The Kit Audit
Trail Running Gear Guide
The Kit Audit
A Practical Gear Review Before Your 100km Build
Many runners begin a new ultramarathon training cycle assuming they need new gear. New shoes, a new vest, maybe a brighter head torch. Sometimes that is true. Often it is not.
The smartest place to start is not a store. It is an audit.
A gear audit is a simple review of what you already own. Which items still perform well, which are beginning to wear out, and which might not hold up across the long training days ahead.
The goal is not to accumulate more gear. The goal is to remove problems before they appear deep into a long run.
Trail Shoes
Shoes carry the highest physical load of any gear in trail running. Over time the midsole loses responsiveness, tread patterns flatten, and upper fabrics stretch.
For longer ultras this degradation becomes noticeable. Shoes that feel acceptable during shorter runs may feel unstable or overly firm after several hours.
Questions to ask
• Roughly how many kilometres have these shoes covered?
• Does the grip still feel reliable on technical terrain?
• Do they remain comfortable once your feet swell?
Vest or Hydration Pack
Your vest or running pack carries nearly everything you need during long trail efforts: fluids, nutrition, layers, and mandatory safety gear.
Small issues here often become large problems later. A strap that rubs slightly, a pocket that is difficult to reach, or a vest that bounces under load can become exhausting across hours of running.
Female runners often notice fit differences more acutely. Strap placement, vest length, and soft fabric contact points can make a substantial difference over longer distances.
Lighting
Even if your race begins in daylight, night running is common in 100km events. Lighting therefore becomes both a safety tool and a performance tool.
Head torches that worked well during shorter runs sometimes reveal limitations during longer efforts. Battery life, brightness stability, and beam clarity all matter more when navigating technical terrain at night.
Check how long your current light holds full brightness. Rechargeable batteries often lose capacity over time.
Layers and Protection
Long trail races require preparation for changing conditions. Temperature shifts, wind exposure, and sudden weather changes are common once you move into mountainous or remote terrain.
Most races require waterproof jackets, thermal layers, gloves, and emergency safety items. Reviewing these pieces early allows you to confirm they still function properly and meet event requirements.
Waterproof fabrics degrade slowly. If a jacket has not been used in some time, testing it during a rainy training run is worthwhile.
Poles
Not every runner uses poles, but for mountainous ultras they can provide significant advantages on long climbs.
If you are considering poles, this early stage of the training program is the ideal time to experiment. They require practice to use efficiently and to carry comfortably when not in use.
If poles are already part of your system, check the locking mechanism and straps. Small mechanical issues tend to reveal themselves late in races.
You do not need more gear. You need gear that disappears into the background while you focus on running.
A thoughtful kit review early in your training cycle creates space to replace items gradually and train in any new equipment well before race day.
Nothing new on race day is one of the oldest principles in endurance sport. A simple audit now helps ensure that rule remains easy to follow.
