I’ve written this guide to give you a starting point for what kit to use when tackling a multi day Ultra Trail Race or increasing your running distance beyond the 50 mile mark. I’ve been lucky enough to cross the Sahara on the Marathon des Sables, Cross Frozen Lake Khovsghol in Mongolia and set Fastest Known Times on very long trails in the UK and USA. Over about 5 years and 10,000 miles I’ve broken a lot of gear and formed some overall opinions on what works and what doesn’t so here is a really great starting point for anyone looking to push their Trail Running distance limits.

Whilst there is no ‘definitive’ multi day Trail Running Kit list my aim here is simple. To give you a really good jumping off point for some suggested pieces of kit for those on a tight budget wherever possible.

Good lightweight kit is only part of the key to success. The rest is training, skills and mental strength. I also have a separate blog covering Wild/ Stealth Camping Skills so you can get the best out of your gear and a whole separate in depth blog on footcare and blister prevention too.

This guide starts from the feet up and also covers lightweight camping options and variations for hot/desert and cold/arctic environments as well as the more traditional European ‘wet’ conditions you might encounter. I do a whole separate blog on blister and foot care here.

Shoes

OK so lets be really clear. I am NOT recommending you change whatever shoes you have that work for you right now. But there are some considerations when running beyond one single day or over 100 miles in stages. I’ve written an in depth guide here to the best options you have for trail shoes for various terrain and distances.

As you run a multi day stage race or a fastest known time you will find that your feet swell more than you are used to. Your feet will also take quite a battering from the constant use you are putting them through .

Your feet will swell in width and this can be one of the biggest issues for Trail Runners as they increase their distances. There are a couple of things you can do that can combat some of the issues of greater distance. The first is to have the shoes you normally use in half a size bigger and use heel lock lacing to keep the heels in check.

Wide Toe Boxes and More Cushioning

There are two brands I’m keen on for long distance multi day events. Altra and Topo. These are chosen on the basis of their features and how well made they are.

I’m not suggesting you abandon the shoes you currently run in, I’m simply suggesting you consider the factors you may encounter on longer multi day runs and test out one of these brands as a shoe you could put on later on in a race to give your feet some room and comfort.

Altra Lone Peak

Altra have a wide toe box so your feet and toes don’t get blisters as your feet swell. The Lone Peak is the best all rounder for long distance trails and I do a more in depth review here but be aware they may take some getting used to as they are zero drop. I’ve attached a link for the lowest online USA price.

Topo Ultraventure

These trainers also have a wide toe box and a lot of cushioning to help alleviate battered feet, as well as good grip. The Ultraventure have a 5mm drop from heel to toe so they are more likely to feel like a traditional running shoe and less likely to cause issues with a tight achilles that you may get with the zero drop Altras.

Trail Shoe Options for the Wet

Both Topo and Altra also do waterproof breathable versions for extremely wet conditions. Just be aware there is a breathability trade off here and leaving your feet in them for 12 hours at a time or more is likely to leave your feet just as damp and sweaty as if you hadn’t had waterproof shoes.

Gaiters

I am a princess about some kit and as a result haven’t found any decent lightweight waterproof gaiters to perfectly fit my Altras! As a result I got a company called Houghwood  to make a custom pair to my spec that are waterproof and breathable, easy to put on and go to the ankle to suit runners. They are tailored to fit Altra shoes and only cost an extra few pounds to get the tabs fitted .  Follow the link here and tell them in advance  Lee sent you and that you need the extra velcro tab added to the back to attach to the Altras.

Socks

I love the Hilly Monoskin Socks, but you cant get them in the USA. Of all the things you may need to consider changing up its likely you already have a few decent pairs of socks. I wrote a Guide to the Best Socks for Trail Running here.

Hilly Trail Ultra Marathon Fresh socks – The best running socks ever for Ultras – Pic by Lee-Stuart Evans

I’m also a more recent convert to Injinji Toe Socks which I do a separate and in depth review of their range here. I’ve set two very challenging Fastest Known Times in them in wet and hot conditions and they did a superb job of preventing blisters.

For hot weather I’m a fan of the Injinji Lightweight No Show Sock

For colder weather I’m a fan of the Injinji Ultra Run Crew Sock.

Waterproof Breathable Socks – Witchcraft for you Feet

When the weather is bad or I’m likely to be in a lot of mud or rain my go to socks are military grade MVP ( Moisture Vapour Permeable) socks. The best make I’ve found are the Sealskinz variety. These socks need to be cared for, washed in tec wash only ( not detergent) reproofed and hung dry, but if you look after them they are WITCHCRAFT for your feet. They are breathable and waterproof. They changed winter wet running for me forever.

Leggings/ Tights

BN3TH Mens Pro Full Length

These are a super lightweight wicking fabric that are great as a baselayer or standalone even in the summer to keep ticks off your legs when running.

X- Bionic

These are my absolute favourite leggings for running. They are super wicking and incredibly comfortable. Unfortunately in the USA they are about the same price as a house so I’m not even going to put a link on here !

Topo Designs Mountain Pants

These are a top layer option for when its super cold. Again you can wear them on their own or in combination with a baselayer tight. I do a more indepth review here.

These fleecy pants also have huge front pockets on them which are perfect for keeping your hands warm or storing gloves and your phone. They are like a super fitted jogging pant so they are perfect for running in.

Shorts

For me shorts are shorts. Most are well made and usually have an inner mesh underwear section that prevents chaffing. What separates good running shorts from EPIC running shorts is simply the amount of pockets they have.

The BN3TH Pro Shorts have 5 pockets including 2 zipped ( of which one is waterproof).

You can also save money and combine the BN3TH leggings and shorts and I have done a more in depth review here of the short/leggings 2 in 1 combo.

I love these shorts because on shorter training runs I can use them to carry my keys, phone, wallet and even small packable rain jacket without needing to use a race vest. On long ultras you can keep gels, snacks and your phone and gloves within easy reach.

Underwear

You may also want to consider underwear to help keep you comfortable. I do an in depth comparison between the two major popular brands BN3TH and Runderwear here.

For fit and comfort and decent sweat wicking I’ve found the BN3TH are my favourite.

Waterproof Trousers/Pants

In very wet weather I also carry taped seams breathable waterproof pants. These can also add an extra windproof layer when you are colder and be used simply to keep you warm if your legs get cold.

REI do a reasonable pair called the Essential Rain Pants .

Let me be very clear on waterproof breathable garments… They are all clammy at some point, especially if you are running. Its a constant balance between breathability and being waterproof. If the weather is usually bad enough to need to put a waterproof pant on then its likely I will be walking at best anyway.

Its sensible if you wash this garment on low temperatures WITHOUT detergent. Its why I try pick all my technical gear in black if possible. It hides the dirt and stains. I strongly suggest using a mild soap based cleaner instead or a specialist tec gear wash such as Nik Wax tec wash. If you do this and leave the garment to hang dry you will massively increase its lifetime of breathability and water repellency. I also suggest using Nik Wax waterproof spray on it from time to time to keep the garment beading properly.

Upper Body Layering

For your upper body the layering idea is the same as for your legs. In hot weather I would use a thin mesh baggy top

Base Layer

I am a huge fan of the gear that Vollebak make. I’ve extensively used their Black Light Baselayer in extreme cold and hot climates combined with their Condition Black Midlayer and their utterly fantastic Planet Earth Hoodie. I am aware that their prices are high ( but worth it) and more frustratingly their garments are often sold out because of the high demand so I’ve also added some budget alternatives that I’ve used and like as well.

With a baselayer I recommend ALWAYS going full length on the arms. This gives you much more options for temperature management and protection from the sun and you can roll your sleeves up when you are hot. It also affords more protection on your arms if you fall or are climbing over rocks or gates etc.

For Hot and Humid weather I cannot recommend the Vollebak Black Light Baselayer enough. The Long Sleeve version is currently sold out but the short sleeve version is still available here. I recommend buying this one size bigger than normal so that it billows and helps to keep you cool. It has an amazing reflective coating on it too to make you visible at night but its the low weight and high breathability that impresses me. The mesh is fragile though so make sure you wash it in its own little protective bag and keep it away from velcro !

On a budget the Helly Hanen Lifa Baselayer is superb value for money at $30 from REI. Opt for the black so it doesn’t show the dirt.

There is a debate on wool versus synthetic for baselayers. For runners I tend to recommend opting for a better wicking synthetic option as we tend to sweat more than hikers.

You can have your cake and eat it though with the Topo Designs Wool Tee that combines a synthetic and wool fabric to give you the best of both worlds. I do an in depth review here.

Midlayer on a budget

Again I’m a fan of the affordability and great quality of the Helly Hansen Day Breaker Half Zip Pullover Fleece from REI.com. The half zip and roll uppable sleeves allow you some temperature management too if you get too hot.

Jackets

Just like all the top and leg layering I have a two jacket system here. A main jacket for warmth in extreme weather and a lightweight waterproof breathable jacket to keep out the rain.

Waterproof Breathable Jacket options

I have written a more in depth blog about Waterproof Jacket options here, but I’m hugely impressed with the Topo Designs Global Jacket which I review here. It has a huge amount of features, works superbly and is great value for money given the high quality.

You can buy The Global Jacket direct from Topo for $189 here .

Waterproof Breathable Garment Care Advice

Its sensible if you wash this garment on low temperatures WITHOUT detergent. Its why I try pick all my technical gear in black if possible. It hides the dirt and stains. I strongly suggest using a mild soap based cleaner instead or a specialist tec gear wash such as Nik Wax tec wash. If you do this and leave the garment to hang dry you will massively increase its lifetime of breathability and water repellency. I also suggest using Nik Wax waterproof spray on it from time to time to keep the garment beading properly.

Warm Jacket

There is a synthetic versus down debate to consider here. Synthetic jackets pack up small and dry quickly , whereas down jackets are warmer weight for weight, but get saturated easily, take a long time to dry out and lose much of their warmth if wet. I’ve written a much more in depth blog here to help you with a wide range of warmer jacket options when out on the trails.

Topo Designs do a superb synthetic jacket which is very well made with a huge raft of features. Its called the Topo Puffer Hoodie can be bought direct from Topo for $189 here

When buying clothing for outdoor adventures I usually opt for Black or Green where possible, especially on my outer layers. I spend a lot of time on multi day runs stealth camping so you often don’t want to be easily spotted. I find your safest protection from humans is simply not being seen or found.

Waterproof Poncho

In the last year or two I’ve become a big fan of having a large poncho in my pack. They are inexpensive and often only cost around $20 . They have three huge advantages over waterproof jackets. Firstly they also cover your backpack so they help keep it dry and secondly they billow at the bottom and I find they are actually more breathable as a result than normal jackets. Finally because they are large you can actually sit down and camp wearing one as a kind of small tent so you can get a powernap in on a race or FKT without putting a tent up.

Running Backpack / Race Vest

For Multi Day Ultra Races there is one backpack I’ve used for 1000s of miles that is standalone better than anything else on the market. Its the Ultimate Direction Fastpack 25 which I do a much deeper review of here.

I love this bag as it is indestructible, has loads of pockets, is lightweight and extremely comfortable due to the seamless one piece construction on the bag.  It is also a giant roll down drybag so you can easily adjust its size, and its waterproof inside.  Its been tested in the marathon des sables  at plus 50 Celcius and the Mongol 100 at minus 47 C.

In the winter and when I need to carry just a little it more I opt for the slightly larger Ultimate Direction Fastpack 35. I actually prefer this pocket configuration on this but you need to be a disciplined runner otherwise you will simply fill the extra 10L capacity with things you may not need. i have a much more in depth blog about this pack here.

Water Bottles

I’ve written a more in depth guide to the best water bottles for trail here, but I’ve included the highlights in the section below.

I am not a fan of the Camelbak bladder style way of carrying water. I’ve found Camelbaks have a tendency to leak round the screw cap under load and if they do leak they are mounted on your back near all your camp and clothing in your bag. I also don’t like carrying water on my back because the weight distribution is bad, I prefer water bottles mounted on the front where I can see them ( so I know how much water I have left) and it means I can easily refill a bottle without taking my pack off too.

Soft Flask Bottles

The Hydrapak Ultraflask is currently my favourite method for carrying water because they can be easily compacted to save space when they aren’t full and they fit more comfortably against your body. The 500ml ( 17 fl oz) versions are the best as they give you good water carrying capacity and fit in the water bottle pouches of most makes of race vest and running backpack.

If possible I like to mount 2 bottles on the front of my pack in the water bottle holders and opt for at least one to have a straw so that I can drink even if my hands are full with maps, a garmin device or trekking poles.

As well as being more comfortable when mounted on front bottle holders on your bag Softflasks can be blown up with air at night to become a pillow or to put under your legs or ankles to elevate your legs at night when sleeping. You can also wrap your spare socks round them for even more comfort at night.

I have also used the Katadyn BeFree bottles which come with an inbuilt filter so that you can be confident about the water you are drinking from streams. I do an in depth review here.

Hard Water Bottles

For ‘hard’ bottles my favourite at the moment is the relatively new Ultimate Direction Flexform 600. This bottle is ergonomically shaped on one side to sit better against your chest and so be more comfortable than a regular bottle.

These bottles have 20 oz of water carrying capability and more importantly they don’t leak. I’ve found a lot of ‘big brand’ water bottles leak so its good to have one that you know isn’t going to get the rest of your gear wet when you bend over.

Water Purification

In the UK its often possible to find outdoor water taps on the outside of churches and various out buildings when out in the countryside. In the USA there are plenty of fresh running streams on the trails but I tend to be cautious about drinking from them. I use an MSR Trailshot to purify water direct from a USA stream into my bottles.

I’ve tried a few makes of water purifier and do a much more in depth blog here. I prefer the Trailshot for a number of reasons. Firstly the long hose means you don’t have to crouch down so much to get water and also the hand pump means you don’t get tired trying to suck water through the filter.

The Filter is so effective I’ve even drunk from a rather muddy looking puddle using this. The Trailshot effectively increases my potential water carrying capacity without having to actually carry all of the water for the whole adventure. Its light too at only 5oz and easily stashes in your pocket.

Hat

You don’t need anything particularly hi-tec or expensive for a hat. When its cold I like to wear a thinsulate hat as they are breathable and warm and the extra fold round your head can be rolled down to cover your eyes when sleeping or napping.

Gloves

Like the hat I don’t think you need to spend more than $10 or so on a pair of gloves. On a few of my fingertips I tend to cut a very small patch of material away so that I can still use a smartphone or Garmin touchscreen with my gloves on.

Sunglasses

The really expensive pair of sunglasses you have but are scared to use are useless to you because you don’t actually use them! Instead on trails I opt for a pair that are around the $30 range with polarizing lenses (to help with glare and give you more accurate vision between the open rocky mountains and the dense forest). You also want an adjustable nosepiece so that you can bend the glasses to be further away from your face is you are sweaty and find the lenses steam up.

I found a pair of Dudema Sunglasses on Amazon that fit the bill perfectly here and put the link below. I use a pair made by Naked Runner that are similar in spec but they are not available in the USA. I run with sunglasses on most of the time as they also keep bugs out of my eyes and stop small whipping branches and twigs from hitting me in the face.

There are often lots of lense color choices with sunglasses. For running I recommend using a polarizing blue lense for bright sunny days and a yellow tinted lense for cloudy days for the best vision accuracy.

Neck Gaiter

The Wildly Good CoolMax Neck gaiter is a multi function gaiter constructed from a moisture wicking fabric. I tend to use it as a traditional head/ skull cap to sop up sweat in the summer, as a sweat band round my wrist and now in the ‘COVID World’ as a comfortable facemask when Im on and off trails and find myself near other people.

Trekking Poles

I’ve written a more in depth guide to the best trekking poles here, but have given you my favourite options below.

Trekking poles are very useful on multi day races, they help to take the strain off your legs when climbing steep hills or mountains and also give you more stability or grip on uneven or wet/muddy/icy ground. With a little bit of duct tape and an emergency blanket I’ve even used them to make an effective waterproof lean to shelter !

They are very popular in the UK and Europe for Multi Day Trail running but there still seems to be a stigma associated with them in the USA. For me you get decreased fatigue on your legs, more stability, greater climbing up hills with less effort and I use them as tent poles when making camp so they are a no brainer.

The  trekking poles you are looking for z folding so they can pack up easily and be stowed within reach on the your pack without having to take it off. The Ultimate Direction Fastpacks have little bungee loops on the sides of the water bottle pouches to help you stow them within reach when not in use.

The Black Diamond Carbon Trekking poles are  my poles of choice and are bombproof . Do not opt for telescopic poles as they will get jammed with dirt and mud and wont work. I do a more in depth review here . They are well worth the money and weigh almost nothing.

Electronics

There are 4 electronic things I need in my pack on multi day trail running. These are usually a headtorch, my smartphone or Garmin, a charger pack and a decent multi USB charger plug. I keep all my electronic items inside a small waterproof drybag when not in use.

Charger Pack

I’m a fan of the Veho Pebble Explorer charger pack because it has a digital display telling you exactly how much charge it has left. Its good for 2 or 3 charges of your smartphone and because it has 2 USB ports you can use it to charge 2 items at the same time.

Headtorch

If you are running at night then you need DECENT amounts of light to run with confidence. anything under 300 lumens is absolutely a terrible idea for night running. I opt for the Petzl Nao which Ive now had for a few years. I’ve now also done an in depth review on its successor here.

The rechargeable power pack on it can be USB recharged on my pebble and you can also put standard AAA batteries in it in an emergency or if your charger pack is low.

The Nao pumps out 750 lumens and is fully programmable. I’m not mad on the fiddly strap system ( which stinks with sweat unless you keep the torch over a buff or hat ) and the on off switch is bonkers but other than that I love this torch.  Make sure you have at least one spare power pack for it too.

Sleeping / Camping

I have a whole separate blog here that is an in depth Guide to Stealth and Wild Camping.

The Outdoor Vitals Storm Loft Quilt 15F is now my main choice for sleeping. Its a quilt rather than a sleeping bag. Quilts have lots of advantages over sleeping bags in that they are about 30% lighter because they don’t need a zip or a hood, and most of the sleeping bag that is under you gets compressed so doesn’t have much thermal quality to it so a quilt avoids this wasted material and finally because your head isn’t inside it they tend to feel less damp than conventional sleeping bags.

Sleeping Mattress

I opt for a super lightweight Therm-a-Rest Pro Lite in size small. This only weighs 11oz and packs up really small.

It isn’t so much about the comfort as it is the fact that this mattress puts you an inch off the ground with a high level of insulation keeping you much warmer than sleeping just on the bare ground.

Bivvi Bag

In the UK and Europe sleeping overnight on a multi day race or Fastest Known Time run can usually mean a damp nights sleep because of the high humidity. Even on a warm Summer evening you will often wake up with dew on you in the morning. In the UK I use an Alpkit Breathable and Waterproof Bivvy Bag which I simply put my sleeping Quilt and Therm-a-Rest in to. Alpkit do not supply to the USA and out here I find that a Tarp does a much better job as there is less morning dew.

Lee-Stuart Evans stealth camping inside the Alpkit Hunka Bivvy Bag

I now use the MSR Thru Hiker 100 wing tarp which I can set up in various configurations from a simple tent like structure to simply a rain cover or even supported with my two trekking poles. The key here is that the tarp only weighs a few ounces and combined with the rest of my sleep system I get the ability to sleep wherever I want quickly with very little fuss and way less weight than a tent.

Mesh Tent

If I know I’m going to be near biting insects or water in the summer I opt for the MSR Thru-Hiker Mesh House. Its quick and easy to set up and you can even use a trekking pole to set it up as well as the guide lines included to get support from a nearby tree.

This mesh tent is super lightweight and although only designed for one person can house 2 at a push. Its easy to put up as well. If you suspect rain you can combine it with the MSR Tarp to get the shelter you need. This makes this set up lighter and more versatile than a tent of a similar price and quality.

Hammock

In the summer in the USA I find a hammock can often be my best option.

The Hammock Gear Standard Hammock is a lightweight easy to set up hammock that you can also easily attach a bug net and insulation layer too. With a large amount of choices for mesh pocket add ons and a ridge line built in for mounting a tarp off if you need to this is a very inexpensive and lightweight addition to any light hiker/ camping kit list.

PURCHASE $59.99

How to configure all this kit in your backpack

Generally when packing your bag you want to think about setting things up so that you take your pack off as little as possible during the day. With the UD Fastpack 25 I opt to keep snacks in the bottom front right hand zip pocket ( as you are wearing it, phone and navigation gear in the left front zip pocket . I suggest putting sleeping gear / bag /bivvy bag at the bottom of your pack with items like waterproof jacket and trousers and thicker jacket and extra baselayer higher up the bag as you are more likely to need them during the day.

Try and keep items in separate 1L to 3L drybags with different colors so you can find what you are looking for easily. I even write on may color coded drybags ‘Waterproofs’ etc so I know whats in what. I review a superb drybag from 3v gear here.

Lee-Stuart Evans multi Day race Ultimate Direction Fastpack 25

The drybags mean your sweat doesn’t creep through the bag into your clothing while running and if the gear is put away wet doesn’t make everything else wet too. I use the external bungees on the bag at the back to dry out socks and buffs etc like a mini clothes line. I keep my headtorch torch low down in the exterior mesh bit at the back as its fully waterproof and I keep additional snacks and wet wipes / tissues etc in one side mesh pocket and spare gloves and hat and buff in the other external mesh pocket where I can reach them easily while running .

Mount your folded poles on the front of your pack lengthways along the bottle holders so you can get them easily when needed and finally use the waterproof external zip pouch on the top of the bag for your wallet, keys, spare torches and first aid kit.

You Now Know Everything I Know About Kit!

And that’s it ! I’ve left out a few camping things for a separate blog and also food and nutrition which I deal with in a blog here.

This guide should have given you a good starting point for you to find out exactly what gear works for you. I’ve spent over 10,000 miles on foot testing and breaking gear and I hope the final choices I have and use every week give you as many adventures as I have !

Please leave questions or thoughts in the comments too !