Prepare and test your equipment

The choice of suitable equipment is a key factor in the success of your race. Ultra-endurance requires thorough preparation, including the choice of the equipment that you take with you.

The month of August in the Mont-Blanc area can be very hot (more than 30°C), but it can also be very cold (up to -10°C experienced above 2000m), with rain, hail or even snow. Your equipment must be suitable for confronting all types of conditions and enable you to spend one or two nights on the race route, according to the speed of your progression. In the case of an incident, your equipment must enable you to await help in sufficiently safe conditions.

The UTMB^® imposes obligatory equipment which all runners must have with them permanently to avoid risk of penalty. Checks are carried out during the races. We can only encourage runners to also take with them the equipment which is highly recommended, as well as the equipment that we advise them to have.It is essential to be able to adapt your equipment to your reality, test it during training sessions in varying conditions and take everything that will be useful and necessary. Weight is a concern, but don't be too minimalist. Optimise your chances of success and your performance through judicious choice.

Obligatory equipment UTMB^®, CCC^®, TDS^®

Mandatory material for the OCC & MCC

Mandatory equipment YCC

FAQ obligatory equipment

The ideal trail-running shoe

The IDEAL trail-running sole, powered by Vibram

A good trail-running sole offers light weight, grip and traction. An excellent trail-running sole offers the same features, but over all types of terrain and under all weather conditions.

Requisite features for each TYPE OF TERRAIN

	Uphill: flexibility and traction
	Downhill: cushioning and grip
	Flat terrain: easy "rolling" of the shoe with the foot

Requisite features for each TYPE OF WEATHER

	Rain: grip and self-cleaning
	Snow: traction and self-cleaning
	Dry conditions: cushioning and flexibility

Main characteristics of a shoe for mountain racing

PERFORMANCE thanks to effective transfer of the runner's propulsive force to the ground, with minimum energy loss during each stride.
PROTECTION through effective cushioning, both to protect the arch against the irregularities of the terrain and to reduce the detrimental effects of the constant impacts on the muscular and skeletal systems.
COMFORT thanks to precise distribution of the pressures impacting on the foot, achieved through a sole profile adapted to the terrain and the race.

In a trail-running shoe, 70% of the total value resides in the sole. In "long-distance" races, the priorities are protection and comfort. That is why Vibram soles comprise functional zones designed with human anatomy and the needs of active feet in mind. This approach ensures the best solutions for trail runners over all types of terrain and all distances.

The functional zones of a Vibram^® trail-running sole

	[A] FRONT SECTION - TIP OF THE SHOE A reinforced front section provides better protection of the toes against knocks. It is important that the tread continue to the very tip of the shoe to ensure the necessary traction during the last part of the thrust provided by the toes. This phase of movement is particularly crucial during steep climbs in unstable terrain. The tread arrangement shifts progressively with increasingly small and more tightly spaced lugs leading up to the toe bumper.
	[B] METATARSUS SECTION - CONTACT ZONE This is the most important part of a sole for mountain trail running. It must provide a number of complex, often contradictory, functional solutions, such as puncture withstand against rocks to avoid any pain in this very sensitive part of the foot and flexibility, a fundamental feature particularly when going uphill to avoid wasting any energy. These two characteristics must be accompanied by good cushioning, provided by special materials and inserts. Maximum comfort is required for the metatarsus during fast, steep descents. In addition, the sole and the upper of the shoe must function perfectly together in the metatarsus section to ensure good stability, notably in uneven terrain, and effective propulsion under all environmental and weather conditions.
	[C] ARCH SECTION - ARCH In some cases, this section remains fully in contact with the ground to enhance the roll of the foot, however it can also be raised to improve braking during descents on unstable, humid or grassy terrain. More rigid inserts and a bracing "high-wall" design in this section reinforce the support of the arch. That is a clear advantage in rough terrain when it is difficult for the sole to remain in contact with the ground. This is a fundamental characteristic for long-distance running to avoid overloading the arch.
	[D] HEEL SECTION - HEEL During mountain races, particularly during descents in hard, rocky terrain, the impacts on the heels can represent three times the runner's weight. It is essential to provide better cushioning than that found in most standard running shoes, even if that means adding a few grams of additional weight. Vibram^® has developed a cushioning system in the heel section that improves both compression and the distribution of forces from the heel to the toe. The result is lower deceleration values, slower transfer of forces through the ankle and, consequently, much lower impact during descents on very steep slopes. The overall result is a much higher degree of comfort over long distances.

For more information on Team Vibram^® and Vibram^® trail-running soles, see testerteam.Vibram.com and www.Vibram.com

A good trail-running sole offers light weight, grip and traction. An excellent trail-running sole offers the same features, but over all types of terrain and under all weather conditions.