This page contains required and recommended gear for our races. We only require that you have minimal gear with you so our gear list is not all of the gear that you will need. It is your responsibility to assess your abilities and requirements and to ensure that you have all of the gear necessary for your own safety and comfort during the race.
- Weeknight & 6hr Adventure Race Gear
- Long 12hr - 24hr Adventure Race Gear
- Winter Adventure/Navigation Race Gear
Weeknight & 6hr Adventure Race Gear
Required Gear
Surprise gear checks can occur anywhere along the course, so be sure that you have your required gear with you to avoid a significant missing gear penalty.
| Discipline | Weeknight & 6hr AR Required Gear | |
|---|---|---|
| All | Team | Writing Implement (permanent marker works on most papers and when wet) |
| Team | Compass | |
| Team | Watch or Time Piece | |
| Team | Cell Phone | |
| Team | First Aid Kit (containing at least; alcohol or iodine sterile wipes, sterile adhesive bandages, antibacterial ointment, gauze pads, 3ft duct tape) | |
| Individual | Whistle | |
| Individual | Emergency Blanket or Large Garbage Bag | |
| Individual | Capacity to carry 16oz of water/fluid at all times | |
| Individual | Emergency Card (containing; name, address, emergency contact info, allergies, medical conditions, insurance info, other important medical info or instructions) | |
| Trek | Individual | Light (headlamp works best, can use front bike light if it is easliy detachable) |
| Bike | Individual | CPSC Certified Bike Helmet |
| Individual | Bike (see recommendation on the race description for type of bike) | |
| Individual | White Front Bike Light (only if race finish time is after dark) | |
| Individual | Flashing Red Rear Bike Light (only if race finish time is after dark) | |
| Canoe (if water section) | Team | Canoe (each holds up to 3 people) |
| Individual | PFD (Type III or better) | |
| Individual | Paddle | |
Recommended Gear
The following is gear that we recommend that you bring with you on the race. This is a fairly minimal list. To see a more complete Adventure Race candidate gear ideas, check out our Big AR Gear List.
| Discipline | Weeknight & 6hr AR Recommended Gear | |
|---|---|---|
| All | Team | Spare Writing Implement |
| Team | Waterproof clear plastic bags for maps and passport (maps and passport may or may not be waterproof) | |
| Team | First Aid Kit Additions; anti-inflammatory tablets, self-adhesive ace bandage, tweezers | |
| Team | Small Locking Blade Folding Knife or Scissors | |
| Individual | Backpack | |
| Individual | Reflective and/or Light Colored Outer Clothing | |
| Individual | Layered/Warm Clothing (including hat and gloves) | |
| Individual | Rain Gear (if any chance of rain) | |
| Individual | Electrolyte Drink Mix | |
| Individual | Energy Food (a little gels, bars, etc.) | |
| Individual | Sun Protection (sunscreen, sunglasses) | |
| Individual | Change of Clothes for the Finish | |
| Trek | Individual | Running Shoes (suitable for road as well as trail) |
| Bike | Team | Bike Computer |
| Team | Tire Levers | |
| Team | Tube Patch Kit | |
| Team | Tire Pump and/or CO2 | |
| Individual | Handlebar Mounted Waterproof Map Case or Map Board | |
| Individual | Spare Tire Tube | |
Long 12hr - 24hr Adventure Race Gear
Required Gear
Surprise gear checks can occur anywhere along the course, so be sure that you have your required gear with you to avoid a significant missing gear penalty.
| Discipline | Long 12hr - 24hr AR Required Gear | |
|---|---|---|
| All | Team | Race Passport |
| Team | Writing Implement (permanent marker works on most papers and when wet) | |
| Team | Race Maps | |
| Team | Compass | |
| Team | Time Piece | |
| Team | Cell Phone (sealed prior to race) | |
| Team | First Aid Kit (containing at least; alcohol or iodine sterile wipes, sterile adhesive bandages, antibacterial ointment, gauze pads, 3ft duct tape) | |
| Individual | Knife (Small Locking Blade, Folding Knife or Scissors) | |
| Individual | Whistle | |
| Individual | Survival Mirror | |
| Individual | Light Source (Headlamp, waterproof) | |
| Individual | Emergency Blanket or Large Garbage Bag | |
| Individual | Capacity to carry 80oz of water/fluid at all times | |
| Individual | Emergency Card (containing; name, address, emergency contact info, allergies, medical conditions, insurance info, other important medical info or instructions) | |
| Individual | Shell Layer Top | |
| Individual | Baselayer Bottom (leggings/tights/pants) (only if 24hrs or greater, or overnight) | |
| Individual | Baselayer Head (hat/beenie) | |
| Individual | Food | |
| Individual | Eye Protection (day and night) | |
| Mountain Bike | Team | Tire Pump and/or CO2 |
| Individual | CPSC Certified Bike Helmet | |
| Individual | Mountain Bike (no hybrid or cyclocross) | |
| Individual | White Front Bike Light (can use headlamp, doesn't have to be dedicated light) | |
| Individual | Spare Tire Tube | |
Recommended Gear
The following is gear that we recommend that you bring with you on the race. This is a fairly minimal list. To see a more complete Adventure Race candidate gear ideas, check out our Big AR Gear List.
| Discipline | Long 12hr - 24hr AR Recommended Gear | |
|---|---|---|
| All | Team | Spare Writing Implement |
| Team | Waterproof clear plastic bags for maps and passport (maps and passport may or may not be waterproof) | |
| Team | Water Purification (filter, tablets, iodine, etc.) | |
| Team | First Aid Kit Additions; anti-inflammatory tablets, self-adhesive ace bandage, tweezers | |
| Team | Altimeter | |
| Team | Digital Camera | |
| Individual | Backpack | |
| Individual | Reflective and/or Light Colored Outer Clothing | |
| Individual | Layered/Warm Clothing (including hat and gloves) | |
| Individual | Rain Gear (if any chance of rain) | |
| Individual | Electrolyte Drink Mix | |
| Individual | Sun Protection (sunscreen, sunglasses) | |
| Individual | Change of Clothes for the Finish | |
| Bike | Team | Bike Computer |
| Team | Tire Levers | |
| Team | Tube Patch Kit | |
| Team | Bike Tools (chain tool, allen wrenches, etc.) | |
| Individual | Handlebar Mounted Waterproof Map Case or Map Board | |
Winter Adventure/Navigation Race Gear
Required Gear
Surprise gear checks can occur anywhere along the course, so be sure that you have your required gear with you to avoid a significant missing gear penalty.
| Discipline | Winter Race - Required Gear | |
|---|---|---|
| All | Team | Race Passport |
| Team | Writing Implement (permanent marker works on most papers and when wet) | |
| Team | Race Maps | |
| Team | Compass | |
| Team | Time Piece | |
| Team | Cell Phone (sealed prior to race) | |
| Team | First Aid Kit (containing at least; alcohol or iodine sterile wipes, sterile adhesive bandages, antibacterial ointment, gauze pads, 3ft duct tape) | |
| Individual | Knife (Small Locking Blade, Folding Knife or Scissors) | |
| Individual | Fire starter (lighter, waterproof matches, etc.) | |
| Individual | Whistle | |
| Individual | Survival Mirror | |
| Individual | Light Source (Headlamp, waterproof) | |
| Individual | Emergency Blanket or Large Garbage Bag | |
| Individual | Capacity to carry 32oz of water/fluid at all times | |
| Individual | Emergency Card (containing; name, address, emergency contact info, allergies, medical conditions, insurance info, other important medical info or instructions) | |
| Individual | Backpack | |
| Individual | Shell Layer Top | |
| Individual | Baselayer Top | |
| Individual | Warm/Insulated Top (if Shell Layer isn't insulated) | |
| Individual | Baselayer Bottom | |
| Individual | Baselayer Head (hat/beenie) | |
| Individual | Warm gloves | |
| Individual | Food | |
| Snowshoes | Individual | Snowshoes |
| Fat Tire Bike (if bike section) | Team | Tire Pump and/or CO2 |
| Individual | CPSC Certified Bike Helmet | |
| Individual | Fat Tire Bike (no hybrid or cyclocross) | |
| Individual | Spare Tire Tube | |
Recommended Gear
The following is gear that we recommend that you bring with you on the race. This is a fairly minimal list. To see a more complete Adventure Race candidate gear ideas, check out our Big AR Gear List.
| Discipline | Winter Race - Recommended Gear | |
|---|---|---|
| All | Team | Spare Writing Implement |
| Team | Waterproof clear plastic bags for maps and passport (maps and passport may or may not be waterproof) | |
| Team | First Aid Kit Additions; anti-inflammatory tablets, self-adhesive ace bandage, tweezers | |
| Team | Altimeter | |
| Team | Digital Camera | |
| Individual | Electrolyte Drink Mix | |
| Individual | Sun Protection (sunscreen, sunglasses) | |
| Individual | Change of Clothes for the Finish | |
| Bike | Team | Bike Computer |
| Team | Tire Levers | |
| Team | Tube Patch Kit | |
| Team | Bike Tools (chain tool, allen wrenches, etc.) | |
| Individual | Handlebar Mounted Waterproof Map Case or Map Board | |
Prohibited Gear
The following gear may not be used anywhere on the course.
| Prohibited Gear |
|---|
| GPS (You may use a GPS to record your performance for later evaluation. Any GPS device must remain stowed in your pack and may not be accessed in any way during the race. Failure to comply will lead to disqualification.) |
| Maps other than those provided by race organizers |
| A means of transport other than those specified for the race |
| Cell phone use other than for emergency purposes |
The Big Gear List
Click here to download an excel spreasheet that has a list of most of the gear that you would ever want to consider for adventure races. You can use this list for ideas on what you might want to pack either for a Transition Area, as Team gear, or as Individual gear. This list will generally have way more than what you will use, but we have found it handy when thinking through what we might want to bring for a race.
