Equipment for a Summer Mountain Run (21+ km)
Sunscreen
and lip balm
Insulated jacket
or vest
This is an equipment list for summer mountain trails on safe paths without snowfields, lasting up to 4-5 hours in sunny weather. An example of such a trail is the Green Hotel route.
Gear Checklist
- Running vest (8-15 liters). E.g., Salomon S/LAB Sense Ultra 8 Set. 8 liters is plenty to carry gear, water, and food.
Hydration and Nutrition
- Soft flasks for the vest, 2 x 500 ml. It's recommended that one flask has a built-in filter (like Katadyn BeFree) so you can safely drink from natural sources. This is lighter and more convenient than a hydration bladder.
- Energy bars (3-4) and gels (2-3).
- Salt tablets (optional, 1-2 pieces).
Clothing and Footwear
- Short-sleeve shirt (UPF 50+)
- Long-sleeve shirt (UPF 50+). Packed as an extra layer just in case.
- Shorts (UPF 50+)
- Long-distance running socks (e.g., X-Socks, Compressport, or similar brands designed for summer marathons and trail running).
- Trail running shoes with good cushioning and grip (e.g., Salomon S/LAB Ultra 3, Salomon Speedcross 6, La Sportiva Bushido III, or La Sportiva Jackal II).
- Buff / Neck gaiter
Miscellaneous Gear
- Sunglasses (Cat. 4). E.g., Cébé PROGUIDE.
- Sunscreen and lip balm (SPF 50+)
- GPS sports watch with preloaded route
- Smartphone with preloaded route (as a backup to the watch). Use offline maps for navigation (my personal choice is Guru Maps).
- Earbuds (optional; I enjoy music while running).
- Summer running gloves (e.g., Outdoor Research ActiveIce Sun Gloves).
- ID, documents, and keys. Put documents in a dry bag to keep them safe from sweat and rain.
- Trekking poles. Highly recommended. They are especially useful on climbs and descents to reduce knee strain.
Situational Gear
- Lightweight waterproof (membrane) jacket if you expect bad weather (e.g., La Sportiva Odyssey GTX Jkt).
- Lightweight insulated jacket or vest if you expect colder temperatures (e.g., Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody or Atom LT Vest).
Before the Run
Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin: face, ears, neck, arms, and legs. This is crucial for preventing sunburn. As an alternative, you can wear summer base layers (long-sleeve shirt and pants) with UPF 50+. Personally, I love feeling the wind and sun on my skin, so I prefer sunscreen.
Pack the following in your running vest:
- Two filled soft flasks
- Energy bars, gels, and salt tablets
- Sunscreen (for reapplication)
- Smartphone
- Gloves (if taking)
- ID and keys (ID in a dry bag)
- Long-sleeve shirt
- Lightweight waterproof jacket (if taking)
- Insulated jacket or vest (if taking)
What to wear: socks, shoes, shorts, shirt, buff, sunglasses, running vest, sports watch. Earbuds (optional).
Grab your trekking poles and go!
After the Run
Recover! Take a shower, apply panthenol if you got a bit burned. Take electrolytes, vitamins, drink water, eat a proper meal, and get some good sleep.