As part of your UTMB® preparation, choosing and packing your race vest is essential. Nothing should be missing to tackle the event in the best possible conditions: the pack itself, of course, but also your clothing, accessories, shoes and nutrition. Here's how to organise everything.
Which pack should you choose for the UTMB®?
For an ultra-distance event like the UTMB®, a pack with a capacity of 10 to 15 litres is generally recommended: enough to carry all mandatory gear without becoming cumbersome over the course of the race. The weight of the empty pack is also an important criterion over such a long distance — every unnecessary gram makes itself felt across the kilometres. Under race rules, your pack must be marked at bib collection and cannot be swapped during the race: you must carry all your mandatory gear in that same pack from start to finish. Find the full breakdown of what to pack in our article Mandatory gear for the UTMB®.
Clothing to pack
Your pack must contain at minimum the mandatory waterproof clothing required by the regulations, as well as your full technical kit (shorts, t-shirt, warm jacket). Find the detailed list and our advice in our article The ideal kit for the UTMB®.
Essential accessories
Emergency blanket, whistle, self-adhesive elastic bandage, head torches… a list of mandatory safety accessories is set out in the regulations, alongside recommended items such as trail poles. Find the full details in our articles Essential accessories for the UTMB® and Survival and safety gear.
Shoes for the UTMB®
Your shoe choice needs to be made months in advance, giving your feet time to adapt — it's your contact point with the ground and a key factor in your performance. Find all our advice in our article Choosing your shoes for the UTMB®.
Hydration and nutrition during the race
Even though aid stations are dotted along the course, your pack must contain your minimum water supply, an isotonic drink, and gels and energy bars tested beforehand. Find our full strategy in our articles Nutrition and hydration for the UTMB® and UTMB® aid station strategy.
Frequently asked questions
How much should an UTMB® race pack weigh?
There is no maximum weight imposed by the regulations, but the lighter your empty pack, the better over a distance of this scale. Go for a technical model designed for trail rather than a standard backpack.
Does the pack need to be approved by the organisation?
There is no prescribed model, but your pack must be large enough to carry all mandatory gear and will be marked at bib collection — you cannot change it during the race.
