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GEAR
Does the right gear make the racer? Probably not. Can the right gear make the racer better? Definitely Yes! Gear is very important in AR. What other sport has a mandatory gear list? Adventure racing is a gear junkies sport. As racers we need outdoor performance clothing plus all the equipment for biking, trekking, paddling, ropes, etc.
Please note that we’ve listed the following gear based on positive personal experiences. There are thousands of wonderful products available that can be used, however we haven’t had the pleasure of trying them all so listed below are some of our favorites that we use and recommend. Unfortunately, the gear pictured and listed on this page is not linked to a web site where you can purchase it. Many of the items can be found at our favorite Gear Store - REI. If you are really interested in something and want to know a great place to buy it, then drop Zac
an e-mail and I am sure he can help you out.
Use the following links to jump directly to a gear category:
Clothing - General Tips
- Use synthetic clothing – polypropylene, lycra, gore-tex, polyester, Coolmax
- Look for clothing with ventilation options, flaps/zippers
- Experiment with clothing before the race
- Be prepared with the proper clothing for the race environment
- Breathable vs. waterproof – find what works for you
Clothing - Tops
The key word here is wicking. You want a shirt that will bring the sweat away from your body and dry quickly. That means no cotton or cotton blends. Can't forget the ladies... Although most the shirts shown below are specific to men, most all of the manufacturers have a comparable shirt designed specifically for women.
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| Salomon Xtatic T-shirt |
Salomon Bio sensor Zip |
Insport Dry Sport Tee |
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| Duofold VariTEC™ Long Sleeve HydroDuct™ |
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Rail Riders
Eco Mesh Shirt |
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Rail Riders
Adrenalin Tee |
The North Face
Vapor Wick Tee |
The North Face
Aurora Zip-Neck |
Clothing - Bottoms
There is a couple options here, either tights or full on pants. If there is a chance of cold weather during the night sections of a race or you go through planned or unplanned bushwhacking sections, then tights might be a good option. They pack down really small, but can provide a good amount of warmth and protection. Great because they weigh next to nothing, dry fast and protect you from the sun and give your legs protection.
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| Insport Track Tight |
The North Face Aurora 2 |
Sugio MidZero Bosui Bib |
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| Rail Riders Extreme Adventure Pant |
Exofficio Explorer |
REI Sahara Pants |
Weatherproof Shells
Is it really an adventure race if it doesn't rain? Protection from the weather is key. Many early and late season races require a one of these. Your shell needs to shed water like a duck and yet breathe all your sweat out. They are also great to break the wind. Now there are numerous lightweight fabrics out there that do this. Taped seams are one key thing to look for.
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| Arc'Teryx Theta AR or Sirus SL |
Marmont Precip |
The North Face Venture Jacket |
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| Marmot Precip Pant |
The North Face Venture Pant |
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Soft Shell Jackets
Sometimes a fleece jacket is mandatory gear for a race. It is the best lightweight material to add insulation to your body if you need it. Hypothermia even in the summertime is a possibility if your body is wet and lacks insulation. And sometimes a jacket is too much, but a baselayer isn’t enough. You want to get some insulation and warmth without being too bulky or warm. A lightweight fleece shirt or vest is what you are looking for.
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| Patagonia R2 Fleece |
Arc'Teryx Gamma MX Jacket |
The North Face Denali Jacket |
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| Duofold Insulayer™ Sport Fleece |
REI Power Stretch Pullover Polartec Power Stretch® |
Columbia Sportswear Vest |
Footwear
Adventure races are won on your feet, so the happier your feet are the better your chances of crossing the finish line. When purchasing an adventure racing shoe look for AR specific footwear. Remember that comfort & fit are the most IMPORTANT things. Tread and traction are important, but should come after fit. For longer races, go a half size bigger then your normal shoe and always break in your shoes before a race.
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| Salomon XA Pro 2 |
Salomon XA Comp |
Salomon Pro Amphibian |
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| Salomon XA Pro 2 XCR |
Pearl Izumi |
Pearl Izumi |
Socks
Socks can be just as important as the shoes. They are the first layer against your skin and without a good pair of socks, blisters are eminent.
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| Smartwool Adrenaline |
Smartwool |
Sealskinz |
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| Smartwool |
Smartwool |
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Headwear
Sometimes listed as mandatory gear to stop heat loss through your head in case of a hypothermic condition. Buffs are also very versatile and can be warn in warm or cool weather. Hats for sun protection are also commonly used. You may want the type that has fabric that covers the back of the neck, not just a baseball hat.
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| Outdoor Research PS50 Watch Cap |
Buff |
REI Hat |
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| Headsweats Cap |
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Compasses
Every adventure racer will need a dependable compass and know how to use it.
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| Suunto M-3 Global |
Suunto A-30 |
Suunto M9 Wrist Compass |
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| Suunto Orca |
Suunto Clipper |
Suunto Arrow 30 (Fast for Orienteering) |
Backpacks
One thing you'll need for every race is a pack. You can go small for a sprint or larger for a multi-day, but you need a good pack to carry your gear, food and extra clothes. Some key features to look for are comfort, waistbelt, extra pockets, pouches, mesh, daisy loops and some even come with a built in dry bag.
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| Salomon Raid Race 300 |
Salomon Raid Race 200 |
CamelBak MULE |
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| Salomon Vest Pack 150 |
Gregory Advent Pro |
Osprey Aether 45 |
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Headlamps and other lights
Many adventure racers use two different headlamps or a dual purpose one. A powerful beam is needed during travel on some sections, and a diffuse beam is needed for map reading and general travel. The use of a halogen bulb produces a powerful beam, and LED's produce a diffuse beam and only sips battery life. A waterproof flashlight is also great to have in your arsenal to fill that requirement and for a spotter while trekking. A strobe is also often a mandatory requirement.
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| Petzl Myo 5 |
Petzl Duo LED 3 |
Petzl Tikka Plus |
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| Princeton Tec Rage |
Princeton Tec Aqua Strobe |
Cateye LD100 Safety Lights |
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| Jet Lites - Blast Handlebar |
Jet Lites - Blast HID - Helmet |
Cateye OptiCube |
Biking Specific Gear
There is a ton of gear for biking, the following just a sample of some of our favorites. You can find most of these products at your favorite bikeshop or online at several sources, see the links page for specific store examples.
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| Pearl Izumi Microsensor 3D |
Pearl Izumi Amphib |
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| Ex-Officio Briefs |
Pearl Izumi Gloves - Short |
Pearl Izumi Gloves - Full |
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| Pearl Izumi Lobster Mitts |
Pearl Izumi Shoe Cover |
Pearl Izumi Arm/Leg Warmers |
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| Topeak Joe Blow Sport Pump |
Blackburn Mammoth Dual Stage Bike Pump |
Innovations CO2 Cartridge Pump |
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| Cycoactive Bike Mapcase |
Topeak Alien XT Multitool |
Giro Helmet |
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| Cateye Enduro 8 Bike Computer |
Cateye Astrale 8 Bike Computer |
Zefal Pressure Guage |
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| Quick Stick |
Michelin Jet S Tires |
Koobi Bike Seats |
Treking Specific Gear
There are lots of trekking accessories as well. They can definitely improve your trek, but many of these things could be considered a bit frivilous by some. Most important to good trek is a pack and shoes. However, with that being said, some of these things will make your trekking much more pleasurable, especially in rugged terrain.
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| Leki Ultralite Ti |
OR Flex-Tex |
OR Crocodile Gaiters |
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| Kathoola |
Silva Shinguards |
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| Suunto X6 HR |
Suunto Vector |
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Paddling Specific Gear
The main paddling gear is a PFD, paddle, and gloves. Your PFD will need to be Coast Guard Type III or better. Most racers tend to prefer kayak paddles these days, especially for longer paddle sections and in lakes. Some still stick with traditional canoe paddle though.
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| Kokatat Orbit Tour |
MTI Cruiser PFD |
Kokatat Orbit Tour |
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| Lendal Powermaster |
Lendal Wing Blade |
Lendal Nordkapp |
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| Canoe Paddle |
Seal Skinz |
Kokata Tropos Breeze |
Ropes Specific Gear
Several pieces of ropes gear is essential now as well. Although many sprint races are now providing all ropes equipment. Most of the times your bike helmet will suffice. A harness is probably the key piece of equipment and one you may have the most options when selecting. The harnesses used in adventure racing are usually chosen for their light weight over their comfort. The climbing section usually consists of a rappel or traverse that is relatively short. Racers prefer a harness that doesn't have padding or a lot of gear loops. This makes the harness light weight and compact in size. Lots of options with carabineers, slings, ascenders as well.
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| Petzl Pandion Harness |
ArcTeryx Vapor Harness |
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| Petzl Attache Locking |
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| Black Diamond Sewn Runner |
Petzl Ascension Ascender |
Petzl Meteor Helmet |
Other General Mandatory Gear
There are still lots of miscellaneous equipment to mention. From sunglasses to mapcases, whistles, knives, first aid kits, all generally mandatory gear. It may seem like a drag to haul along, but these products will all come in handy when out on the trail or in the bush to prevent mishaps or help you out when you have one.
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| Smith Slider Series |
Uvex Genesis |
Bolle Vigilante or Parole |
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| Space Emergency Blanket |
Mini Fox 40 Safety Whistle |
Storm Lighter |
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| Buck Access 2.25 |
CRKT Urban Shark |
Leatherman Wave |
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| First Aid Kit |
Backpacker's Trowel |
SKYBLAZER RED ALERT AERIAL SIGNALS by Orion |
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| Platypus Big Zip |
Camelbak Bladder |
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| Exstream Purifier |
Aquamira™ Water Treatment |
Sweetwater |
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| SealLine Map Cases |
Seal Line HP Map Cases |
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