Many beginner runners may wonder why mandatory gear is required for each race and distance, and what it is for. Mandatory gear is extremely important in trail running because it can help us in case of emergencies or injuries, and this gear will truly save our lives.
Let's take a look at the main mandatory gear you need.
1.Hydration Vest - A hydration vest is essential for trail running because it can hold the mandatory gear used in races (the one in the picture is the salomon adv skin 5).
2.Mobile phone - For contacting help in case of emergency.
3.Cup - At trail running races, cups are often not provided at checkpoints to reduce plastic waste, so races require us to bring our own. (The one in the picture is the instinct trail cup 200 ml)
4.Water container of 1 liter or more - Most people use a hydration bladder or water bottle to drink on the course and prevent dehydration (the one in the picture is the salomon soft reservoir 1.5L ).
5.Headlamp - Used to provide light when running at night. The recommended brightness is 200 lumens or more, such as (the one in the picture is Black Diamond Spot 400 Lumen
6.Emergency Blanket - Used in case of sudden hypothermia (the one in the picture is the Emergency Blanket).
7.Elastic bandage - Used in case of minor injuries.
8.Whistle - Used in case you get lost in the woods or need to call for help, as the sound of a whistle is easier for rescue teams to hear than shouting.
9.Food or energy gels - An essential item you cannot do without, as you need to replenish your energy so you don't run out of strength (Food or energy gels).
10.Waterproof hooded jacket - Usually required for long-distance races and winter night runs (the one in the picture is the Black Diamond Fineline ).
11.First aid - Basic wound care supplies such as rubbing alcohol, bandages, and personal medication.
After the mandatory gear, I would also like to recommend some optional gear. These are recommended items that you can run without, but having them will make your life so much better, hahaha.
1.Trekking Pole - I highly recommend trekking poles as they can really save your life when you run out of energy. They are useful for both uphill and downhill running. Having them will make your life so much better (the one in the picture is the Black Diamond Distance Carbon flz).
2.Sunglasses - If you mainly run during the day, these will greatly help prevent eye strain (the one in the picture is the Noxnox collection chupa chups).
And this is the mandatory gear you should pay attention to, but keep in mind that some races may require more mandatory gear depending on the course conditions. Don't forget to check the race information again.