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 September 20, 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, one identical tested pair at the table. Swap at about 12 hours, or sooner if fit changes. The backup does not need to be a size up by default. When to swap shoes → |
| Socks | 6 pairs | One change every 4 hours across 24 hours. 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. One restock per planned shoe change so the box is never empty at 03:00. 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. Chafing usually starts where fabric is wet. |
| 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 | In the headlamp guide’s worked example, a 10-hour mixed-output night uses almost a full battery. Carrying 1.5 times the calculated need means two spares, not one. 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 is the whole job on a loop course. 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 | A plan of 250 kcal per hour over 24 hours is 6,000 kcal, packed at 1.5 times because taste fatigue makes roughly a third of what you bring unusable on the day. Compare fuel formats → |
| Warm or savoury fallbacks | 2 kinds | Sweet-only plans usually fail somewhere in the night. Two warm savoury options give the stomach somewhere to go. 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 | Required by most organizers for emergencies. 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. As a rule of thumb, add a second shell, a dry base layer per night and one extra pair of socks for every 4 hours of rain.
Unsupported sections
Once the gap between aid points passes roughly 90 minutes, carry rather than stage: a vest or belt with about 1 litre of capacity, two food options and the backup lamp on you at all times.
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. Double the socks and night layers, add a second set of spare batteries, and plan one sleep block with a mat, sleeping bag and a dry set of clothes reserved for it.
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.
Work out your rest window →6-day
A base camp, not a table. Add a proper sleep system, at least two pairs of shoes in rotation, 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
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.
Product Comparisons
These compare current manufacturer specifications, not hands-on testing, and say so on every page. Read the review methodology before trusting a score.
7 Best Shoes for 24-Hour Races (2026)
A desk-researched comparison of seven current road shoes for 24-hour loop races, using manufacturer-listed fit, geometry, weight, widths, and price.
5 Best Headlamps for Ultrarunning (2026)
Five ultrarunning headlamps compared from current manufacturer specs for sustained output, runtime, weight, charging, and weather resistance.
6 Best Ultra Nutrition Products (2026)
A desk-researched comparison of ultramarathon drink mixes, gels, food pouches, and electrolytes using current labels, practicality, and safety context.
5 Best GPS Watches for Ultrarunning (2026)
A desk-researched comparison of five current GPS watches for ultrarunning using official battery modes, navigation features, size, and price information.
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.