planetFear / Articles / Kit Lists / The Mountain Marathon Kit List (Version IV)

This is the 4th version of this article (May 2006). I have tried to update it regularly, to keep abreast of all the latest clothing and equipment developments. However, if you do have any questions or suggestions please don’t hesitate to contact me at the planetFear office.

Above: Mark Hartell and Mark Seddon, regular Elite winners, competing at the LAMM. Photo ©: Lowe Alpine / LAMM

The type and quality of equipment you choose to take is all about experience and the depth of your wallet! For your first mountain marathon you’ll probably not have specialist equipment like a titanium pan or ultra lightweight sleeping bag. Not to worry, all those elite competitors with their tiny bags had to start somewhere too!

If you are unsure of what to take, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Snow, torrential rain, high winds and freezing temperatures have all been seen at UK events. As a more experienced competitor you’ll have the knowledge to make informed decisions on what to take and it’s more likely you’ll be willing to invest in some top quality kit.

If you are prepared to pay a little extra for the luxury of saving weight, then there are some great products out there.

Left: Jim and Phil Davies on course to win the 2004 LAMM Elite.

For almost all the clothing features in this article there are men’s and women’s styles available. Please just click the links.

Although this article is focused on mountain marathon equipment for foot races, most of the equipment and clothing would be equally at home at bike orientated events such as the Polaris.

Important Note about this article
Manufacturers have been known to lose a few grams when stating the weight of their products. Therefore, for this article, as well as showing the manufacturer’s weights (MFR weight) we have actually weighed every item on our postal weighing scales (pF weight)! If there is a letter in brackets after our weight e.g.120g (L) it means that weight is for the size in brackets, in this case Large. Otherwise, all weights are for size Medium (clothing). It’s important to note with sleeping bags that the amount of down added to the bags varies. If your 500g bag weighs 550g be thankful it’s warmer and if it weighs 450g be thankful it’s lighter! Seriously though, we are happy to weigh sleeping bags before sending them out if you want us to check.

1. Trousers / Tights / Shorts

Trouser / Tights
Most events insist that you carry full leg cover even if you run in shorts. If you are looking for something to keep you warm then a pair of lightweight fleece or power-stretch style leggings will be fine and I’d recommend either the Lowe Alpine Powerstretch Lite Tights or TNF Aurora Stretch Tight. Alternatively if you are looking for something to actually run in, then some lightweight running tights will be more appropriate and either the Helly Hansen Trailwizard Tight or Raidlight Stretch Raider Tight will do the job.

Shorts
As with many competitors, I prefer to run in a pair of shorts. As long as you keep working hard you should be warm enough even in fairly unpleasant weather. The RaidLight shorts are extremely well made and thought out and I’d happily recommend them to anyone.

Also worth considering is a pair of windproof trousers. Although not required in the rules, if the weather really is terrible it’s a lot more comfortable to run in these than waterproof trousers. Additionally, some events only specify ’Pertex trousers’ (Pertex is a windproof fabric) in the rules rather than waterproof trousers. See section below on windproof clothing.

2. Base Layer Top

Walking round in the hills can make you sweaty enough but running for hours is definitely going to make you ‘glow’! Investing in a technical, high wicking base layer will make a huge difference to your comfort and warmth. Depending on the weather you may wish to opt for either a t-shirt or long sleeve top.

The Helly Hansen LIFA tops are clear favourites with MM competitors and are well known for their extraordinary wicking properties. Recently I competed in the GL3D and wore a Helly Hansen Versa Trailwizard (long sleeve) and I have to say I was impressed. The front zip allows you to vent easily and the sleeves are loose enough to roll up giving you maximum temperature regulation options.

T-Shirts

Long Sleeve T-Shirts

3. Underwear

Although not specifically mentioned in the rules, I’m assumming that most competitors will be wearing some underwear! It’s worth considering that many competitors, indeed active outdoors people, spend loads of money on technical, wicking clothing but neglect to purchase any wicking underwear. The result being the unpleasant sensation of cotton underwear sticking to your groin and making your undercarriage sweaty and uncomfortable.

Bras - by Heather Clark
For most female competitors, a good bra is essential. Your saggy old cotton favourite is probably not up to the job and, once you’ve worn a proper sports bra, there is no going back.
A good bra for running must be well-fitting, supportive, comfortable and preferably wicking too. I recently acquired a wicking sports bra and the comfort is amazing. There are several styles available from reputable outdoor brands. We recommend a high impact bra for mountain marathons and any other running.

We normally stock a good range of seamless, highly wicking underwear and bra’s, which can be seen here>>>

4. Fleece Top / Warm Layer

Some competitors take just a long sleeve t-shirt as their ’warm top’ and shiver their way through the night. Remember that you’ve got to be fighting fit in the morning so a decent warm top will make a big difference to your comfort. The following selection of fleece and Power Stretch tops will do the job.

Clearly TNF Aurora Zip Neck wins it on weight but it’s not the warmest garmet on the list (that’s the Millet Power Stretch Jacket). I think the best value for money is offered by the Berghaus Pro Sports Light Fleece and the best warmth to weight ratio is achived by the Lowe Alpine Power Stretch Lite Top.

If you really feel the cold or the weather forecast is particularly cruel then it may be worth carrying some warmer clothing. Go for a down insulated top if you are confident of keeping it dry and warmth / weight ratio is your primary concern. Alternatively go for a synthetic insulated top if conditions are likely to be wet.

5. Waterproof Trousers

Some events insist on waterproof trousers, others allow you to take Pertex trousers. In the past I’ve always recommended that people just take Pertex trousers unless the rules insist on waterproof trousers. However, that advice is far from clear cut now with the development of extremely lightweight waterproof trousers from Montane – the Atomic Pant.

The Atomic weighs an incredible 180g, which when compared to the Pertex Featherlite Pant (110g) makes the option of having fully waterproof pants much more attractive. I leave this difficult choice to you but be guided by the weather forecast on the Friday night.

Obviously if weight is your first concern, go for the Atomic Pants. If you don’t mind adding some weight in return for increased breathability then think about the Berghaus Paclite Pant. The Berghaus Paclite pants are available in a wide range of sizes for both men and women so getting a good fit (even over the internet!) shouldn’t be a problem.

The KIMMlite Kamleika Pants are very unusual, being made from an extremely stretchy material, and are easily the most comfortable to actually run in. The Lowe Alpine Rush Pants are the best value and also very robust. I’ve had a pair for circa 5 years and they are still waterproof and in a good condition.

6. Waterproof Jacket

As with the waterproof trousers the Berghaus Paclite Smock is clearly a top product for its combination of low weight and breathability. However, the Montane 180, TNF Diad and Marmot Essence Anorak are all lighter. Although their fabrics aren’t as breathable as the Paclite Gore-Tex I’m sceptical about how much benefit that is to you when you are running hard in the rain… you are going to sweat and you are going to get wet whatever you are wearing!

Both the KIMMlite Smock and Jacket are worth giving serious thought to as well, thanks to their great stretchy fabric construction. If weight is your enemy go for the smock but if want the features and increased versatility, go for the jacket.

Personally I’ve gone for the Marmot Essence Anorak, which I’ve customised (cut off pockets, tags etc) to get the weight very low.

7. Windproof Clothing

The one brand that has stolen a march with windproof clothing in recent years in Montane. Although a windproof top is rarely specified in the kit list, it’s probably the one ’extra’ item that is most likely to be taken and makes a huge difference to your warmth.

Montane make four excellent tops that are specially aimed at runners, the Jetstream, Featherlite Smock, Vapour and Lite-Speed, plus of course their Featherlite Pants which literally everyone seems to have!

If weight is your first concern then go for the Jetstream, which being made from Pertex Quantum is incredible light. If price is your guide then go for the Featherlite Smock which is made from standard Pertex. Both are awesome items. Marmot has also produced a great looking female windproof called the Ion, which is very light as well.

8. Hats, Gloves and Socks

Your hat is likely to have to one of two tasks; keeping you warm or keeping the sun off. Either way something light and simple will be in order. Warm hats are only likely to be worn at the overnight camp unless the weather is appalling. Some competitors like waterproof hats but I’d consider that an overkill, seeing as your waterproof jacket must have a hood. It may be worth considering a windproof hat. Sunhats again need to be light and something like the Raidlight Sahara Sunhat is hard to fault. For something warm I’d go for the Outdoor Designs Powerstretch Beanie.

Sun Hats

Warm Hats

Gloves

Socks

9. Head Torch

The Black Diamond Ion is without doubt the lightest headtorch on the market. With fresh batteries the Ion provides a surprising amount of light, easily sufficient for walking round the overnight camp, cooking and other slow motion activities. However, if you are looking for a torch to actually aid navigation this isn’t the one for you.

Next up and probably the most popular headtorch used by mountain marathon runners is the Petzl Zipka Plus, which provides more light than the Ion but is twice the weight. The Zipka will allow you just enough light to finish off your course in the dark.

If you are looking for a headtorch that’ll be a true night time navigator but still doesn’t weigh much then the best choice out there is a Black Diamond Zenix IQ, which utilizes hyper bright LED technology. Finally, if you are planning to get lost and spend more time navigating in the dark then the best option would be the Petzl Myo XP!

A popular choice for a team is to have an Ion and a MyoXP (for example), which keeps the overall weight down but does give you the option of navigating in the dark if need be. Another consideration is the Petzl Tikka XP that I imagine would provide a similar level of light to the BD Zenix IQ but I haven’t used one and therefore can’t be sure.


10. Food For 36 Hours

In my opinion, getting your nutrition and hydration right is the most important single factor that determines how well and how much you enjoy a mountain marathon. I’ve suffered from lack of food, I’ve carried way to much food, and I’ve been dehydrated - all of which detract from your enjoyment and performance.

Below I listed some of the more scientific options available for keeping yourself fed and watered, but remember your local supermarket has a surprising selection of dehydrated meals (rice, pasta, noodles) which often taste better than the ‘specialist’ meals. Look carefully at the calorific content of the meals though.

Treats like jelly babies, flapjacks and fruit n’ nut are popular and a welcome break from energy gels and bars. You know what you like and I’d suggest bring it along!

Carbohydrate Powder
Many competitors swear by energy powders that can be mixed in with your water. There are two main brands: Science in Sport (SIS) and High5 available in the UK. Personally, I’ve only used the SIS powder, called PSP22 and therefore can’t compare it directly with the High5 equivalent. However, in my experience the PSP22 does make a difference. Learning what concentration suits you is a matter of trial and error as the manufacturer’s recommendations seem not to agree with most people I know. Therefore I wouldn’t use these types of energy supplements for the first time in an event.
• More >>>

Energy Gels
Energy gels can be total lifesavers. Just as your legs turn to molten lead, down a gel and within 5-10 minutes you’ll feel the difference. High5 and SIS make the two best known products and the choice is between carrying a little more weight in the SIS product, which is isotonic and therefore doesn’t need to be taken with water, or choosing the High5 gel, which is more concentrated but needs to be diluted with a few mouthfuls of water. I prefer the High5 gels, mainly because they are lighter for long races when you’ll have access to water (or carry it) and prefer the SIS Gels for short races when you definitely won’t be carrying water.
• More >>>

Energy Bars
High5 and SIS also make energy bars which are great way to take onboard more complex carbohydrates whilst racing. Each manufacturer will argue the relative merits of their product but I’d go for whichever one you feel tastes best! Bear in mind that if it’s cold these bars get extremely hard and can be nearly impossible to chew.
• More >>>

Dehydrated Meals
Finally, if you are really looking to compete with a lightweight sack you are going to have to face up to a dehydrated meal at the overnight camp. I’ve tried a few different types and personally prefer the Reiter Travel Lunch brand. I take two of these for a main meal on the Saturday night and a third one for breakfast on the Sunday morning.
• Reiter Travel Lunch Dehydrated Meals

Nutrition Article. There is an excellent summary of a research paper about the ’Nutrition Strategies of Mountain Marathon Competitors’ here>>>

11. Compass

I used to prefer something very light and simple, such as the Silva Field 7. However I’ve recently been converted to the more orienteering focused Silva 5 Jet, which has a very stable, very fast needle. At this rate Jenny will have me using a thumb compass before I know it!

12. Survival Bag/Space Blanket

Some competitors see this rule as unnecessary given that you are carrying a tent and sleeping bag. However, a survival bag really could save your or your partner’s life if something terrible happened. Read the rules carefully and check whether you need to carry a survival bag or blanket. Definitely avoid carrying heavy duty plastic survival bags which just aren’t required.

Once at the overnight camp, use one of your space blankets spread out over the floor of the tent. This will make a real difference to your overnight comfort. Don’t be afraid to use your second space blanket (one for each team member) as a rug should the temperature drop.

13. Sleeping Bag

A small revolution has occurred with lightweight sleeping bags in the past few years with many competitors upgrading their sleeping bags to new, lightweight and highly compressible down bags. Purchasing a top quality sleeping bag will save you more weight than any other personal item so it’s worth investigating the option properly.

If your only consideration is weight then the Rab Quantum Top is the only answer. The Quantum Top is filled with premium down but only on the top side of the bag, so tossing and turning during the night can mean the Pertex Quantum base rolls round and you lose your insulation (the best way to avoid this is by putting your sleeping mat in your bag). The OMM PA1 is even lighter, but there is no down in the top half of the bag at all so needs to be used with a quality down jacket.

If you don’t fancy compromising on your comfort then the Rab Quantum 200, KIMMLite Mummery 0.5 and Marmot Atom are normal sleeping bags that all weigh well under 500g. If you feel the cold a Marmot Helium or Rab Quantum 400 will keep you warm and are well worth a little extra cost and weight.

Finally, don’t forget something to sleep on! Some competitors use lightweight Therm-a-Rest Prolite 3, which at least means a good night’s sleep but they do weigh a lot compared to the other options. Other competitors go for very thin foam mats; either camping mats (available from most outdoor shops) or carpet underlay (available from DIY centres). Either way, cut the mat down to mirror your body footprint. Alternatively, use bubble wrap. It’s surprisingly warm and obviously light but does take up a lot of volume in your bag (available from office super stores such as Staples).

Personally, I think the answer lies with the revolutionary BalloonBed. BalloonBeds consist of modelling balloons insert into a silk sleeve. They are very light and very comfortable. However, the big disadvantage is that the balloons have a tendency to pop! To minimise this, practise blowing them up at home (there is a knack to it) and don’t inflate the balloons until you are actually ready to sleep. Taking a few spare balloons is recommended!

14. Rucksack

Deciding on which rucksack to use depends largely on what kind of equipment you are going to be carrying. For first timers I wouldn’t recommend anything smaller than 30 litres so it’s a straight choice between the classic OMM MM 32 (32L & lightest) and the Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon 32 (32L & cheapest).

If you have invested in a lightweight tent and sleeping bag you should be able to comfortably fit everything into a 25 litre rucksack, so here the choice is between OMM MM 25 (25L) and Lowe Alpine Rush 25 (25L). Once gain you pay a little bit more for the OMM MM 25 but also save a few grams.

The Berghaus 64ZERO is a good transition sack between the 32 litre and 25 litre categories, having a 30L capacity.
The Berghaus 49ZERO and KIMMlite 22SSL being only 20L and 22L respectively, are for experts only or for individuals who have a stronger partner and are not intending to carrying equal amounts of equipment.

NB. The KIMMlite 22SSL has been discontinued and is to be replaced by a new OMM 20 litre sack in 2006… watch this space.

By far the most popular sacks seen at any UK mountain marathon are the OMM MM 32 and OMM MM25 and I’d make your choice based on your compressed size of your sleeping bag and tent.

There is an article here on how to customise your running sack to save a few extra grams!

15. Tent

Investing in a good tent will save you the most weight possible in one purchase as a team. For Elite teams wanting to minimise weight then the Nic Impex Sup’Air is the lightest tent on the market. However, this tent is seriously specialist and good for nothing apart from racing. Its single skin design means that staying dry in wet weather is a real challenge, as it’s also only about 3/4 metre high sitting up in the tent isn’t an option… but it is the lightest.

The Terra Nova Laser Competition does have sufficient room for two people to sit up, it does have two skins and it’s very lightweight. If the weather is grim at the overnight camp then being able to get into the tent and relax is really important for recovering and well worth the extra weight. My personal favourite is this tent.

The KIMMlite Sub 1000 (soon to be re-branded OMM Sub 1000) isn’t a bad tent with plenty of height in the porch but little internal space within the tent for two people. It’s also a single skin tent and consequently a little prone to condensation. However, it’s currently not available so no point going on about it!

The Marmot EOS 1P is great value 1 person camping tent that can also be used to squash two people into for a mountain marathon. It’s a good choice for your first event and versatile enough for normal camping activities.

One of the criticisms of the really lightweight tents is that the fabrics are so light that they tear easily and this seems to the compromise you have to make. Most competitors only use their lightweight tents for events (a 3-5 per year) and don’t expect the tents to last more than 3-5 years.

Bearing this in mind a Lightwave zr0 cycq or Hilleberg Akto both have good reputations for durability and it may well be worth paying a little bit more (either in weight or cash) for a more versatile tent that’ll last.

16. Cooking Stove and Pan

A lightweight gas stove is generally considered the best option and there are two really good products to choose between. The only difference between the MSR Pocket Rocket and Primus Micron Stove is whether you want to pay the extra for the Primus stove, which has a built in ignition mechanism. Personally I’d go for the MSR Pocket Rocket. Don’t forget some tin foil to use as a windbreak.

In terms of saving weight on your cooking pot, look no further than the MSR Titan Kettle. However, you’ll need to leave the lid and handles at home and then the weight is reduced from 118g to 72g. If you are not prepared to spend nearly £40 on a kettle only to dismantle it then check out the Primus Litetech Trek Kettle. The disadvantage of taking a kettle is that they are only any good for boiling water. If you are taking a meal that needs to go in a pan to be cooked then choose something larger like 2L Titan pan. Don’t forget some tin foil to use as a lid.

JUST IN... We have managed to get our hands on a supply of 12g Aluminium Foil Pans! Brilliant for anyone looking to save weight but easy to damage.

17. Footwear

For my first mountain marathon I didn’t own any fell shoes and turned up with some old trainers that I wouldn’t mind trashing… I quickly lost count of the number of times I fell over and learned that decent, studded fell running shoes are essential.

Invo-8 quite literally turned the fell running shoes market on its head when their first shoe was launched in early 2000. Since then they have gone on to develop a stable of superb, innovative fell running shoes. If you want a pure race shoe then the Mudclaw 270 is hard to beat. Its sole unit is incredibly aggressive and ideally suited to wet, muddy and steep terrain, as well as contouring and descending. Being the shoe of choice for the 2005 LAMM and KIMM elite winners it’s hard to argue with its pedigree!

The Mudroc 280 has a less aggressive sole unit than the Mudclaw 270 and a more traditional lacing system, which will probably be too more peoples taste. The Roclite 315 is more of an off road trail running shoe and offers more comfort, cushioning and support than either the Mudroc 280 or Mudclaw 270. However, it still has a studded sole unit and would make a good choice for a mountain marathon on sun baked ground or someone less concerned with speed than comfort.

Montrail entered the fell running shoe market in 2006 with the Highlander and with a great reputation for ultra running and trail shoes it’s no surprise that the Highlander has all the hallmarks of a great fell shoe. My first impression is that it somewhere between the Roclite 315 and the Mudroc 280 i.e. it offers a comfortable ride but still has an aggressive sole unit.

18. Hydration

Staying full hydrated during an event is difficult and mountain marathon competitors face unique challenges (there is a comprehensive article here>>>).

Your first choice is weather to carry water or not. The benefits of carrying water is that you stay hydrated at all times. However, there is the weight penalty of carrying water with you at all times. Bear in mind that an elite competitor may have a starting sack weight of circa 5kg, if you were then to add 1 or 2 litres of water, that’s 1 or 2 kg of additional weight!

Some competitors run with just a small plastic mug that they can quickly use to drink from streams as they pass. From personal experience I prefer to carry a small 0.5L water bottle with a wide lid. This allows me to fill and drink from quickly but also mix in energy powders and carry for short periods if necessary.

If you are going to take a bladder, don’t take anything but a Big Zip Hoser…they are 1000 times faster to fill from a stream compared to the standard, cap closed bladder.

Although most people will be happy to drink straight from the streams and rivers during an event you may feel it necessary to purify your water first. This is particulatly important if you have just completed a course of antibiotics, which may mean your stomosch isn’t as rubost as normal. Full details here>>>.

19. Misc Essentials

Dry bags
Worth considering for keeping essentials like your sleeping bag dry. More>>>

Rucksack liners
If the weather is forecast to be really terrible then an additional rucksack liner will help keep everything dry. Worth adding to your Friday night bag just in case. More>>>

Stuff Sacks
Can be useful for keeping all your kit organised and dry but don’t overdo it… I know one compeitior who insists on putting every item of kit in a separate stuff sack, which costs time (try putting on your waterproof trousers) and adds weight (10 x 10g etc). More>>>

Insect repellent & Midge Net
This may sound like a real extravagance but at my first LAMM competitors were outnumbered by midges by about a billion to one and I wouldn’t have exchanged my midge net for a kilo of gold! I’d always stick one in my Friday night bag so at the very least I can be comfortable the night before. More>>>

Ear Plugs
The overnight camp is going to be crowded and you’ll be camped very close to your fellow competitors. If one of them is into snoring then your ear plugs will be very welcome. More>>>

Freezer Bags
Sealable freezer bags are great for all sorts of things. I take three large ones with me. One for each foot (for keeping my feet dry at the overnight camp) and a third one to use as a water carrier, which saves me going back and forth to the water source.

First Aid Kit, Compeed & Pain killers
Most events insist on ‘bandage and wound dressing’ as a minimum. I made a trip to my local Boots and bought the smallest bandage and smallest wound dressing in the shop. After an unpleasant experience with a blister I supplemented this kit with some compeed second skin. All this is sealed in small freezer bag and weighs very little. More>>>

Tin Foil
This acts as a windbreak around your stove and pan lid. Only needs to be one layer thick and this improves cooking efficiency dramatically.

Emergency Rations
Let’s face it you’re not going to starve to death, even should the worst happen. Therefore the emphasis is on taking as little as possible whilst still complying with the rules. I bought the smallest, lightest packet of powdered soup and the smallest, lightest bar of chocolate I could find. End results: some emergency rations that weighed in at 43g.

Whistle
I don’t think we need to get too technical here! It’s worth noting that the newest KIMMlite packs come with a whistle built into the buckle so no chance of losing or forgetting it. More>>>

Important Note about this article
Manufacturers have been known to lose a few grams when stating the weight of their products. Therefore, for this article we actually weighed every item on our postal weighing scales (size medium for all clothing). It’s important to note with sleeping bags that the amount of down added to the bags varies. If your 500g weighs 550g be thankful it’s warmer and if it weighs 450g be thankful it’s lighter! Seriously though, we are happy to weigh sleeping bags before sending them out if you want us to check.

The major UK mountain marathons...

• April – GL3D
• June – LAMM
• July – Saunders
• Sep – Mourne
• Oct - OMM
• x3 Year - Polaris (MTBO)
  

...see you there!

Above: Shane Ohly and Rich Parry (left and right respectively) at the 2004 KIMM.