Kit list · 24-hour, backyard and multiday
Ultramarathon Kit List
An itemised kit list with a quantity and a reason for every line, built for one stated race scenario so the numbers mean something. Below it: what to change when your race is colder, longer, unsupported or run in hourly loops, then the guides and product comparisons behind each line.
Reviewed October 23, 2026 · 18 items across 5 groups
Ultra Marathon Kit List
Quantities are for one scenario: a crewed 1-mile loop, forecast 8–18 °C with no rain, darkness from 20:00 to 06:00, one crew member, and no mandatory-kit rule beyond a race-supplied timing chip. Change the scenario and the numbers change. The reasoning column is what transfers.
The organizer's current race manual overrides every line here. Mandatory kit comes first, then this list fills in the rest.
Feet
| Item | Quantity | Why that number |
|---|---|---|
| Running shoes | 2 pairs | One tested pair worn and one familiar alternative staged in this example. Change for fit, wetness, debris or damage, not at a fixed hour; an automatic size increase is unnecessary. When to swap shoes → |
| Socks | 6 pairs | Our default is a fresh pair every 4 hours across 24 hours, sooner if they get wet or gritty. Sweat and grit build up even without rain, and unused pairs cost nothing on a loop course. |
| Foot-care kit | 1 kit + 2 restocks | Tape, scissors, wipes, lubricant and a small mirror in one labelled box. Our default is two replenishment bundles; check use at each change and restock before supplies run out. What goes in the kit → |
Clothing
| Item | Quantity | Why that number |
|---|---|---|
| Shirts | 3 | One for the warm daytime hours, one dry for the temperature drop at dusk, one spare for the pre-dawn low. |
| Shorts or tights | 2 | One worn, one dry change. Wet fabric and friction can contribute to chafing; a change is one option when needed. |
| Night layers | 5 items | For the 8–12 °C band: long-sleeve top, light windshell, thin gloves, beanie, plus the dry shirt you change into. Laid out before sunset so the decision is already made. |
| Wet and cold reserve | 2 items, kept boxed | An insulated layer and a waterproof shell, packed even when rain is not forecast. The forecast is the plan; the box is the insurance. |
Light and power
| Item | Quantity | Why that number |
|---|---|---|
| Primary headlamp | 1 | Worn from 20:00. Whatever the race rules require for lighting and backups comes first, before anything on this list. Compare headlamps → |
| Spare batteries or charged packs | 2 | For the guide’s example of ten hours of darkness and five measured useful hours per pack: 10 ÷ 5 × 1.5 = three packs total, one installed plus two spare. Replace the five-hour assumption with your own tested runtime. Battery maths → |
| Backup lamp | 1 | An independent second light, so a failure does not depend on a battery swap working in the dark. Options under 50 g exist. |
| Watch and charger | 1 + cable | Lap timing may be enough on a marked loop; check whether navigation or other features are needed. Check the runtime of the GPS mode you actually use, and charge at the table during a shoe change rather than assuming. Compare GPS watches → |
| Reflective or lit visibility layer | 1, if any road | Only when part of the loop uses a road or shares space with vehicles. |
Fuel and hydration
| Item | Quantity | Why that number |
|---|---|---|
| Bottles or soft flasks | 4 × 500 ml | Two in rotation, two being refilled and cooled at the table, so a handover never waits on a wash. |
| Food options | About 9,000 kcal | Our default is to pack 1.5 times the plan: a 250 kcal/h plan totals 6,000 kcal over 24 hours, so pack about 9,000 kcal to keep choices open when tastes change. You will not eat it all. Compare fuel formats → |
| Warm or savoury fallbacks | 2 kinds | Two familiar savoury options add variety if sweet food becomes unappealing. Many runners tire of sweet food overnight, so pack both. Hydration and sodium → |
Crew table and admin
| Item | Quantity | Why that number |
|---|---|---|
| Labelled boxes | 5 | Feet, night, food, wet and cold, electronics. Grouped by decision, not by brand, so the next action is visible to a tired runner and a tired crew. Print a table plan → |
| Race documents | 1 folder | Bib, timing chip, the current race manual, emergency numbers and your medical notes for the crew. The rules in the manual override every quantity above. |
| Phone and power bank | 1 + 1 | Check whether your organizer requires a phone and whether coverage exists. The power bank also covers the watch and, in a pinch, a USB-charged headlamp. |
When the Scenario Changes
Colder or wet forecast
Move the wet and cold reserve from the box to the loop. Our default: dry insulation, weather protection and a fresh pair of socks every 4 hours within reach, more if the forecast or exposure is worse.
Unsupported sections
Size carried water, food, layers and independent lighting for the longest plausible unsupported segment, including delays and withdrawal options. A fixed 90-minute threshold or one-litre capacity cannot cover every course or weather condition.
No crew
Cut the table to two boxes you can reach yourself in under a minute: feet and night on top, everything else below. Pre-open food and pre-fill bottles before the start.
Longer than 24 hours
Add sleep, not just more of everything. See the format grid below for what a 48-hour, 6-day or stage race changes about the kit.
What Changes by Race Format
24-hour loop
The scenario above. One table passed every lap, so almost everything can be staged and very little carried. The kit problem is organisation, not weight.
Confirm table space, shelter rules, power access and how often the course passes your supplies.
Full 24-hour checklist with night kit →48-hour
Two nights instead of one. Recalculate lighting for both nights, plan dry reserves and a sleep setup, and keep sleep opportunities flexible rather than prescribing a single block.
Confirm whether tents or camp beds are allowed at the course and where the sleep area sits relative to the timing mat.
How 48-hour races work →Backyard ultra
Kit is used in the gap between hourly starts, so arrange it in the order of the rest routine: drink and food first, then feet, then layers, then light. Last Soul Ultra allocates a 3 × 3 metre camp; check your event.
Confirm corral rules, whether crew may enter the course and what changes between day and night loops.
Backyard ultra gear list →6-day
A base camp, not a table. Add a proper sleep system, a familiar alternative pair if practical, a full wash kit and enough clothing to start every morning in dry kit without relying on laundry.
Confirm tent and shelter rules, laundry access, food service and whether the camp area has power.
How 6-day races work →Stage race
Two bags: what you carry during the stage and what travels to camp. Self-supported events add the sleep system and all food to the carried pack, which sets the weight budget.
Use the organizer's mandatory-kit list, calorie minimum and bag weight limit as the starting point.
Stage race packing list →100-mile and point-to-point
Pack by the next accessible checkpoint. Each drop bag holds what the next section needs, and the carried kit covers the longest gap between them.
Confirm drop-bag limits, delivery deadlines and which checkpoints crew can reach.
Plan drop bags by checkpoint →Gear Guides
24-Hour Race Gear Checklist: What to Pack
A practical 24-hour race gear checklist covering shoes, socks, lights, layers, bottles, food, foot care, crew table setup, and backup items.
Shoe Rotation Strategy for 24-Hour and Multiday Races
How to plan shoe size, cushioning, socks, and rotation timing for 24-hour, 48-hour, 6-day, and backyard ultras.
Headlamp and Battery Strategy for Night Ultras
How to choose, test, and manage headlamps, backup lights, batteries, charging, and visibility for overnight ultramarathons and multiday races.
Foot Care Kit for Multiday Running
What to pack in a multiday running foot care kit: tape, lube, socks, scissors, blister pads, towels, shoes, and simple hot-spot rules.
Stage Race Packing List: What to Carry, What to Send Ahead
A practical stage race packing guide for mandatory kit, daily carry, camp bags, food, foot care, clothing, and recovery items.
Backyard Ultra Gear List: Kit and Packing List by Yard Goal
A backyard ultra gear list by yard goal (12, 24, 36+): venue rules to check, what to carry each yard, base camp, night, power, sleep kit and a crewless minimum.
Product Comparisons
These compare dated manufacturer specifications and attributed listings; they do not claim hands-on testing. Read the review methodology for the criteria and limits of each comparison.
Best Shoes for 24-Hour Races (2026): Spec Comparison
Seven current road shoes for 24-hour loop races compared on widths, weight, drop, rocker and price, with a clear first pick and who should choose each one.
Best Headlamps for Ultrarunning (2026): Spec Comparison
Five ultrarunning headlamps compared from current manufacturer specs for sustained output, runtime, weight, charging, and weather resistance.
Best Ultramarathon Nutrition (2026): Spec Comparison
Six ultramarathon drink mixes, gels, pouches and electrolytes compared on carbohydrate, sodium, format and price, with a first pick and who each suits.
Best GPS Watches for Ultrarunning (2026): Spec Comparison
Five GPS watches for ultrarunning compared on rated GPS hours, maps, flashlight, weight and price, with a first pick for 24-hour, 100-mile and 200-mile races.
Start From the Race, Not the Shop
The kit list above is only right for the scenario it states. Pick your format, read its rules, then adjust the quantities for your weather, support and hours of darkness.