Running UTA? The Mandatory Gear List, translated

Running UTA? The Mandatory Gear List, translated

So you've signed up for Ultra Trail Australia, the 100km gallop through the beautiful Blue Mountains of NSW. Well, you're bonkers, for a start. Okay, so maybe you're doing the less-bonkers 50km or 22km options, but still you're obviously a fan of pain. And not just physical pain but the far-worse pain of being forced to go shopping when you could be out running. Why? Because the mandatory gear for UTA reads like Bear Grylls' weekly groceries list.

 

Unless you've done this sort of thing before (and respect to you if you have) you're probably going to end up needing a few things, and you doubtless want to make it as painless as possible by quickly popping-in to the store at lunchtime. Well, good luck, because unless you're a bona-fide gear boffin (like us!) there's bound to be some uncertainty over some of the items on the list. {Like, what the hell is a head sock?}

Lucky you! Because we love both trail running and helping out we've put together some suggestions for each item on the UTA mandatory gear list. We've kept the exact Item Name & Description from the UTA list (in this case the 100km version) and to keep things simple, we've reduced the options to two:

1) the best choice for the pro runner who will let nothing stand in their way of a PB.

2) a cheaper but still acceptable option for those who may never use it again and just want to pass the random gear checks.

All products are linked for ease of browsing, so now you have no excuse for blaming for poor time on gear malfunction! [PS. Don't leave it too late to order! Get in quick for peace of mind.]

*n/a means we do not stock 'that type of thing'.

Main Mandatory Gear List

Item Description Best Option Cheap Option
Long Sleeve Thermal Top (polypropylene, wool) Cotton, Coolmax and lycra garments are NOT suitable. Compression garments and thermal compression garments are NOT suitable. Compression garments may still be used in the race but they are in addition to your mandatory thermal top and do not replace it.

Icebreaker Oasis Crewe - $99.95

Men's

Women's

360 Degrees Active Thermal Top - $34.95
Long Leg Thermal Pants (polypropylene, wool) Cotton, Coolmax and lycra garments are NOT suitable. Compression garments and thermal compression garments are NOT suitable. Compression garments may still be used in the race but they are in addition to your mandatory thermal pants and do not replace it.

Icebreaker Oasis Leggings - $99.95

Men's

Women's

360 Degrees Active Thermal Bottoms - $34.95
Waterproof and Breathable Jacket with Fully Taped (Not Critically Taped) Waterproof Seams and Hood The breathability must be provided by the material itself and not exclusively by mesh panels. Minimal underarm vents are allowed if the jacket material itself is technical and breathable. Large mesh panels, even if covered by flaps are NOT permitted. A premium jacket would have a waterproof rating of over 15,000mm hydrostatic head and a breathability MVTR rating of 20,000g/m²/25hrs however much lower ratings are completely acceptable. Any non-membrane jacket must still be in very good condition with waterproof coating intact.  The jacket must fit you. Plastic rain ponchos, wind jackets, water resistant jackets are NOT suitable.

Men's - Salomon Bonatti Pro Jacket - $299.95

 

Women's - Outdoor Research Helium II Jacket - $239.95
Beanie, Balaclava or Head Sock (Buff) Beanie, Balaclava or Head Sock (Buff) High UV Buff - $34.95 Lowe Alpine Dryflo Tube - $14.95
Full-Fingered Lightweight Thermal Gloves (Polypropylene, Wool) Full-Fingered Lightweight Thermal Gloves (Polypropylene or Wool) Icebreaker Quantum Gloves - $44.95 Outdoor Research PL Base Sensor Gloves - $39.95
High-Visibility Safety Vest that complies with Australian Standard AS/NZS 4602:1999 - D/N Class for Day and Night Time Wear It must be made of a combination of retroreflective and fluorescent materials. This is not a running vest but a workwear vest. The vest must have either AS/NZS 4602:1999 or AS/NZS 4602:2010 or AS/NZS 4602.1:2011 as well as Class "D/N" on the tag. The vest must be clearly visible from both the front and back, even when wearing your backpack so you must have an oversized vest that covers your whole torso AND your backpack (your race number must still be visible on your front and over the top of your vest). Vests can be purchased at hardware stores, workwear stores, the UTA shop or Race Check-In. Refer to 'Suitable Vest' link for images. UTA100 runners must carry the vest at ALL times whether they need to wear it or not. The item is weather dependent for UTA50. For specific details of when you are required to wear your vest, refer to the Competitor Briefing document which is available one month prior to the event. n/a n/a
Headlamp Test your headlamp on bush tracks at night prior to the event to make sure it provides enough light to both see the track and the course markings. Make sure batteries are new or fully charged and you have enough battery capacity / spare batteries. Note that waistlamps are not permitted as they will obscure your race number. Black Diamond Spot - $79.95 Petzl Tikka - $59.95
Small Backup Light Sufficiently bright to see course markings while walking in case of headlamp failure. Petzl Tikkina is perfect. Petzl Tikkina - $39.95 n/a
Mobile Phone in Working Order with Fully Charged Battery Mobile phone coverage over the course varies from excellent at most escarpment / cliff top locations to non-existent when in deep valleys or when directly below cliffs. Generally you can get reception on hills and ridges across the whole course especially when you have views directly to Katoomba. We strongly recommend you have a Telstra phone. If you need to buy a new phone or a pre-paid SIM card or borrow a phone, Telstra is preferable as it works on approximately 90% of the course. Optus works on approximately 50% of the course. Vodaphone works on less than 30% of the course. For specific details of phone coverage on the course, refer to the Competitor Briefing document which is available one month prior to the event. n/a n/a
Compass Used only in the very unlikely event that you get lost. While we recommend a good quality compass such as the Silva Field 7, you can bring any compass as long as the magnetic needle will settle quickly and will point to magnetic North. A waterproof watch compass is allowed as long as you can calibrate it and know how to use it.  An iPhone compass is not acceptable as it is not waterproof and the batteries may be needed for making emergency calls. Silva Field - $46.95 n/a
Whistle Whistle Lifesystems Survival Whistle - $16.95 Fox 40 Emergency Whistle - $12.95
Emergency Space Blanket (or Light Bivvy Sack Equivalent) Emergency Space Blanket (or Light Bivvy Sack Equivalent) Lifesystems Thermal Blanket - $12.95 Coghlans Survival Bag - $17.95
Compression Bandage (Minimum Dimensions 7.5cm Wide x 2.3m Long Unstretched) The wrapping should list ‘heavy weight cotton crepe bandage’ or ‘heavy cotton elastic bandage’ or ‘heavy weight elastic support bandage’. This item is used for the treatment of sprains or snake bite. Generally the pink coloured bandages are suitable and the white bandages not. There will be compression bandages available for purchase at Race Check-In (mostly as a service for international runners). n/a n/a
Lightweight Dry Sack This is to keep the compulsory clothing dry (multiple NEW Ziplock plastic bags work well for compressing your clothing and being able to see the item through the plastic; useful for random gear checks). Sea to Summit Ultrasil dry sacks are also a good option. Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Compression Sack - from $26.95 Exped Fold Drybag UL - from $17.95
Water Bottles or Bladders, 2 Litre Capacity Water Bottles or Bladders with a capacity to carry 2 Litres of water Camelbak Crux 2L Reservoir - $69.95 Source Widepac Hydration System - $49.95
Food Bars / Portions You need to start each leg with 2 food portions and can eat these during the leg.  Em's Original Power Cookie - $4.95 Clif Energy Bar - $3.50
Ziplock Bag for Personal Rubbish Ziplock Bag for Personal Rubbish n/a n/a
Waterproof Map Case Or any other way to keep map and course descriptions protected such as map contact Lifeventure Dristore LocTop Storage Bags - $25.95 Sea to Summit TPU Guide Map Case - from $34.95
Long Leg Waterproof Pants Must be waterproof but does NOT require the same specs as the waterproof jacket, i.e. does not need taped seams, does not need to be breathable but does need to be durable.

Outdoor Reseach Helium Pants - $179.95

Men's

Women's

n/a
100-Weight (Minimum) Long Sleeve Synthetic Fleece Top 100-weight fleece is equivalent to 214gsm Polartec Fleece. Must not be made of wool as you will mostly need this item if it is wet and just above zero. If it were guaranteed to be dry weather for the race, a woollen fleece would actually be preferable. The fibres of a synthetic fleece will not absorb water whereas the fibres of a woollen fleece will hold water and make you feel colder and clammier. Also once a woollen fleece is wet, it will never dry out for the rest of the race. 

Men's - Arc'teryx Delta LT Zip - $159.95

Women's - Arc'teryx Delta LT Zip - $159.95

Men's - Outdoor Research Soleil Pullover - $109.95

Women's - Icebreaker Tech LS Half Zip - $149.95

 

Other Recommended Items

 Item Recommendation
Anti-chafe Body Glide / body lubricant Available in store only
Sunscreen Cancer Council Ezi-Clip Sunscreen: Sport - $14.95
Cap or sun hat Outdoor Research Sun Runner - $44.95
Spare socks Bridgedale Wool Fusion Ultra Light - $33.95
Spare headlight batteries Available in store only
A spare good quality headlamp in case your primary headlamp stops working and so you don’t have to run the rest of the way with only your backup light. Black Diamond Cosmo - $64.95
More substantial first aid kit (sterile dressings, roll of strapping tape, blister care such as blister block patches or Compeed, antiseptic wipes and any relevant personal medications). Equip Rec 1 - $22.95
Additional warmer clothing at supported checkpoints Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody - $379.95
External battery charger for your phone n/a