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Trail running and mountain running is an excellent way to get out and explore your surroundings while also getting a workout in. With excellent races popping up all over the country we thought we would hear some advice from one of the top mountain ultra runners in the country to hear what kit he uses on race day to maximize performance and comfort.
Ricki Wynne is a Hoka Racer and International mountain ultra runner. Matthew McConnell (Outsider editor) is also an International mountain runner who focuses on shorter-distance races. We have compiled their top recommendations for trail racing kit.
Best Trail Racing Shoe
Ricki:
The HOKA Tecton X2 is my favourite shoe for dry buffed-out trails. It has dual carbon plates in the midsole which helps provide me with extra stability while propelling me forward. It’s a super fun shoe but make no mistake it does not work for every environment. I pick my shoes very carefully depending on specific races and terrain but the Tecton X2 is one I keep coming back to.
Matt:
Recently I have really been enjoying racing in the HOKA Zinal 2. This is an uber-light racer that has impressive grip thanks to its 5mm deep lugs and Vibram outsole. So far we have used it in a 23km mountain race in Ireland and a Vertical Kilometer race in Italy and it has performed super well for both.Â
HOKA Zinal 2: A Nimble Race Day Shoe
Best Trail Racing Vest
Ricki:
A good running vest is super important for races over 50km in my opinion. Anything less than that I would prefer to use a waist belt for carrying my hydration and nutrition. The waist belt is much more compact and comfortable for those faster shorter ultras but the vest then comes into its own in the longer races for carrying all my nutrition, hydration and mandatory gear. I use the Compressport Ultra S vest and the Compressport Free Belt Pro. Compressport is my go-to for hydration packs and belts! They make some quality gear.
Matt:
I alternate between using the Salomon Adv Skin 5 running vest and the Salomon Adv Skin Belt for races depending on the duration of the race. My general rule is: if the race is longer than 2 hours, it is warm, or there are no aid stations, I will wear the vest.Â
Best Trail Racing Poles
Ricki:
Seven Sisters 55km and the Kerryway Ultra are the two races where I would be inclined to use poles in Ireland. Poles take some of the load away from your legs and with both the Kerry Way Ultra and Seven Sisters you need your legs to be as fresh as possible throughout because of the relentless climbs and huge distance. My two favourite brands for poles are Leki and Black Diamond. I currently use the Leki Ultra Trail Superlite and the Black Diamond Carbon Z for training and racing. Both are super lightweight and fold up into three pieces for easy storage in your pack.
Best Trail Racing Hat
Ricki:
I usually race with a hat on because it keeps the sun out of my eyes, and on a warm day I like to soak my hat in water to keep my head cold. A lot of races require a hat for mandatory gear so I want to be able to have a hat that is super lightweight and packs down small if I need to store it in my race vest or belt. I use Vaga hats because they are moisture-wicking, lightweight, and have a very short peak and look awesome which is pretty important in my opinion!
Matt:
Hats are usually required for longer trail races (anything over 20k) so I will often wear a lightweight trail hat such as the Vaga Feather Light. On colder winter races I would often wear a buff instead to keep my head a bit warmer. I would often not wear a hat if the race is shorter than an hour in duration.
Best Trail Racing Socks
Ricki:
My favourite socks to run in are compressport and Otso socks. Blisters are one of the biggest factors and reasons for people not finishing races so you need socks to perform well and these two brands definitely do that very well. If I had to choose I’d pick the Compressport socks because not only are they brilliant performance socks they also stand the test of time, super durable which is a plus.
Matt:Â
Socks are super important. My go-to race-day socks are the Dynafit Ultra Cushion Socks. They are super comfortable, durable and nicely padded.
Best Trail Racing Shorts
Ricki:
As I’m a Hoka racer I always race in Hoka apparel so for me I like to use the Hoka split shorts. They are lightweight and comfortable. No chaffing or rubbing which is important considering the distance I’m running.
Matt:
This year I have been enjoying the OMM Speed shorts. Be warned, they are exceptionally short! I prefer this for racing, as they feel less restrictive than some other pairs. Honourable mentions go to the Dynafit Alpine 2in1 for longer days.
Just sign up!
If you have had an action-packed trail running season already you may now be enjoying some welcome time off before getting started with winter training. If that is the case we would highly encourage you to pick an event on the calendar and sign up. A date on the calendar is the best bit of race day kit! So don’t hesitate, here are some of our favourites for you to consider.
