Tools

Kit weight 2.88 kg

Race Vest Checklist

Scroll through a full ultra-trail mandatory kit, item by item and gram by gram.

Kit weight

2.88

Vest

250g

Gear

1.63kg

Water

1000g

What you need at the start line

Ultra-trail races require mandatory equipment. The list below shows a typical kit for a 100 km race, but shorter distances also have their own gear requirements. This is not a recommendation. It is a condition for starting. Race stewards can check your pack at any point during the race. A missing item means a time penalty or disqualification. The list is based on the UTMB World Series standard, which applies at most mountain races in Europe. Specific requirements may vary by organizer. Always check the regulations of your race.

List based on the UTMB World Series 2025 standard. Requirements may vary by race and organizer. Always check the official regulations of your event.

Kit weight

250g

0.25 kg

0 of 16 items packed

Trail running hydration vest with two soft flasks

Waterproof jacket

200g

Long tights

180g

Warm midlayer

275g

Beanie / Buff

35g

Waterproof gloves

80g

Waterproof trousers

120g

Soft flasks 2×500 ml

1076g

Food reserve ~800 kcal

200g

Collapsible cup 150 ml

15g

Smartphone

170g

Headlamp 200+ lm

100g

Power bank

90g

Emergency blanket

50g

Whistle

Elastic bandage

20g

ID card

10g

Kit weight

250g

0.25 kg

0 of 16 items packed

Clothing & Protection

200g

Waterproof jacket

Minimum 10,000 mm waterproof membrane with hood

180g

Long tights

Full leg covering required

275g

Warm midlayer

Fleece or Primaloft second layer

35g

Beanie / Buff

Merino or synthetic headwear

80g

Waterproof gloves

Warm and waterproof, e.g. SealSkinz

120g

Waterproof trousers

Lightweight overtrousers worn over tights

Hydration & Fuel

1076g

Soft flasks 2×500 ml

Minimum 1 L capacity, filled with water

200g

Food reserve ~800 kcal

E.g. 2 gels + 2 energy bars

15g

Collapsible cup 150 ml

Collapsible cup for aid stations

Electronics

170g

Smartphone

Fully charged, with emergency numbers saved

100g

Headlamp 200+ lm

E.g. Petzl Actik or Black Diamond Spot

90g

Power bank

Spare power for your headlamp and phone

Safety

50g

Emergency blanket

NRC survival blanket, 140 × 200 cm

Whistle

Attached to the vest or easy to reach

20g

Elastic bandage

Self-adhesive, minimum 100 cm × 6 cm

10g

ID card

National ID card or passport

What weight does to your race

Every extra kilogram on your back costs energy. Energy expenditure per kilometre rises, running economy deteriorates, and the body responds with greater oxygen consumption and a higher heart rate. Studies on runners carrying 2–3 kg backpacks have found significantly higher oxygen consumption and energy cost at submaximal speeds (Scheer et al., 2019). Other research observed an acute performance impairment of around 4 % from just 2.4 kg of added load at the torso (Sharp et al., 2021).

In an ultratrail, this does not stay small. It accumulates over many hours. The higher energy demand accelerates glycogen depletion, increases muscular fatigue, and can bring on an earlier performance drop in the second half of the race.

Even a few hundred grams more or less can make a noticeable difference by the finish, especially over long distances and on courses with substantial elevation gain.

The weights listed above are guidelines. The actual weight of a piece of gear depends on its size, material, and manufacturer. Weigh your own gear before the race.

FAQ

Should I train with a pack?

Are poles worth it, even though they add weight?

A pair of folding poles weighs around 250 to 350 g and, in many races, has to be carried for the entire course. On climbs, poles reduce the load on the leg muscles and can distribute the effort more effectively. On descents and flatter sections, they become dead weight. Whether the extra load is worth it depends on the course profile and your technique. If you plan to carry poles, practise stowing and deploying them quickly while running.

How heavy is typical mandatory gear for a 70–100 km ultra?

Mandatory kit under the UTMB World Series standard includes, among other items, a waterproof jacket, an emergency blanket, a headlamp with spare batteries, a phone, a whistle, a cup, and a minimum amount of water. With careful optimisation, the mandatory kit alone comes to around 1.8 to 2.2 kg. With water and nutrition, your starting load will typically be 3 to 3.5 kg. Exact requirements vary by organiser, so always check the current mandatory kit list for your race.

How should I pack my gear?

Sources

Scheer V, Cramer L, Heitkamp HC. Running economy and energy cost of running with backpacks. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2019;59(4):555–560.
Sharp DW, Swain TG, Boy LK, Killen JM, Green JM, O’Neal EK. Examination of effects of modest loading via a ~2.4 kg soft and malleable weighted compression garment on overground running performance. 2021.

Training plans

Prepare your body, not just your gear

Packing is sorted. Now make sure your fitness matches the weight you carry and the distance ahead.

Build your plan

Free preview included

ArticleFAQ: Getting Started in Trail Running and Ultras31 quick answers for your first trail and mountain races: distances, training, gear, fueling, race-day problems, and the realities of trail racing.ArticleZugspitz Ultratrail: what you need to know before the startCourse overview, night-start dynamics, fueling, mandatory kit and the mistakes that cost the most time on the 107 km Zugspitz Ultratrail.

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What you need at the start line

List based on the UTMB World Series 2025 standard. Requirements may vary by race and organizer. Always check the official regulations of your event.

What weight does to your race

Even a few hundred grams more or less can make a noticeable difference by the finish, especially over long distances and on courses with substantial elevation gain.

The weights listed above are guidelines. The actual weight of a piece of gear depends on its size, material, and manufacturer. Weigh your own gear before the race.

FAQ

Should I train with a pack?

Are poles worth it, even though they add weight?

How heavy is typical mandatory gear for a 70–100 km ultra?

How should I pack my gear?

Sources

Scheer V, Cramer L, Heitkamp HC. Running economy and energy cost of running with backpacks. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2019;59(4):555–560.

Sharp DW, Swain TG, Boy LK, Killen JM, Green JM, O’Neal EK. Examination of effects of modest loading via a ~2.4 kg soft and malleable weighted compression garment on overground running performance. 2021.