and made with a waterproof (recommendation: minimum 10,000 Schmerber) and breathable (recommendation: RET lower than 13) membrane (Gore-Tex or similar) which will withstand the bad weather in the mountains”
OMM Kamleika jacket – the British company’s waterproof, stretchy Gelanots fabric has kept me warm in the worst conditions. I’ve loved this breathable jacket while training on wet weekends in Snowdonia and the Lakes – but was happy it stayed at the bottom of my rucksack during the CCC. The North Face’s AK Stormy Trail is another good option.
Waterproof over-trousers
OMM Kamleika Race Pant – the soft fabric means these trousers don’t rustle when you run.
Long running trousers or leggings or a combination of leggings and long socks that cover the legs completely
I’m a recent convert to compression gear and I’m convinced the CompressSport Pro-Racing trail shorts and R2 calf guards helped keep my legs in working condition through 5,950m of ascent and descent – although I had to carry a pair of ¾-length running tights to meet the full-leg requirement. An alternative I liked in training were the Salomon Exo Wings Twinskin shorts, which combine compression with a loose, lightweight outer layer to protect your modesty.
Additional warm midlayer top
“One single midlayer long sleeve top for warmth (cotton excluded) with a minimum weight of 180g (Men, size M)
OR a two-piece clothing combination of a long sleeve baselayer/midlayer for warmth (cotton excluded) with a minimum weight of 110g (Men, size M) and a windproof jacket with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) protection”
I went for the second option with a North Face GTD long-sleeved running top and a lightweight Inov8 Race Elite 105 windshell jacket.
Two torches in good working condition with replacement batteries
The Petzl Nao USB-rechargeable reactive headtorch – which self-adjusts according to how far in the distance you’re looking to save batteries – lit up the trail beautifully, until it ran out after five and a half hours. I switched to the far less powerful Petzl Tikka I was carrying as a back-up – although next time I’ll probably carry a spare battery for the Nao.
Personal cup or tumbler 15cl minimum (water bottle not acceptable)
UTMB organisers say they have avoided the use of around 100,000 disposable beakers since they introduced a rule forcing runners to carry their own. The Sea to Summit X-cup is clever and collapsible – although there’s no obvious way to attach it to a rucksack without a bit of DIY.
Cap or bandana
Inov8 Hotpeak 60 peaked cap and Buff.
Warm and waterproof gloves
As someone who can suffer from cold hands I went for the overkill option with Seal Skinz waterproof all-weather cycling gloves, which kept my fingers warm during last winter’s sub-zero temperatures. I had a pair of ski gloves in my suitcase it case the forecast was really bad.
Warm hat
Mountain Equipment windproof beanie with OMM Kamleika waterproof cap.
Food reserve
I wasn’t sure how much saucisson and cheese I could take – so carried a big stock of my favourite flavours of Clif Bars and Clif Shotbloks. A GU Espresso Love gel , with its 40mg of caffeine, helped get me safely and quickly down the final steep descent at 3am.
Survival blanket 1.40m x 2m minimum
Lifesystems thermal blanket.
Adhesive elastic band enable making a bandage or a strapping (mini 100cm x 6 cm)
Standard, from pharmacy
I also carried …
Rucksack
Spotting an orange OMM rucksack was a clear sign you were about to come across a British runner – and more than half the field were carrying Salomon packs. But the OMM Ultra 15 worked well – the two side pockets held a couple of 600ml bottles – one for plain water and the other for water with Nuun electrolyte tablets. It also features a whistle (another bit of compulsory kit) on the chest-strap.
Running shoes
The dry weather meant I opted for plenty of cushioning and stability with Salomon’s XA Pro 3D Ultra. I had packed a pair of Inov8 Roclite 315s in my suitcase for extra traction in case the forecast had been different.
Walking poles
Black Diamond Ultra Distance Z – super-lightweight collapsible carbon-fibre poles. While the elite field is split pretty evenly on whether to use poles or not, the vast majority of the pack carry them.
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