Over the years we have seen a lot of gear come and go. Some good. Some not so good. And some that's really great.

This is the gear we recommend year after year.

Essential Accessories

Trail running and racing requires choosing the right gear to stay comfortable, efficient, safe and strong over long distances. Often in remote areas. The right equipment can make all the difference between a having a good time and a painful struggle.

When you start trail running in remote areas or over a long time or distance, it's a good idea to start carrying some essentials;

• Mobile phone
• Emergency supplies: first aid, snake bandage, space blanket
• Nutrition and hydration replenishment
• Headlamp for early mornings or late runs

Many trail races require you to carry specific mandatory gear too, which will fit comfortably into a running pack.

Running Packs and Vests

Using a bespoke running pack or vest is an easy and comfortable way to carry everything you need with you. Running packs vary in capacity, so you can choose a pack size that will carry everything you have to carry as well as want to carry to feel comfortable as you venture out onto the trails.

Trail Running Poles

Trail running poles are great for really hilly trails. Poles help you gain extra stability and traction to drive you onward and upward. Carbon running poles are becoming very popular within our community due to being light to carry while hardly noticing them.

The Rub

We also highly recommend anti-chafe balms and personal lubricant as a preventative measure. When it comes to chafe, prevention is so much better than trying to cure it. Especially if you still have a few more kilometres still to run. Ouch.

You'll never regret having emergency supplies like a first aid kit, blister care items, or a space blanket when you actually need to use them or help out another runner.

Hydration and Nutrition

Running long and far uses up a lot of energy. So it's no surprise that endurance fuels and trail running nutrition are some of our best sellers.

Carrying soft bottles or a hydration bladder on your run will give you easy access to fluid on your runs. 

With bottles onboard it's easy to replace electrolytes lost in sweat and calories burned with a huge range of running-specific nutrition and hydration options. These come in the form of drink mix powders, energy gels, bars and chews as well as tablets.

You'll find plenty of easy access pockets in most running packs or running belts for running fuels or real and whole foods to maintain your energy levels on your run.

Recovery

Post-run recovery nutrition products help replenish your body after hard or long training and racing efforts. Fuelling your recovery with protein and replacing lost calories can help you get back running again more quickly.

Footwear

We always recommend using men's trail running shoes or women's trail running shoes and not road running shoes.

The main difference with trail running shoes is the increased amount of underfoot protection, traction and durability.

Choose a shoe that offers the level of cushioning appropriate to the distances that you are running. Cushioning is important for comfort over longer or ultra-distance races. It's also important to ensure good support and a secure fit to prevent blisters.

All manufacturers make their shoes on different lasts, which mean that sizing sometimes varies from brand to brand. We offer wide and regular toe box sizing with some models to help you find the perfect fit.

Grip also varies from shoe to shoe. Look at the lug size, shape, and depth. Generally, the bigger and deeper the lugs, more aggressive the grip. Smaller lugs are suited to more runnable trails, like fire roads or gravel.

Wear moisture-wicking running socks to reduce friction and keep your feet dry to avoid blisters.