Gear

Tips on gear

Experienced racers who would like to give rookies information on equipment needed or exchange information with other experienced racers may email us their kit lists or other information.

Be aware that neither lists nor other information cater to the needs of every racer.

It remains your responsibility to have the right gear.

Yukon Arctic Ultra gear list powered by Racelite.com

Racelite.com is a project of the Great Outdoors, the company that puts on the Yukon Arctic Ultra and the Adventure Trophy Adventure Races in the Alps.

Racelite.com came to life as a German online shop December 2005 and is specialised in selling gear for runners, ultra runners, adventure racers and other people interested in light weight and innovative gear. Racelite.com is also available in English and selling to athletes all over the world.

Link to the Yukon Arctic Ultra gear list powered by Racelite.com

If you have any questions regarding gear, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Gear lists and winter race essays

Click here for "Equipment trials and errors" by Rocky Reifenstuhl and Gail Koepf

Click here for "Bicycling below zero in Alaska for 20 years" by Rocky Reifenstuhl

Christian's gear list for the Iditasport 130, 2002

The gear list of Bill Merchant, winter ultra race veteran

Martin Like's gear list for the Iditasport 130, 2002, foot division

Christian's gear list for the Iditasport 130, 2002:

Waterproof jacket

Waterproof trousers

Windproof shell jacket

Shoes

Gaiters

Overboots

Waterproof socks

Thermal underwear

Thermal socks

Wicking socks

Duvet jacket

Fleece layer

Headover

Ear gear

Gloves - contact x 2

Gloves - thermal

Gloves - shell

Sunglasses

Heat Packs x 10

Goggles

Sleeping bag

Sled

Sled Cover

Pack

Snowshoes

Trekking poles

Bivi bag

Camelbak

Nalgene bottle for drink mixes

1.8 litre reservoir

Sleeping mat

Stove

Aluminum billy pot

Spoon

Compass

GPS

Camera

Headlamp

Alarm clock

Duct tape

Spare batteries

Rations - 3 x 1 day Ziplok 8,000 calories per day

Knife, Lockback

Bungees for sled, 2 x mini-bungees

Medical kit, comprising: Zinc oxide tape Compeed    1 pressure bandage 400mg Ibuprofen tablets New skin liquid bandage spray Sudacrem Back to top

The gear list of Bill Merchant, winter ultra race veteran:

Race light:

In this mode of ultralight racing, eating, drinking and constant movement can mean the difference between finishing the race quickly or becoming a victim of the Arctic Winter.

If you have any doubt about your ability to move constantly for the time required to travel between checkpoints regardless of conditions this is not for you!

1. Clothes worn while traveling which will maintain your body temperature as long as you are moving.
2. Sleeping bag heavy enough when used with your clothes to rest for short periods if absolutely necessary (1 to 2 hours) or to use when making water in extreme cold temperatures.
3. Trail food and or sport drink powders if you use them.
4. Water container with enough insulation to prevent freezing to -40. Size depends on how often you wish to stop and make water.
5. Stove White gas preferred as mixed gas canisters require preheating at extreme cold temperatures.
6. 1.3 litre titanium pot for making water.
7. Wind jacket and pants.
8. Bikers and skiers will want proper tools and parts to maintain there equipment.

This mode of winter travel is only for the very experience winter racer and if you need this list is probably not for you. Successful racers have eliminated the stove and cook pot from this list but I would never recommend this to anyone!

Race mode:

To decrease risk and increase comfort for most experienced racers you can add 1 or more of the following to the race light list

1. Down or synthetic Parka and or pants
2. Sleeping bag heavy enough to maintain "YOUR" comfort for long periods at -40. The rating on bags mean very little as each individuals requirements differ. Testing is the ONLY way to be sure and if you are not very experienced with down synthetic insulation is preferable.
3. Over boots and or chemical toe warmers
4. Heavy mittens or chemical hand warmers
5. Food for hot meals on the trail preferably to be warmed not cooked. Most pre-prepared dehydrated meals are quick and easy but very low in calories.

Expedition Mode:

In this touring mode where speed is not a factor you can add all the comforts you can pull up the trail including things like a tent, a change of clothes, a full medical kit, some even carry CD or tape players, a full cook set with meals to be cooked on the trail. When traveling in this mode it becomes increasingly difficult to progress up the trail as conditions worsen with fresh snow or steep terrain. Many racers in the past have become discouraged and failed to finish by overloading themselves with too many creature comforts and items to cover all the what ifs. However you chose to race the most important factors are fitness and practice with your gear. Bringing untested gear to a winter wilderness race is asking for a disaster.

Good luck to all and if you have any questions feel free to contact me at billmerchant@alaskaultrasport.com

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Martin Like's gear list for the Iditasport 130, 2002, foot division:

Item - Clothing Make Model Sleeping bag RAB Summit Bivi bag Terra Nova Jupiter Duvet jacket RAB Summit Fleece Marot Tech T Fleece Nike Climafit Thermal vest Patagonia Mid/WT Crew Thermal vest Lowe Alpine Zip Neck Waterproof top RAB Vapour Trail Waterproof bottoms Marot Driclime Pants Shoes Nike Pegasus Socks Extremities x 2 Toasters Socks Porelles Waterprof Gloves M and S Gore Wind Gloves Marot Gore Tex Gloves Extremities x 2 Thinnys Sunglasses Oakleys M Frame Lenses Oakleys Orange Hat Extremities Neck Warmer Hat Extremities Ice Cap Face Mask Neoprene Camelbak Camelbak Trail Blazer Camelbak Camelbak Unbottle Cooking Cooker Sigg Fuel Jet Fuel bottle Sigg Kettle Trangia 500 ml Thermos Flasks Gelert x 2 Knife Leatherman Gerber Plastic spoon Water bottle Pan Trangia Matches Waterproof Windbreak Trangia Energy drink SIS PSP 22 Energy drink SIS Rego Miscellaneous Waterproof bag Ortlieb Medium Waterproof bag Ortlieb Small Headtorch Petzl Duo Belt Walking sticks Leki Super short Beacon Princeton Eco Flare First aid Lifesystems Outdoor Sledge Plastic Piping for sledge Karabiners x 4 Keyhole Krab Sled cover Various Bungees Car spiders Rope/Para cord Survivial bag Gelert Other Camera Olympus C200 Toothbrush and Paste Bungee cord GPS Watch Casio Pathfinder GPS Spare batteries Camera Spare batteries Headtorch Passport Dollars Flags UK and Wales Walkman Sony Cassette Book Joe Simpson

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