Ultramaraton - the adventure of the lifetime

Ultramarathon – the lifetime adventure

Necessary gear and equipment

Ultramarathon, triathlon, „Iron man”, Adventure racing, all these are endurance competitions at long distance, which are becoming increasingly popular in our country. The last super marathon Vitosha 100 enrolled over 500 runners. In all endurance competitions in open air, equipment and facilities are essential, not only for success in the competition, but also for a healthy participation. Here are some tips when choosing equipment. Some of them are valid for a regular hiking in the mountains.

Obligatory equipment:

1. Good hiking boots - by "good" we understand no a particular brand or price value but those shies which you feel comfortable on your feet. A callus can ruin your whole transition and make the next day walking and climbing extremely difficult. You should buy your shoes not less than six months prior to the transition. Train with them and if your feet appear blisters and bubbles, discard them without hesitation. Do not try to match the uncomfortable shoes to your feet. Instead, buy a new and comfortable pair.
Choose lightweight hiking boots that provide good protection of the feet. Dust and Sand can often enter in your shoes. It is advisable to select a half size or one size larger than you normally wear. This is because your feet will swell from prolonged walking and when you going down the slope narrow shoes can hurt your fingers.
Take with you a spare pair of shoes. In this case, you will have what to put on your feet the next day, if one pair goes wet or hurt your feet,.

Look at the different types of hiking shoes or trainers

2. Suitable backpack - Choose a backpack with hydration system that allows your hands to remain free. It is better to have a capacity not less than three liters. Separately, you can take one or two small bottles of water.
How to prepare your backpack for the transition? Top strap should pass just above the buttocks, so the weight of the water will not load your shoulders. Quick test: put 7 kg in the backpack and put it on your back without tightening the upper strap. The bottom strap should fall below the waist. Now fasten the upper. The burden should remain on the flanks.
Straps on your shoulders aim simply to adhere backpack near the body and not to bear the burden. The appropriate length of all straps is very important, as if the weight of the backpack falls on your shoulders when you climb a slope, it will be very difficult to wear it and could cause inflammation.

Have a look at the different suitable backpaks

3. Filtration system and system for purify water - there is no guarantee that you will find water which is clean and drinkable. It is important to have the ability to carry in your backpack at least three liters of water, and you can filter and purify.
You will need both systems: tablets for water purification and filtration pump.
UV sterilizer and a small bottle of filtering are inadequate for hiking. UV sterilizers often have faults, or can not handle the larger quantity of water, and filtering bottles usually have small dimensions. Take pumping,filtration system and tablets for purification the water. It is best to choose those whose action takes only 5 minutes. Thus there will be no unnecessary waste of time.
It is obligatory to test the system and tablets before you go.
It is a good idea, if you walk in a group to take with you an empty water bladder. So, in case anyone has problems, you can provide clean drinking water.
4. Liquid drink or pills with electrolytes and minerals to accelerate the recovery of muscle or increase endurance. Clean water is not sufficient for toning the body and keeping it in top shape during the transition.
Physical activity, heat and humidity during the long walk can be very exhausting. It is therefore important to take supplements in the form of soluble drink or pills that provide replacing lost electrolytes during the day or you will risk to suffer a "Water intoxication" or the condition when the optimal balance of electrolytes in the body drops below limits due to over-hydration.
5. Flashlight, fastened on the forehead, leaving your hands free. Very often during the long and difficult transitions require departure in early morning or late evening in the dark for hours. Sometimes after sunset, one wrong step outside path could mean a serious fall. It is therefore particularly important that the road ahead should be well lit without impeding your movement.

Look ate the different kind of headlamps

6. Hiking three section poles - choose two lightweight telescopic poles with a reliable locking system. You will decrease the load in the legs and knees with about 25% and will ensure stability and safety when walking. They are particularly useful in heavier conditions - strong winds, snow and ice, as well as trails in bad condition.

Have a look at  our hiking poles offer

7. Hiking pants - the most appropriate models are that, thanks to zip around the knees, can become short and long. They are made breathable, windproof and waterproof.
8. Clothing - choose clothes in bright colors that can be layered depending on the temperature.

- Two pairs of socks of breathable fabric for each day;

- Underwaer of breathable fabric;

- T-shirt with short sleeves or shirt;

- Shirt with long sleeves - you can wear it both to keep you warm in the cold, and to protect you from the sun in the heat. You can protect yourself from the sun soaking your shirt and hat. This will lower your temperature.

- Head wrap towel.

9. Hat with a brim - choose a hat with a brim to protect your head, neck and shoulders from the sun. Under it you can put a sweatband, which provide protection from the wind.
10. Foot - it is important to carefully consider what food to take for the trip. It should keep you satiated and provide you with enough strength and energy during transition.
11. Additional products to put in your backpack - cream for treat blisters and sores on the legs, a sun protection cream with a high SPF, sunglasses, patches, anti-inflammatory drug that relieves pain, reduces inflammation and lowers the temperature and lip balm. It is good to have hiking gloves to protect your hands from the poles and knee pads, which give support to the knees when driving on steep slopes. Place them in bags to keep them clean and dry. It is important to predict in what you will store your garbage.

Remember that water will weigh at least 4-5 kg and everything else will add an additional burden. After 30-40km and 10 hours walking each kilogram will seem more and more. Focus on water, food and most basic equipment.

The ingenious approach will help you make the hiking easier and safe.