The Kit Audit
Training Notes · Trail & Ultra · Kit Audit
The kit audit.
Before the build begins.
A practical, line by line gear review for trail and ultra runners, written with the UTA mandatory list in mind.
your kit is your strategy.
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, which are quietly wearing out, and which might not hold up across the long training days ahead. The goal is not to accumulate more. The goal is to remove problems before they appear deep into a long run, on a dark ridge, or twelve hours into race day.
Trail and ultra races take mandatory gear seriously for good reason. Events like Ultra-Trail Australia, UTMB, and most major mountain ultras require a defined safety kit at the start line. Reviewing your own list against current race requirements is the cleanest way to make sure your equipment is ready for what you are training for, not just the run you are doing today.
You do not need more gear. You need gear that disappears into the background while you focus on running.
01 / Trail shoes
The single highest load item in your kit.
Shoes carry the highest physical load of any gear in trail running. Over time the midsole foam loses responsiveness, lugs flatten, rock plates fatigue, and uppers stretch. The shoe that felt locked in at three months can feel sloppy and dead at twelve. For long ultras, that drift becomes the difference between a stable foot and a long, slow degradation.
Audit your trail shoes
Kilometres on the build
Most trail shoes hold structural integrity for 600 to 1000 km depending on terrain, body weight, and foam type. Track this honestly. The shoe does not lie. Your memory might.
Lug depth and rubber compound
Look at the lugs under the forefoot and lateral midfoot first. These wear fastest. If they are rounded down to half their original height, grip on wet rock and mud is already compromised.
Midsole compression
Press a thumb into the midsole near the heel and forefoot. Healthy foam rebounds. Dead foam stays compressed. A dead midsole transmits more load to the calves, achilles, and knees, especially on descents.
Upper and lockdown
Check for stretched fabric over the toe box, frayed eyelets, and worn heel collars. A loose heel late in an ultra is a blister waiting to happen.
Fit under swelling feet
Feet swell up to a full size during a long ultra. If the shoe is tight at hour one, it will not be wearable at hour eight. Half a size up from your road shoe is a common rule for races over 50 km.
A good approach for a 100 km build is two rotating pairs at minimum. One for everyday trail running, one slightly newer and reserved for long runs and race day. This protects the race pair from arriving at the start line tired.
02 / Vest or hydration pack
The system that carries everything else.
Your vest carries fluids, nutrition, layers, and mandatory safety gear. Small issues here become large problems later. A strap that rubs slightly. A pocket that is hard to reach. A vest that bounces under load. These add up across hours of running.
For UTA 100 km, the mandatory gear list assumes your vest can carry approximately 1.5 litres of fluid plus a full layered safety kit. Test that capacity loaded, with everything in, before any long run.
Audit your vest
Capacity, loaded
Pack the full mandatory list plus 1.5 L of fluid and a long run nutrition load. If you are stuffing pockets and the vest sits awkwardly, capacity is too small for race day.
Fit on the female body
Many vests originally designed on a male torso pull, gap, or chafe on a female chest. Strap angle, sternum strap height, and soft fabric contact points matter. Brands like Salomon Advanced Skin W, Ultimate Direction Race Vesta, and Nathan Pinnacle have specific female cuts worth testing.
Bounce and rub points
Run a long session loaded. Note any rub at the sternum, under the arms, or at the lower back. Address them now with placement, not with hope. Anti chafe balm helps. A poorly fitting vest does not get better at hour ten.
Pocket access on the move
Can you reach gels, soft flasks, phone, and jacket without removing the vest? Pocket layout is the difference between fuelling on schedule and skipping it because reaching is too hard.
Soft flask life
Soft flasks crack at the seams over time, especially around bite valves. Squeeze them full. Hold them upside down. Replace any that leak even slightly.
03 / Mandatory weather protection
The layers that change conditions from danger to detour.
Long trail races require preparation for changing conditions. Temperature shifts, wind, and sudden weather are normal once you move into remote or alpine terrain. Most major events, including UTA, require a defined set of weather and safety items. These are not optional. They are the gear that turns a bad day into a survivable one.
Audit the layers
Waterproof jacket with hood
Seam sealed, fully taped seams, with a hood. UTA and most major ultras require a minimum hydrostatic head rating, commonly 10,000 mm, and ideally breathable. Check the inside of the seams for peeling tape. Spray test it. A jacket that wets through in light rain is not race ready.
Thermal top, long sleeve
Merino or synthetic insulating top. Must cover torso and arms. Check for moth holes, thinning shoulders, or stretched cuffs. The thermal is what keeps you alive if you stop moving in cold weather.
Thermal beanie or buff
Wool or fleece. Light, packable, covers ears properly. A buff alone is often not enough for the colder events. Read the rule.
Gloves
Lightweight thermal or windproof gloves. Cold fingers make every other piece of gear harder to use. Test putting them on with wet hands.
Space blanket or bivvy
Most ultras specify a foil emergency blanket. Some require a bivvy bag for higher mountain events. Confirm which your race wants. Check the blanket is not torn at folds.
Whistle
A real whistle, not the one stitched onto a vest sternum strap unless that one still works. Test it. Quiet whistles fail in wind.
Waterproof fabrics degrade slowly and quietly. If a jacket has been sitting at the back of a cupboard since last season, take it out in a real rain shower before you trust it on a ridge.
04 / Lighting
Two lights, both tested, both ready.
Even if your race starts in daylight, night running is common at 100 km and almost guaranteed at longer distances. Lighting is a safety tool and a performance tool. A bright, stable beam means you can keep running. A flickering, dim one means a slow walk through technical terrain.
Major ultras typically require one primary head torch with a minimum lumen output, often 200 lumens or higher, plus a backup torch and spare batteries. Check the specific rule for your event. The numbers vary.
Audit your lights
Primary head torch
Charge it fully. Time how long it holds high beam in a dark room or backyard. Rechargeable batteries lose capacity over years. The advertised runtime is not your runtime once the torch is two seasons old.
Backup torch
Required at most major ultras. A small, light second head torch is enough. Confirm it works. Replace batteries even if it has been sitting unused.
Spare batteries
Fresh, sealed, packed in a waterproof bag. For rechargeable models, carry a small power bank with the right cable. Many runners are caught out by carrying the wrong cable type.
Beam pattern
A floody close beam helps with feet. A spot beam helps with course markers and the line ahead. Many runners prefer a torch that does both. Test in real conditions, not just in the kitchen.
Strap and comfort
Frayed straps, loose pivots, or a heavy battery pack that bounces on the back of the head all become unbearable at night. Run with it before race day.
05 / Hydration, nutrition, safety
The mandatory items you almost never see in photos.
A large portion of any ultra mandatory list is the gear you hope to never need. Audit these now while replacement is easy. Race week is a poor time to discover an out of date first aid kit or a phone that no longer holds charge.
Audit hydration, nutrition, and safety
Hydration capacity
UTA 100 km requires a minimum carrying capacity, typically 1.5 L of fluid. Confirm your flasks and bladder reach it. Check bladder tubes and bite valves for mould. Replace if any doubt.
Emergency food
Most races require a minimum calorie load on top of planned fuel. Around 800 to 1000 kcal of stable, packable food is standard. Real food backup, not just gels, sits better when you have been moving for hours.
Mobile phone, charged, in race service
Required at every major ultra. Stored in a waterproof bag. Numbers for race control saved. A power bank with the correct cable is worth the small weight.
First aid kit
Compression bandage, blister care, small wound dressing, electrolytes, personal medications. Check expiry on tablets and adhesives. Most ultras specify a minimum.
Map and course materials
Many events require a paper course map carried for the duration. Some require GPS files loaded onto your watch. Confirm both. Watch route files have saved more races than they have ruined.
Identification and emergency contact card
Required by most races. Worth carrying always, not just on race day.
06 / Poles
Optional for many. Decisive for some.
Not every runner uses poles. For mountainous ultras with significant climbing, they can offer meaningful advantages on long ascents, especially in the back half of a race when posterior chain fatigue starts to compromise climbing form. UTA 100 km has thousands of metres of climbing, much of it on stairs. Many runners find poles change how their legs feel by 50 km.
If you are considering poles, the early part of a training block is the ideal time to test them. They are a skill, not just equipment. Carrying them comfortably, deploying them quickly, and using them efficiently all take practice.
Audit your poles
Folding mechanism
Check the locking system. Carbon Z-fold poles fail quietly if the internal cord has stretched. Lever locks can slip. Test under load before any long run.
Straps and grips
Frayed straps, hardened foam grips, or sweat damaged cork can cause blisters across long days. Replace early. Pole grips do not heal.
Tip wear
Carbide tips wear down. A blunt tip slips on rock. Replacement tips are cheap. Use them.
Carry system
Practise stowing and deploying poles on the move. Vest pole holders vary. If you fight your vest every time the trail flattens, you will avoid using them on race day.
07 / Apparel and chafe
The quiet items that decide your day.
Mandatory lists do not specify what you run in. The race kit does. This is also the gear most likely to be ignored until it hurts. Sports bra, shorts, socks, and undershorts are the items that make or break long days.
Audit your race apparel
Sports bra
Sports bras lose support after 50 to 100 wears and washes. If yours is the one you have worn through training, it may not be ready for race day. Check seams, band tension, and strap elasticity. Run a long test in it loaded with the vest on.
Shorts or skirt
Inseam length, waistband fit, pocket layout, and chafe lines. Many female ultra runners prefer a short with a fitted inner short to prevent ride up. Test fully loaded with the vest.
Socks
Merino blend or technical synthetic. Crew height in alpine terrain to protect from scrub. Replace at the first sign of thinning. Pack a dry spare in a drop bag for races over 50 km.
Cap or visor
Sun protection. Lightweight, breathable. Test it under the head torch for night sections. Some caps push lights off line.
Anti chafe strategy
Balm or stick at known rub points, applied generously. Inner thighs, sports bra band, sock line, vest sternum strap, and under the arms. Reapply at long aid stations.
08 / The female layer
The items often left off the standard list.
Most mandatory gear lists were written without female athletes as the default user. There are practical items worth carrying or planning for that rarely appear on a check sheet.
Worth carrying or planning for
Period kit
Pads, tampons, or menstrual cup in a small dry bag. Race day can land anywhere in your cycle. A small kit removes one thing to worry about.
Wipes and tissues
Biodegradable wipes for off course toilet stops, plus a small zip lock to pack out. Race ground often has no toilets between aid stations.
Drop bag spares
A dry sports bra, dry socks, and a clean top in a drop bag can transform the second half of a wet ultra. Plan the swap in advance, including reapplication of anti chafe.
Lubrication and skin care
Vest straps, sports bra band, inner thigh, and underarm zones. A small balm tube in the vest costs nothing to carry and pays for itself the first time you reapply at 60 km.
09 / How to run the audit
A simple process for this week.
Run the audit
01 / Lay everything out
Empty the vest. Spread it on the floor. Add shoes, lights, layers, poles, and apparel. Photograph the spread for your records.
02 / Cross check against your race
Open the current mandatory gear list for your event. Tick each item. Note anything missing or out of spec. The fastest way to fail kit check is to assume last year is this year.
03 / Sort into three piles
Ready to race. Functional but needs replacing soon. Replace now. Order replacements early so you can train in them well before race day.
04 / Run a loaded long session
Take the full mandatory load on a real training run. Wear it on hills, descents, and rough trail. Note any rub, bounce, or access issue while it is still solvable.
05 / Repeat at the halfway mark of the block
Audit again at the midpoint of your build, and again two weeks before race day. Gear that survived month one does not always survive month four.
Nothing new on race day. The audit is what makes that rule easy to follow.
10 / The shift
Gear should disappear so you can run.
The runners who carry their kit well are not the ones with the most expensive gear. They are the ones who have used what they own long enough to know exactly where each item lives, how it behaves wet, and what it feels like at hour eight.
A thoughtful kit review early in your training cycle creates space to replace items gradually and train in them well before race day. That is the entire point. Less mental load on race morning. More attention available for the run itself.
audit early. trust it later.
Authored by
Her Trails Coaching
