What to Pack for Your First Ultra

Ultrarunners receive up to 10x more UVB radiation than the average runner. That finding, from Gutiérrez-Manzanedo et al. (2024), puts sunglasses in the same safety category as a waterproof jacket or headlamp. Yet most gear lists bury eye protection under “optional extras.”

This guide treats every item by how critical it is to finishing your first ultra in one piece. Mandatory safety kit first, then footwear, clothing, nutrition, tech, and drop bag strategy.

Before you pack: the right mindset

Treat your ultramarathon like a trip to a remote location. Have your gear ready several days in advance, leaving time for any last-minute purchases. First-timers tend to swing between two extremes. Some carry too much and pay for it in fatigue. Others show up too light and spiral into a miserable DNF.

The starting pen can make this worse. You will see runners with poles, double flasks, compression everything, gadgets you cannot identify. As ultra coach Jeff Bard puts it, "it's pretty bare bones what you need."

For a first ultra, pack a little more than you think you need. You can refine your setup over subsequent events. The goal for race one is to finish, learn, and come back.

Train with your race kit

Every item in your pack should have kilometres on it before the start line. That means running with your full kit to check for chafe points, optimise your pack layout, practise stowing and removing gear, and test your hydration and nutrition strategy under load.

The cautionary example: Addie Bracy carried nutrition in a vest for her first ultra without testing it. The vest bothered her the entire race. She ended up pulling things out and leaving it at an aid station, only to wish she had it at kilometre 47.

If something does not work in training, it will not work on race day.

Mandatory safety gear

Most ultras require specific safety items. Race directors check packs. Show up without mandatory kit and you will not start.

Waterproof jacket and trousers. Must be fully waterproof with taped seams. A water-resistant shell will not pass inspection. The jacket needs a hood. A lightweight, packable version is worth the investment here, because you will carry it for hours without using it on most race days. But when you need it, it can prevent hypothermia if you stop moving.

Headlamp. Essential even for single-day events. For trail ultras, aim for minimum 400 lumens. For overnight races, 300 to 800 lumens. Always carry a spare battery or a backup lamp. Know the burn time on different settings.

Emergency blanket or bivy. Required at many races and potentially life-saving if you are forced to stop.

Whistle and ID/medical card. Standard mandatory items. Clip the whistle to your vest strap where you can reach it without thinking.

First-aid kit. At minimum, pack a blister kit (practised with), alcohol prep pads, tape, anti-chafing cream, emergency salt caps, anti-nausea medication, and paracetamol. One critical note: NSAIDs like ibuprofen are actively discouraged during ultras because they can contribute to kidney injury. Stick to paracetamol.

Footwear: the most personal decision on the list

Forget the terrain-optimised shoe matrix. For a first ultra, comfort and fit matter more than anything else. Go to a running specialty store and try on a lot of shoes. They should feel comfortable straight out of the box.

Then run in them. A lot. Staying with familiar, tested footwear on race day, even if it is not the ideal shoe for the terrain, is usually the smarter call for your first event.

For races of 100 miles or more, bring a pair half a size up. Foot swelling is very common at that distance.

Socks matter as much as shoes. The humble sock can make or break your race. Train in the socks you plan to race in to check for rubbing over long distances. Choose moisture-wicking performance fabric or wool, never cotton. Keep a spare pair in your pack or drop bag for when your feet get wet mid-race.

Clothing and layering

The rule is simple: no cotton. Moisture-wicking base layers against the skin, with a layering system on top.

Cold weather. Pack one more layer than you think you need. A long sleeve, wind shell, insulated jacket, pants, buff or beanie, and gloves all form part of a layering system. Check the weather forecast, then add one piece.

Hot weather. Cooling strategies include ice bandanas, packing ice into arm sleeves and your hat, draping wet towels over your shoulders at aid stations, and getting wet as much as possible.

Checkpoint change of clothes. Have a full change lined up at checkpoints. Chafing can appear in places you did not expect, conditions shift through the day, and fresh dry kit at kilometre 60 is a genuine morale boost.

Eye and skin protection

This is the item most first-timers underestimate.

Research published in 2024 found that ultrarunners receive up to 10x more UVB radiation than average, with altitude and latitude amplifying exposure. That excessive UVB damages eyes as well as skin. You would not run an ultra without sunscreen. Sunglasses deserve the same status.

The challenge for ultra distance is that conditions change. You start before dawn, run through midday glare, pass through shaded forest, climb above the treeline, and may still be out at dusk. A single fixed-tint lens cannot cover that range. Photochromic lenses that adapt to changing light solve this problem. If the race includes exposed ridgelines or reflective surfaces like water and snow, polarisation cuts the glare that causes you to squint and tense your face for hours.

Re.'s Infinity lens combines photochromic, polarised, and permanent anti-fog technology in one lens, built specifically for the dawn-to-dark conditions ultrarunners face. For a deeper look at how variable-light lenses perform across ultra distances, see our ultramarathon sunglasses guide.

Apply sunscreen liberally and reapply at every checkpoint. Your face, ears, neck, and the backs of your hands are the areas that accumulate the most exposure over a 12-plus-hour effort.

Hydration and nutrition

Vest or handheld? Personal preference. Some runners like the hands-free setup of a vest with soft flasks. Others prefer a single handheld bottle. The non-negotiable part is testing your choice in training first.

Plan around aid stations, not map distance. Six miles on paper can become several hours of running once you factor in elevation and terrain between stations. Study the course profile and know how much you need to carry between each stop.

Real food, not just gels. Over shorter distances you can get away with gels, but for an ultramarathon you will need proper food. Sandwiches, rice balls, boiled potatoes, whatever your stomach accepts. The key is knowing what works for you. If you cannot keep food down, you cannot keep running. Test everything in training.

Electrolytes. Essential for maintaining your body's electrolyte balance over long efforts. Carry them as powder or tabs. For a detailed breakdown of fuelling strategy, see our long run nutrition guide.

Tech and navigation

A GPS watch is essential for tracking pace, distance, and location. Load the course map if your watch supports it. Staying on course in the dark or on unmarked trail sections is where a GPS pays for itself.

Carry your phone in a waterproof ziplock bag. It is your emergency communication device and your backup navigation. A small power bank is worth the weight for any event longer than 12 hours.

Drop bag and checkpoint essentials

Your drop bag is your mid-race resupply. Pack it the night before, label it clearly, and include:

• Spare shoes half a size up (for 100-mile events)
• Spare socks (dry feet prevent blisters)
• Full change of clothes (fresh base layer, shorts or tights, clean socks)
• Anti-chafe product. Make sure you apply it everywhere. You cannot always predict where you will chafe, but given how long you are moving, something is bound to rub wrong. Apply it liberally.
• Backup nutrition you know works
• Extra batteries for your headlamp

Where to spend more

Not every piece of kit needs to be top-shelf. But lightweight, packable gear is the biggest area where spending more pays back over time. A packable waterproof that compresses to the size of your fist, quality socks that hold their shape over 80km, a head torch with reliable battery life. Those three items earn their price tag across every race you run.

Everything else, keep it simple. Your first ultra is about learning what works for your body, your stomach, and your feet. Pack smart, train with your kit, protect your eyes and skin, and refine from there.

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