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This can be can be a great thing, as it levels the playing field (for example, you aren't paddling a clunky sit on top kayak while another team in racing kayaks blows by you). Some races provide boats for all participants. In some longer races, you may have a combination of some of the above! Stand up paddle boarding or floating down rapids on pack rafts are also possibilities. Sometimes it's kayaks, other times canoes. The kind of boat required for an adventure race may vary from race to race. If you already have some of these items, great! But if you do not, please don't stress - chances are you can borrow from a friend or rent them from an outfitter. One of my mid race favorites, the Science in Sport Energy Bake What Gear to Borrow (or Rent) for Your First Adventure RaceĪs mentioned already, adventure racing can be a gear intensive - and thus expensive (at least up front)- sport.
#Adventure race gear list how to#
I contemplated putting this in the "borrow" list, because technically, you could definitely borrow these things, especially if you are unsure if you'll ever do an adventure race again.īut, if you are new to navigating, I highly recommend practicing using a compass BEFORE race day.įurther, if your adventure race requires plotting check points using UTM coordinates, you're also going to want to know how to do that before the race.
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Best to have your own pair instead of giving those back to a friend.
#Adventure race gear list plus#
Plus if we're being honest, they're going to get sweaty and kind of funky. Not only do they serve their purpose on the cycling portions, but they can help protect your hands from friction and blisters during the paddle, and against cuts from thorns, rocks, falls etc. In an adventure race, you may find that you end up keeping your gloves on during the entire race. While you could borrow them, a decent pair of well fitting cycling gloves are inexpensive enough that I'm putting them on the "to buy" list. Head on down to your local bike shop and find a helmet that fits your head properly! Bike Gloves (A helmet should also be replaced after a crash, or if it's sustained any significant impact, even if it cosmetically "looks" OK.) The breakdown of the materials can greatly decrease the protective qualities of the helmet.Īnd your brain is nothing to take chances on.
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This is because the materials inside of the helmet breakdown over time (and especially in heat, like being stored in a non climate controlled garage or shed). According to Consumer Reports, bike helmets should be replaced every five years. Before you check this item off your list, ask yourself how hold the helmet is. "But wait! I have a helmet kicking around in my garage!" you might be saying. Not just for comfort, but in this case, for safety.
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And of course, different packs are going to fit different body types and torso shapes differently.įor what it's worth, I love my Nathan VaporHowe 12L for sprint distance adventure races, and my UltrAspire Epic XT 2.0 for any adventure race longer than 10 hours.
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Much like shoes, different athletes have different preferences on what sort of packs they enjoy. While it may be tempting to grab the old ruck you have tucked away in the attic, you might want to really consider how the pack you use will fit you while in race mode. You're going to want some sort of pack to carry all of your mandatory gear and water.
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