Ultramarathon Gear List: What You Need for an Ultra (That You Don’t Need for a Marathon)

Ultramarathon Gear List: What You Need for an Ultra (That You Don’t Need for a Marathon)

Mile 50 was approaching slowly. I was stumbling, “running” 15-minute miles downhill. The weather had gone from hot and sunny to cold and rainy, and at 10,000 feet my body stopped regulating temperature. I was shivering, feverish, and every step felt like walking on Legos.

I closed my eyes and tried to run blind, hoping if I couldn’t see anything maybe the pain would fade. It didn’t. I ended up flat on my back in the middle of the trail with rain hitting my face, feeling closer to death than I ever had in my life.

After I finished, I could barely control my emotions, stayed in bed for days, and my lungs felt bruised for over a month.

This is how not to run an ultramarathon.

If you’re stepping up from a marathon to your first ultra, you don’t need to repeat my mistakes. In this post I’ll break down:

• The mindset you need before race day

• The extra gear you need for an ultramarathon (that you probably don’t need for a marathon)

• How to use drop bags, real food, and foot care to actually finish feeling human

You can watch the full breakdown in the video embedded with this post, and use this article as your go-to checklist and reference.

 

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Step One: Plan Your DNF (So You Can “Win” No Matter What)

The first “piece of gear” isn’t gear at all. It’s a decision:

Under what conditions are you allowed to drop out of the race?

If you don’t decide this beforehand, you’ll either:

• Drop too early because it gets hard

• Or push so far you risk long-term injury

There’s no universal right answer. Your “DNF rule” should match your goals and season of life. A few examples:

• “I’ll drop if I’m no longer having fun.”

• “I’ll drop if I feel an injury coming on, not just normal pain.”

• “I’ll keep going unless I pass out or medical pulls me.”

My personal rule:

• Pushing through a race is not worth long-term injury.

• If I think it’ll take more than a week to recover from the race, I’ve pushed too hard.

Elite and Olympic-level runners might make a different call. But for most of us, it’s better to preserve the body so we can run again next month, not just survive one big day.

Decide your DNF rule before race day. That way, whatever happens, you can call it a win.

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Why Ultras Need More Gear Than Marathons

On a typical road marathon, you might hit an aid station every 2–5 miles. For most runners, that’s less than an hour between support.

On an ultramarathon, especially on trails:

• You might go hours between aid stations

• Weather can change fast at elevation

• Terrain can be remote, technical, and exposed

That extra time and distance between aid stations is what drives the extra gear.

I’m focusing here on races under 20 hours (think 50K, 50-mile, 100K). Beyond that, things get even more involved, but this will cover most first-time ultra runners.

I put together a full master checklist PDF you can download and print from 55miles.com (no email required) so you don’t have to remember all of this on your own.

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Core Ultra Gear You Probably Won’t Need for a Marathon

1. Running Vest or Belt

Many half- and full-marathoners get by with handheld bottles or just aid stations.

In an ultra, a running vest or belt is almost a must-have because you need to carry:

• Water and electrolytes

• Nutrition

• Extra layers

• Safety items (headlamp, phone, small first aid, etc.)

If you’re new to vests, test them on long training runs so you know what rubs, what bounces, and what doesn’t.

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2. Portable Charger (for Headlamp and Phone)

If your headlamp dies in the dark, many races will pull you from the course for safety. Same goes for a dead phone in remote terrain where the race requires you to carry one.

A small portable battery bank can:

• Top off your phone

• Recharge a USB-headlamp

• Give you peace of mind at night

Some races will even check your headlamp and phone at later aid stations to make sure they’re functional. Treat light and communication as safety gear, because that’s what they are.

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3. A Watch That Can Last the Entire Race (With GPX)

Battery life matters more in ultras. I once started a race with a Garmin at 100% and finished with 3% battery. After that, I switched to a Coros so I could run for days without worrying.

Two key features:

1. Long battery life (longer than your expected finish time)

2. GPX navigation support

Download the race’s GPX file (the GPS track) to your watch. Many watches will alert you if you go off course. This matters because:

• Flags can blow away or be moved

• Trails can split and look confusing

• In the dark or when you’re tired, your brain can lie to you

I’ve used my watch multiple times to help other runners who were heading the wrong direction. Spending two minutes loading the course can save you miles of bonus suffering.

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4. Sun Protection You Can Reapply on the Trail

On an ultra, you’re often out from sunrise to sunset. Even in winter, a sunburn by noon means your body is sending a lot of energy toward healing your skin instead of powering your legs.

You need sun protection you can carry and reapply:

• Face and lips

• Neck and shoulders (depending on your kit)

What I personally use and built for this exact need is 55 Miles “On The Trail”:

• A small stick that combines sunscreen + chapstick + anti-chafe

• Lives in my vest

• I use it on my face, lips, and any hot spots (thighs, underarms, nipples, etc.) as soon as I feel friction

You can absolutely run with:

• Separate sunscreen

• Chapstick

• Anti-chafe

Just make sure whatever you choose is:

• Easy to carry

• Easy to apply without a mirror

• Sweat-resistant

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5. Headlamp (Plus Backup or Batteries)

For most 50-mile and 100K races, you will:

• Start in the dark

• Or finish in the dark

• Or both

Most races require:

• One primary headlamp

• Either spare batteries or a backup headlamp

If you’re running a 50K and you’re done by early afternoon, you might not need one. But once you get near 50 miles, assume you’ll be spending time under the stars.

Again: test it on early morning or evening runs. Don’t wait until race day to learn how the buttons work.

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6. Trekking Poles (For Hilly or Mountainous Ultras)

Trekking poles are optional, but on steep courses they can be a huge advantage, especially if you’re new to the sport.

Benefits:

• Shift some workload from your legs to your upper body

• Improve stability on climbs and descents

• Many runners estimate they save around 10% effort in the legs on big climbs

I love poles for uphill power hiking, then I stow them away on most downhills. Practice folding, stowing, and deploying them during training so it’s automatic on race day.

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7. Mandatory Gear (Race-Specific Requirements)

Ultras often have mandatory gear lists, especially in the mountains or at high altitude. These might include:

• Rain jacket or weatherproof shell

• Emergency blanket

• Minimum water capacity

• Minimum calories

• Phone and/or GPS device

• Headlamp and spare batteries

Read your race manual carefully. You can be disqualified or not allowed to start if you don’t have the required items.

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Real Food: Why Gels Alone Often Aren’t Enough

On a 3–4 hour marathon, you can get away with gels and sports drink. Once your race goes past 10 hours, most people don’t want to live on gels alone.

During a long training marathon around town, I stopped at a gas station at mile 16 and grabbed:

• One of those questionable hot-case chicken sandwiches

• A Red Bull

On paper, it sounds awful. In reality? I felt amazing. The finish of that training run was one of the most fun I’d had.

I repeated the idea in a 100K:

• At ~mile 30, my wife brought me Chick-fil-A and a Red Bull

• I slowed down for a bit to let it settle

• Then I felt solid again later in the race

The point isn’t that gas-station chicken is a performance food. It’s that:

• Your body sometimes wants real food

• You feel better when you listen to what works in training

• You don’t have to stick to only gels if they stop working for you

Whatever “real food” you test and tolerate in training—rice balls, potatoes, sandwiches, wraps, broth—can become a powerful tool on race day.

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Drop Bags: Your Remote Gear Stash

Drop bags are one of the biggest differences between marathons and ultras.

Typically, in a 50-mile to 100K race you’ll get:

• 2–3 drop bag locations (often around mile 20 and 40, give or take)

You pack a small bag (often a string bag or large Ziploc), label it, and the race transports it to that specific aid station.

What to Use Drop Bags For

Think of drop bags as:

“Gear and nutrition I might need, but don’t want to carry the whole race.”

Common items:

• Headlamp (if you’ll finish in the dark, stash it in a later drop bag)

• Extra layers: thin jacket, long sleeve, dry shirt

• Extra socks and possibly shoes

• Favorite drink mix in pre-filled bottles you can swap in

• Real food treats (yes, including chicken sandwiches and cold brew)

• Rain jacket if there’s a slight chance of weather

• Extra anti-chafe and blister prevention

I’ve used drop bags to:

• Grab my headlamp 2 hours before sunset so I didn’t carry it all morning

• Switch bottles to my favorite electrolyte mix

• Put on a dry T-shirt and rain shell mid-race when the weather turned

One note: don’t put anything in a drop bag you’re not willing to lose. I personally tuck an AirTag in mine just in case.

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Foot Care and Blister Prevention (This Can Make or Break Your Race)

Blisters are one of the top reasons people drop out of ultras.

On my first marathon, I got nine blisters. It was miserable.

Later, on a 65-mile race, I got zero blisters, even though I’m heavy on my feet and prone to problems. The difference was a meticulous foot-care plan.

My Ultra Foot-Care Protocol

On that 100K, I did:

• Mile 10

  • Swapped socks

  • Reapplied blister prevention

• Mile 30

  • Swapped socks again

  • Swapped shoes

  • Used cold water to rinse and cool my feet, then reapplied blister prevention

• Mile 50

  • Swapped back into the first pair of shoes

  • New socks again

A few key ideas:

1. Prevent, don’t react

   • Apply blister prevention before problems start, not after.

2. Reset moisture

   • Fresh socks and sometimes fresh shoes reset the moisture and friction.

3. Use cold water when you can

   • Cold water tightens pores, cleans off grit, and makes re-application more effective.

I now use 55 Miles Blister Blocker as my go-to. It’s designed to:

• Wick moisture

• Reduce friction

• Stop blisters before they start

If you do get a blister mid-race, I like having a small kit so I don’t have to rely on medical if I don’t want to:

• Super-fine needle

• Alcohol wipe

• Fresh socks

• Blister prevention stick

My method: gently pop, drain, clean, and re-protect. That’s what’s worked best for me, but test your own approach in training and follow medical advice where appropriate.

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Category Checklist: What to Think Through

You don’t need everything on any list. Use these categories to decide what fits your race:

Clothing

• Shoes

• Socks

• Shorts or lined running shorts

• Shirt(s)

• Undergarments (sports bra, compression if you like)

• Long sleeves

• Leggings or tights

• Light jacket or shell

• Hat or visor

• Beanie

• Gloves

Accessories

• Running vest or belt

• Collapsible cup (some races are cupless)

• Sunglasses

• Headphones (if allowed)

• Headlamp + backup/batteries

• Battery bank

• Sunscreen (or On The Trail stick)

• Anti-chafe (thighs, underarms, nipples, etc.)

• Blister prevention (like Blister Blocker)

• ~20 squares of toilet paper (seriously—part of your emergency kit)

Drop Bags

• Extra socks

• Extra shirt or layer

• Rain jacket

• Toothbrush (some people love this on very long days)

• Extra food and electrolytes

• Anti-chafe and blister prevention

• Extra batteries / backup headlamp

• Chargers and cords

• Coffee or canned cold brew

• Real food you know you tolerate

Nutrition & Hydration

Bring things that:

• You enjoy

• You’ve tested in training

• The aid stations won’t have

For everything else—gels, common sports drinks, standard snacks—train with what your race uses and lean on the aid stations as much as possible.

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Test Everything in Training

Golden rule:

If you haven’t used it in training, don’t test it for the first time in the middle of an ultra.

That includes:

• New shoes

• New shorts

• New nutrition

• New headlamp or poles

Use your long runs as rehearsals. By race day, all your gear should feel boring and familiar.

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The Bonus Mindset: Know Which Runner You Are

There are lots of reasons people sign up for ultras. Knowing your reason helps you pace well, make smart decisions, and avoid getting pulled into someone else’s race.

Here are five common types:

1. Racing to win

   • Usually, the top 5–10 runners overall. Their decisions are different by necessity.

2. Chasing a PR

   • You’ve run the distance before and want a faster time.

3. Experienced runner soaking it in

   • You’ve done the distance and decide to go ~80–90% effort, have fun, and enjoy the day. I fall into this category a lot.

4. Beginner just trying to finish

   • First time at the distance. The goal is completion. This is a fantastic goal.

5. Pain tester

   • Signs up last-minute, no real build-up, just wants to see “what my body can handle.”

There’s nothing inherently wrong with any category, but:

• If you’re a Category 4 runner pacing like Category 1 at mile 10, it’s going to catch up with you.

• I’ve watched so many people feel great at mile 10–15, run too hard, and completely fall apart between miles 28–40.

In an ultra, the first half should feel almost too easy.

If at mile 25–35 you’re thinking, “I should be working harder,” you’re probably pacing correctly. There’s plenty of time later to dig deeper if you still feel good.

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Bringing It All Together

Stepping up from a marathon to an ultramarathon isn’t just about running farther. It’s about:

• Having a clear DNF plan so you protect your long-term health

• Carrying the right gear for more hours and bigger gaps between aid stations

• Using drop bags intelligently so you don’t haul everything all day

• Treating foot care and blisters as a primary performance factor

• Knowing which runner you are so you pace and decide accordingly