For all desert runners

Last updated 09.08.23
 
This gear list is meant to help anybody who signed up for the Marathon des Sables or is interested in participating. You will get an idea of what is needed. Products that have been tried, tested and really work well in the desert get 6 stars (******). Obviously, the list can also be useful if you participte in other desert events or in case you are planning a tour you do yourself.

Prices often change with every season. So, my apologies if the recommended retail prices sometimes are not up to date.

Please keep in mind that a list or general input can never cater to the needs of every athlete. What may work wonders for one person could be absolutely useless for the next. If you go into an extreme environment you should always test your clothing and gear.

Last but not least, the below list is not complete. There will be kit, clothing or other items you need/want that are not on this list.

Equipment List Marathon des Sables

Clothing - Underwear

F-Lite Megalight 140 Men's Boxer	3D-seamless construction very light breathable and comfortable dries super fast anti-bacterial treatment also available for women	37 g (size M)	€ 19.95	******
X-Bionic Energizer 4.0 LT Boxer Shorts Men	top quality and excellent functionalitry perfect sweat management	52 g (size M)	€ 39.95	******

Advice on underwear:

• Obviously underwear for a run in the desert should be as thin and breathable as possible.
• There is a lot of good functional underwear on the market. It needs to be comfortable and should help you avoid skin irritation. Even on very long training runs you should notice that no seams are bothering you. But even the best underwear at some point may fail to totally prevent irritated skin - in those areas you should try to prevent the problem with additional precautions (see skin care further down).  
• Since you may not have a new set of underwear for every day it helps if the product has got some form of anti-bacterial treatment.
• Some people also like to have compression in their underwear, e.g. like it is the case with the Compressport Trail Running Under Control Short (see below).

Clothing - Tights/shorts and shirts

Instinct Trail Skin	comfortable waistband total of 5 pockets flat seams	124 g (size M)	€ 94.95	******
X-BIONIC Fennec 4.0 Running Shorts Men	perfect body climate management light compression reflects sun rays anti-bacterial also available as a women's version	148 g (size M)	€ 130.00	******
Compressport Trail Running Under Control Short	supports your muscles very comfortable waist can be combine with another Compressport Short over it	83 g	€ 100.00
X-BIONIC Fennec 4.0 Running Shirt Men	THE desert running shirt reflects the heat anti-bacterial	148 g (size M)	€ 140.00	******
Compressport Trail Postural SS Top	just like the short tigth it features many interesting details automatically increases oxygenation during intense effort	102 g (size M)	€ 95.00
Instinct Sensation Ice Shirt	another shirt with cooling fabric and many good features very long front zip for extra and quick cooling	141 g	SALE: € 64.95
RaidLight Long Sleeve Desert Top	especially made for the desert protects you from sun and sand unisex	105 g	SALE: € 74.95	******

Advice on clothing - tights/shorts and shirts

• The above does not include the option of shorts and short tights combinations which now are very popular and depending on details perfectly fine for any desert race.
• In general you have plenty of options. If you prefer to go with short sleeves due to weight reasons, keep in mind you will need more sunscreen. Alternatively you can take arm sleeves but again these will add weight, too.
• If you go for long tights or long sleeve shirts, these should be made for hot temperatures, i.e. incorporate some kind of cooling effect.
• Apart from that, the same rule as always applies: It needs to be comfortable! Have a very close look at the seams on your shirt and how these work with your backpack. And also your legwear solution should help prevent any rubbing or skin irritations for as long as possible. Unfortunatley, you will only find out if you do a couple of very looong training sessions. As often clothing is perfectly fine for 4, 5 or more hours. Maybe only after 8 or more hours you will get a better picture.

Clothing - 3rd layer and bivouac

Montane Lite-Speed Jacket	extremely light and windproof very small packing size additional weather protection through hood 100% recycled fabric also available as women's version (discontinued model)	150 g (size M)	€ 79.95	******
RaidLight Tyvek Jacket	not really "cool" looking but it's cheap, light and does the job not for running but great for emergencies or for the bivouac	88 g	SALE: € 15.95	******
RaidLight Desert Pants	like the Desert Top it was made for desert ultras windproof, breathable and very light very comfortable	74 g	SALE: € 74.95	******
RaidLight Tyvek Pants	as Tyvek Jacket above	70 g	€ 24.95	******
Montane Prism Ultra Pull-On	extemely light, insulated pull-on for the cold desert nights	200 g (size M)	€ 139.95
Cumulus Plancklite Pullover	down filled and thus super light and super small in packed size (only 12 x 7 cm)	130 g  (size M)	€ 199.95

Advice on 3rd layer and bivouac:

• For the 3rd layer and your clothing for the bivouac it depends on how sensitive to cold you are. At night temperatures can drop quite a bit in the desert. And if you are exhausted and/or have not eaten all that much you are bound to feel the cold even more. Ideally you get in touch with desert race veterans and talk to them how they experienced the cold in the respective desert and what clothing they used to deal with it.

Clothing - Other

RaidLight Women's Sahara Cap	light, breathable and with a removable neck protector	60 g	SALE: € 14.95	******
X-BIONIC Fennec 4.0 Cap with Visor	hi-tech solution from X-BIONIC reflects the rays of the sun and cools	81 g (size 2)	€ 80.00	******
RaidLight Desert Gaiters	especially developped for desert running with hook & loop attachment	47 g	€ 39.95	******
injinji Socks	help prevent blisters and friction between toes as liner or on their own different models available		from € 12.95	******
Rywan Marathon des Sables	desert running socks made in Italy ultra breathable, extra thin and still robust	25 g/pair (41-43)	€ 14.99
Wrightsocks	unique double layer socks a lot of friction takes place between the two layers of the socks and thus helps prevent blisters on your feet different models available - from thin to thick and low to high		from € 16.95	******
cep Running Compression Socks	compression socks help you run longer with less tired legs and feet also great for recovery		from € 29.95	******

Advice on clothing - other:

• Obviously protection from the sun is an important thing to keep in mind when running through the desert. For your head various brands offer products. The important thing is not to forget your neck. With RaidLight Sahara Cap you can remove the neck protection if you want. Also a cap for the desert should allow for ventilation and be breathable.
• Blisters on your feet are one of THE major problems in desert ultras. Injinjis are great socks that can help prevent blisters and friction between toes. Also Wrightsocks and cep compression socks can help - Wrightsocks because they are double layer and compression socks because they do stay in place at all times. No matter what set-up you go for, test it as much as possible.
• The best socks are not of much help if you get sand in your shoes. RaidLight makes special desert gaiters. These are also great because you can remove them at any time. You may need a cobbler to put the velcro on your shoes in a professional way and you need a shoes that actually gives you the space to put the velcro on (e.g.if you had some form of rather open mesh it may be a bit tricky). 
• PLEASE NOTE regarding the cep socks: Some years back a customer gave us the feedback that after some days he could not wear his compression socks anymore because his legs were swollen too much. I don't know if that had anything to do with him wearing the socks or if it would have happened anyway. But it goes to show you that something that works for one athlete does not necessarily work for the next one, too. Where it is possible without having too much weight with you, have a back-up plan.

Sleeping system

Cumulus Lite Line 200	really great value for money temperature limit of +4° C Cumulus also offers sleeping bags with 300 and 400 g filling - in case you want it warmer Plus, they have the even lighter X-Lite Series 300 and 400	495 g	€ 264.95	******
Big Agnes Pluton UL	Down with 850 fill power; repels water while maintaining insulating value - bluesign® certified PFC-free water-repellent chemistry, RDS-certified Packed size: 10 x 13 cm Comfort temperature: +4° C Ergonomic foot box	454 g	€ 354.95
Klymit Inertia X-Frame	incredibly light innovative design the smaller Klymit Inertia X-Lite is even lighter (172 g)	261 g	€ 94.95	******
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uberlite (only size L left in stock)	more warmth per gram weight than any other mattress 6.4 cm thick varous sizes very small pack size not self inflating!	from 170 g (size S)	from € 159.95 (size S)	******
Sea to Summit UltraLight Mat	5 cm thick various sizes not self inflating!	from 325 g (size S)	from € 114.95
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Classic	1,5 cm thick and very compact 51 x 183 cm size folded: 51 x 20 cm	400 g	19.95 €	******

Advice on sleeping system:

• You need to find the right compromise between comfort/warmth and low weight/small pack size. The lightest available product is not necessarily the best solution for everyone. If you are cold at night, you will not recover well. In that case it will not really help you if you saved 200 g in weight. So, reconsider before going straight for a down bag with only 150 or 200 g down fill. These make only sense if you know you don't get cold easily. If in doubt go for a product with 300 g down fill.
• Keep in mind that you will be exhausted at night and thus get cold more easily.
• Some extra warmth you can also get by using an emergency blanket (but it's not fun as it is very noisy) or by using a liner - anything from a silk liner to a warmer synthetic liner like the Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor. But the latter only makes sense if you have enough space and the extra weight and volume is no problem. 

Backpacks

RaidLight Responsiv 24L	24 litres main compartment many years of experience went into developign this desert running backpack large amount of great features	290 g	SALE: € 169.95	******
UltrAspire Magda XT	backpack of the MdS winner Magdalena Boulet 20 litres of volume very well designed details	500 g	€ 159.95	******
UltrAspire Epic XT 2.0	another one from UltrAspire this one has got 30 litres of volume heavier but also more stable and comfortable with a heavy load	927 g	€ 209.95	******

Advice on backpacks:

• Test your backpack as much as possible and also with the type of load/weight you will have during the race.
• Make sure you distribute the weight in the best possible way - between front and back (if you have a front pack) and within the main compartment heavy items to the bottom.
• The fabric of ultralight running backpacks is really good these days but by no means as robust as for example in a heavy duty hiking or mountaineering pack. So, please keep that in mind when packing (with pointed items) or when putting your backpack on the ground and using it to sit or lean on (both not recommended).
• Frontpacks are great. Some do not need any extra work or adjustments. Others may require some creativity to attach them more firmly.

Hydration

Hydrapak Shape-Shift Reservoir	flat profile easy filling and cleaning	from 141 g (2 litres)	from € 36.90	******
CamelBak Crux	as far as quality and reliability are concerned there are no better hydration products on the market slight disadvantage: just like the RaidLight baldder this product does not have the largest opening	from 200 g 1.5, 2 or 3 litres	from € 34.95
Platypus Big Zip LP	extra wide opening for easy access/filling hydration tube can be detached very good quality	from 154 g 1.5, 2 or 3 litres	from € 33.95	******
Hydrapak UltraFlask	a great alternative to the classic drinking bottles more comforable and less noise similar flasks available from several brands	44 g (500 ml)	€ 21.95	******

Advice on hydration:

• It is a great advantage if you have easy access to your hydration while on the move, e.g. with bottles in bottle holders or hydration bladders that are separate from the main compartment.
• You need to find out if you like the RaidLight solution where the bladder compartment is on the outside on the back; in theory it's not the best place for this weight to be.
• It makes sense to not just have a bladder as you likely will want to also drink electrolytes which is easiest do to in a separate flask/bottle.
• Bottle holders on the straps of your backpack can be a great solution. However, every now and then we also get the feedback that the bottles are a bit high up and that the tube on the bottle is "in your face". So, check it out. A solution may be to take a smaller bottle or flask without a tube.

First aid

Lifesystems Light & Dry Micro First Aid Kit Waterproof (currently not in stock)	this kit is very light and does not only keep out water but also desert sand there is also an even light Nano Kit available (95 g)	135 g	€ 16.95
Sea to Summit First Aid Dry Sack	water proof bag with roll top closure if you want to "create" your own first aid kit	from 36 g (1 litre)	from € 11.95	******
Origin Outdoors Signal Pinpointing Mirror	mandatory for the desert	33 g	€ 6.95	******
Care Plus Emergency Blanket	2 sides: one against the cold and the other against the heat	57 g	€ 4.95	******
Extractor Suction Pump	very light	32 g (without box)	€ 24.95	******
ACME Whistle Tornado 2000	world's loudest whistle	10 g	€ 8.50	******

Advice on first aid:

• Of course it's always best if you try to prevent any problems. Especially when it comes to blisters (see also skin care). If you are not experienced yet, talk to desert veterans. It's well worth it as small problems can turn into big ones an end your race.
• The use of venom pumps in case of a snake bit is not necessarily always recommended. If in doubt ask the race organisation and also familiarize yourself with the desert fauna.
• Important bits for a first aid kit you can also buy individually and thus come up with your own set. It certainly makes sense if you have an old first aid kit and just some items are missing.
• In a complete set that you buy there may also be things that are not necessary (and thus weight and volume you do not want). Or items that don't work when it's very hot? If in doubt talk to your doctor or a pharmacist.  

Skin care

Body Glide Anti Chafing Stick	THE classic anti chafing stick	from 10 g	from € 10.95	******
Care Plus Foot Powder	Powder for which helps to keep your feet dry (and thus prevent blisters)	66 g	€ 6.95	******
Lifesystems Blister (currently not in stock)	great kit for blister prevention and care	175 g	€ 16.95	******
Mawaii Sun Care SPF 50 (currently not in stock)	specifically formulated for outdoor activities	191 g (175 ml)	€ 24.95	******

Advice on skin care:

• As already mentioned above, with the right skin care you can prevent a lot of potential problems or at least keep them at a level where it does not mean your race is over.

Cooking and cutlery

Esbit Solid Fuel Stove Titanium	smaller and lighter is almost impossible	11.5 g	€ 17.95
Esbit Pocket Stove small	small, light and compact also available in a larger version	90 g (plus tablets you need)	€ 15.95	******
Esbit Cookset for Solid Fuel	made from aluminium great value for money small packed size	223 g	€ 34.95	******
Evernew Ultralight Titanium Pot 600 (currently not in stock)	600 ml and super light	95 g	€ 54.95	******
Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long Spork	great for eating right out of expedition meal bags	11 g	€ 8.95	******
Esbit Titanium Cutlery Set	set wtih knife, fork and spoon from very robust and very light titanium	42 g	€ 34.95

Advice on cooking:

• Test everything at home. Your pot may not work well with your stove and it would not be nice to find out about that in the desert. Also, a very tiny stove means less overall stability. You need to check if you don't mind that.
• As you can see above, light equipment is not always expensive.
• If your pot has a lid your set-up is more efficient (i.e. you need less fuel).

Shoes

La Sportiva Jackal	made for Ultra Trails exceptional cushioning guaranteed by the innovative Infinitoo™ high energy return technology very robust	300 g (EU 42)	SALE: € 149.95	******
La Sportiva Akasha	comfortable, well cushioned for the longer distances a bit less "hard" than the Ultra Raptor	330 g (EU 42)	SALE: € 109.95	******
Topo Athletic Ultraventure 2	5 mm drop wide toe box super comfortable	295 g (UK 8)	SALE: € 149.95	******
Scarpa Spin Ultra	6 mm drop excellent cushioning great fit	270 g (EU 42)	SALE: € 129.95
Altra Running Olympus 4	0 mm drop extra wide toe box extra strong cushioning also the Timp and Lone Peak are interesting shoes	329 g (EU 42.5)	€ 169.95	******

Advice on shoes:

• The number 1 rule is that your shoes need to be comfortable and have already some km on them. Do not experiment with anything new on short notice and make sure you have done some long runs/hikes in the shoes you intend to wear. Just because a shoe works well for 4 hours does not mean it does the same after 6, 8 or more hours.
• When you pick the size keep in mind that your feet will likely swell. Hard to say by how much and I am afraid only the true experience will tell.
• There should be enough material that allows for the attachement of the velcro for the desert gaiters.
• If you will not only run but also hike long distances during the MdS keep in mind to also train hiking. Your shoes may be great for running but when you hike something may come up that you don't like.
• Deserts are hard on shoes. Make sure you have some basic repair material with you (needle, thread, tape, a bit of wire).

Headlamps

Silva Trail Runner Free Ultra	reaches up to bis 80 m and has got 500 lumen lasts up to 70 hours in the economy mode comes with a rechargeable 4.0Ah battery as well as the Hybrid battery case	196 g (incl. batteries)	€ 134.95	******
Petzl Iko Core	reaches up to 100 m and has got 500 lumen very innovative concept	79 g	€ 79.95
Petzl e+LITE	great back-up headlamp	26 g	€ 26.95	******

Advice on headlamps:

• The energy mode which most headlamps have is often all you need and it will help you save battery life - which means less batteries needed and less overall weight.
• If you intend to use lithium batteries, check if your headlamp can actually operate with these.

Poles

Mountain King Trail Blaze	super light but not as robust as heavier poles packed size of 36 cm (120 cm pole) now also available in severl different Carbon versions	138 g (120 cm)	€ 109.95	******
Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ	very light and robust compact (packed size of 40 cm) and extended grip zone height is adjustable also available in aluminium and fixed length version (which means a bit more weight but also less expensive)	192.5 g (120 - 140 cm)	€ 159.95	******
Leki Neotrail FX.One Superlite	adjustable Lock Security Strap Skin 4.0  super high quality there are also great Leki poles with the Nordic Walkin style strap system, liek the Leki Ultratrail FX.One	131 g/pole (120 cm)	€ 154.95	******
Fizan Trail Essential	traditional but very reliable screw lock still very light and fairly compact	168 g	SALE:  € 89.95

Advice on poles:

• Poles can be very useful in the desert - especially if you do not just run. They take away strain from your knees and help you keep a better posture.
• Packed size and weight make the Mountain King an interesting option. But keep in mind that light poles like this also are less stable. The grip is very minimalistic and you do not have the option to adjust the height. 
• Beware: if you use poles for a very long time (and do not do that in training) you can get blisters or other issues with your hands/joints. Re. blisters Trail Running gloves can help.

Food

Firepot	expedition meals made in UK great taste and unique quality compostable eco-packaging; please note: this means you do haver to prepare the meal in a pot great choice of vegan meals	from 110 g	from € 6.95	******
Saltolyte	tasteless salt and electrolyte capsules with sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and vitamin D3 made in Germany	1.5 g/capsule	€ 24.99 (100 capsules)
Peronin (currently not in stock)	innovative liquid food - specifically produced for expeditions	from 100 g	from € 4.95	******

Advice on food:

• As with gear it is recommended to test all food as well. You may like a certain foods but be disappointed about its tase in the form of a freeze dried meal. And since food is so important - also for your motivation - it is never good to have surprises.
• If you know your body burns a lot of calories be careful to take enough food with you. It's tempting to save weight but it's no good doing an ultra on an "empty stomach".
• Athletes often make the mistake to take enormous amounts of energy gels and bars. This can cause stomach issues.
• A common feedback is also that people next time will take less sweet stuff. So, make sure you have a variation of tastes, including salty.

Others

Silva Ranger S Compass	great mirror compass for the MdS and other adventures	58 g	€ 44.95	******
Gerber US1	extremely light knife 6.6 cm long and very sharp blade	32 g	€ 31.95	******
Gerber DIME	high quality and very useful mini-tool	65 g	€ 26.95	******
Leatherman Squirt PS4	Minitool with scissors	56 g	€ 39.95
Sea to Summit Airlite Towel	for basic washing there is also an even lighter Packtowl Nano (from 17 g)	from 12 g (36 x 36 cm)	from € 9.95	******
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack	very light water-/sandproof dry sack for organising your backpack also available as a Nano version (from 16 g - 2 litres)	from 20 g (1 litre)	from € 9.95	******
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Stuff Sack	extremely light stuff sack	from 10 g	from € 8.95
Uni Tissue	compressed non-woven viscose-cotton tissu super small and light	26 g (8 towels) 1 towel without packaging = less than 1 g	€ 1.95	******

Advice on other gear:

This list is not complete. We are looking forward to any feedback and are happy to add products we do not sell (yet) if you strongly recommend them.