Ultimate Gear Guide for Training and Racing an Ultra Marathon

Ultra running isn’t just about running faster—it’s about running smarter.

It’s as much about strategy, fuelling, and mental toughness as it is about physical endurance.

I’ve seen first-hand how the right gear, the right nutrition, and the right mindset can make a huge difference. It’s all about the 3 P’s:

Planning, Preparation and Practise.

KIT

Layering: The Secret to Staying Comfortable in Any Conditions

Ultras aren’t for the feint hearted, if it were easy everyone would do it! One of your main derailers can be the weather. You can start a race in the freezing cold, overheat by midday, and then be drenched in rain by mile 60. This is why layering is an essential skill—it allows you to regulate temperature without making drastic clothing changes.

The best base layer is Merino wool. It’s breathable, naturally moisture-wicking, and works in both hot and cold weather. Many runners assume merino is just for the winter, but it’s good for summer running too—it pulls sweat away, helps regulate body temperature and neutralises oduor.

Arm warmers are an ultra-runner’s best-kept secret. Unlike a long-sleeved layer (which you’ll have to fully remove if you overheat), arm warmers let you adjust your temperature on the go. You can roll them up when you hit cold winds and roll them down when the sun comes out.

The same goes for buffs, use them around your neck for warmth, as a sweatband round your wrist or forehead, around your head/ears for warmth or to keep your visor on in windy conditions!

Another game changer for me is a visor/cap. It keeps the sun out of my eyes, meaning I don’t always have to wear sunglasses, keeps my waterproof hood from falling over my eyes, it acts as padding against my forehead when wearing a head torch and for those with long hair it keeps those pesky straggly hairs from blowing into your face.

The Right Shoes & Socks Combo Can Save Your Feet (and Your Race)

If you’ve ever watched a runner hobble across a finish line with bloodied feet, you’ll know blisters, bruised toenails, and foot pain end more ultra races than muscle fatigue will.

The first rule, your shoes should be a thumb’s width longer than your longest toe—road runners tend to have closer fitting toe boxes but this is not the case when we are out on the trails. What you do need is a wide enough shoe for your feet to swell or for you to apply plasters etc. width is where we need to feel the space. If you have bunions or wide feet, a cramped toe box can spell disaster 30 miles into a race.

Socks are just as important as your shoes. Waterproof socks (like Sealskin, Otter, or DeckShell) are brilliant in cold, wet races, keeping your feet warm and snug. If you are running a summer race opt for merino socks for the wicking properties. You may think about doubling up your sock and wearing a liner, like Injinjis under your usual sock to act as a double layer, helping to prevent friction.

💡Pro Tip: I suggest hand washing waterproof socks to keep the waterproofing intact. Machine washing unless you are extremely diligent shortens their life.

Gaiters are a small but mighty piece of gear in winter as in summer. They stop dirt, gravel, and debris from sneaking into your shoes, which means fewer blisters. These range from the robust complete shoe covering ones as used in sandy races like the Marathon des Sables to light, small, ankle covering ones.

💡Pro Tip: Many shoes have their own gaiters that attach to their brand of shoe.

Race Vests & Waist Belts: Your Portable Aid Station

Your race vest is your best friend—it carries everything from fuel and hydration to spare layers and emergency kit. Your vest should fit snugly—no bouncing, no rubbing, and no struggling to reach pockets. When choosing your pack think about your fuel access—you don’t want to have to stop and dig through your pack every time you need a snack. The placing and size of the pockets matters and it’s good to have thought through your needs ahead of purchasing a pack.

Most ultra runners now will use soft flasks that are stored in front pockets in the vest. It’s not the only option available, as you can also use a ‘bladder’ which is a large reservoir of water which sits on your back, inside the vest. A tube delivers the liquid to your mouth.

💡Pro Tip: you will most likely want to have access to your phone during the event. Phones are getting larger, and this is compounded if you are also going to put it in a waterproof case. It can be a struggle to squeeze it into a front pocket. Bear this in mind when you are choosing a vest, take your phone and test it.

🚨 Big mistake. Thinking your race vest is waterproof, neither it nor the pockets are waterproof. So, use dry bags and waterproof casings so that your spare gear ends up wet and ineffective.

Waterproofs: More Than Just a Jacket

Not all waterproof jackets are created equal. A waterproof jackets job is more than just keeping you dry—it keeps you warm, comfortable and dry in what can be brutal conditions.

Most races ask for waterproofs with taped seams. Taped seams prevent water from seeping through the stitching. When choosing which one to buy pay attention to hydrostatic ratings. Hydrostatic is a rating that tells you how much rain the jacket will keep out. 1500mm hydrostatic and your jacket is shower proof. A jacket rated at 20,000mm will withstand heavy rain without leaking, but anything over 10,000mm is good.

Breathability is particularly important in your waterproof. The more heat you produce, for example when going up hill, the more breathability you will need. As your body heats up so moisture vapour builds up inside the jacket and needs to move to the outside. This transference relies on the existence of a temperature/pressure gradient between the inside and outside of the garment. The jacket works by equalising the pressure and heat between the inside and outside of the jacket. There are many fabrics that are good at doing this.

💡Pro Tip: Breathable garments work best at preventing condensation build up if they are reasonably close fitting. If the mid and outer layers are not in contact moisture vapour will meet pockets of cooler air between layers, so promoting condensation on the inside of the outer layer.

💡Pro Tip: The constant pressure of your pack straps can force water through even a high-quality jacket. If you’re racing in prolonged wet conditions, consider a slightly heavier-duty waterproof or double jacket to counteract this effect.

🚨 Big Mistake: Over-washing your waterproof jacket destroys its effectiveness. Either hand wash carefully or if you do want to machine wash it follow the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully.