Anything longer than a marathon counts, and 50k is the usual first step. The gear is a different stack from trail running: a real vest, a headlamp that lasts all night, poles, and a fueling plan. Here is what to buy, and what to skip.
By Colin B. · Published November 1, 2026 · Last reviewed November 1, 2026
Shoes aren't included; use the trail shoes you already trust. A basic kit (Salomon vest, Black Diamond Spot 400, fuel and chafe balm) runs about $215. Our picks (Salomon vest, Petzl Actik Core, fuel, electrolytes, chafe care) land near $270 before poles. The vest price moves with size and color.
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Run a 50k before you buy a vest for a 100 miler. Your first ultra is long enough to teach you what you actually carry. Buy an 8-12 liter vest, load it on training runs, and only then decide whether you want smaller or bigger.
Check the race's mandatory gear list before you spend. Most ultras require a headlamp, a waterproof shell, an emergency blanket, a whistle, and a cup. A vest with room for that list matters more than the brand.
Use the trail shoes you already trust. The best ultra shoe is the one that has not blistered you on a three-hour run. Do not debut new shoes, socks, or a vest on race day.
The gear
What you actually need
Running Vests
A vest replaces the handheld bottle once you pass about two hours. Look for soft flasks on the chest (easy to reach and refill), a snug fit that does not bounce, and 8-12 liters of room for the mandatory kit. Try one on loaded with water. A vest that rubs at mile 5 will wreck mile 30. Size by chest measurement, not by how you wear a t-shirt.
Best starter
Salomon
ADV Skin 12 Set
$$$
★★★★★Our rating
The Skin 12 is the vest you will see in the start corral at most ultras. Stretchy mesh panels hold it close to the body, the two 500 ml soft flasks sit on the chest where you can drink without breaking stride, and there is room for a shell, headlamp, and food. Flasks are included. Price moves with size and color: about $105 on this listing, up to about $170.
This is the minimalist option for runners who race with aid stations every 8-10 miles. It weighs about 6 oz, has a lot of easy-reach pockets, and comes with two soft flasks. Buy it second, once you know your race kit and how little you can carry.
Most 100k and longer ultras involve running in the dark, and many 50ks start before sunrise. You want a lamp that runs six or more hours on a medium setting, sits stable on your head without bouncing, and is bright enough to read trail at running speed. Carry a spare set of batteries or a backup light. Rechargeable lamps are great until you forget to charge them.
Best starter
Petzl
ACTIK CORE
$89.00 as of Jun 22, 2026
★★★★★Our rating· Only 3 left in stock - order soon.
The Actik Core pairs a rechargeable CORE battery with the option of three AAAs as a backup. It is bright enough to run on technical trail, has a red light for aid stations, and a comfortable headband that doesn't slip. Around $80.
The Spot 400 is a proven, simple headlamp at about $70 that takes AAA batteries (and a rechargeable pack as an optional extra). It is rated waterproof and dimmable, with a red night-vision mode. Plenty for a first 50k.
The Swift RL adjusts its beam automatically to the terrain, which extends battery life and means fewer button presses with cold fingers. It is a favorite of runners who do all-night ultras. Wait to buy until you know how long you'll spend in the dark.
Poles save your legs on long climbs, and they are allowed (and common) in most mountain ultras. They are not for flat or fast courses, and a few races ban them. Learn to use them on training climbs first. Folding poles pack small enough to stash on your vest, and most runners prefer them to telescoping shafts. Check your race's rules before you buy.
Best starter
Cascade Mountain Tech
Carbon Fiber Folding Trekking Poles
$$
★★★★★Our rating
A budget-friendly set of folding carbon poles that gives you the benefit of poles without a $195 commitment. They fold to about 17 inches, include a carry case, and lock with quick-lock tabs. A good first pair to learn pole technique.
The pole most ultrarunners end up carrying. Three-section Z-fold design snaps together in a second, weighs under 6 oz per pole, and stows against your vest. Fixed length, so measure first: the common range is 110-130 cm.
Past marathon distance, the usual cause of a bad day is fueling, not fitness. Aim for roughly 200-300 calories an hour, and drink with sodium. Drink mix is the simplest way to start: one bottle gives you calories and electrolytes, and your stomach tolerates it better than gels late in a race. Test everything in training. Never try a new product at mile 40.
Best starter
Tailwind Nutrition
Endurance Fuel (Berry, 30 servings)
$$
★★★★★Our rating
Tailwind is the drink mix most ultra runners start with: it packs carbs and sodium into one flavor and a simple rule. A scoop per flask, sip every few minutes. A 30-serving bag runs about $30.
Salt capsules for hot days or heavy sweaters. Each capsule has about 215 mg of sodium plus potassium, calcium and magnesium. Take one every 30-60 minutes when it's hot. A bottle of 100 is about $25.
Skin problems end more ultras than muscle problems. Hours of repetitive friction raise blisters and chafe in places you never noticed on a 10k. Apply anti-chafe balm to every place that rubs (thighs, underarms, pack-strap contact, feet) before the start and again at aid stations. Tape any hot spot as soon as you feel it, not once it's a blister.
Best starter
Squirrel's Nut Butter
Anti-Chafe Stick
$
★★★★★Our rating
An ultrarunning favorite: coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax. It stays on through hours of sweat. A 1.7 oz stick runs about $15 and goes on cleanly without getting your hands greasy.
The tape ultrarunners use to prevent blisters on known hot spots. Rigid, strong adhesive, and stays stuck through sweat and stream crossings. Apply it before the race on spots that blister, and keep a few strips in your vest. A roll is about $13.
Going from a marathon, or even a 10k, to a 50k is mostly about patience, fueling, and time on your feet. Here is what the first twelve weeks look like, and what to ignore.
An ultramarathon is anything longer than 26.2 miles, and the usual first one is a 50k (about 31 miles). The surprise for most beginners is that it isn’t a faster, harder marathon. It is a slow, long day outdoors where eating, drinking, and staying calm matter as much as fitness.
This is what the first twelve weeks look like if you can already run about 3-5 miles comfortably.
Weeks 1–4: Build time on your feet
Stop thinking in pace and start thinking in hours. Run most days at an easy, conversational effort, and add one long run each weekend. Start the long run at 90 minutes and add 10-15 minutes per week.
Walk the hills. Every ultra runner does. Power-hiking a steep climb costs far less energy than running it, and you will be doing a lot of it on race day. Practice it now.
Skip speed work. At this stage, easy miles do more for you than intervals.
Start carrying your vest on every long run, loaded the way you will on race day: two flasks, a shell, a headlamp, and food. Notice where it rubs and adjust the straps.
Now practice fueling. Aim for 200-300 calories an hour, starting in the first 45 minutes, before you feel hungry. Drink mix is the easiest place to begin, then add real food like pretzels, potatoes, or sandwiches. Your stomach is trainable, so test everything on long runs.
Try one back-to-back weekend: a long run on Saturday and a moderate one on Sunday. It teaches your legs to run tired, which is what the second half of an ultra feels like.
Do your longest run, 4-5 hours, about three weeks before the race. Use it as a full dress rehearsal: same shoes, socks, vest, food, and anti-chafe balm. If anything rubs or upsets your stomach, you have time to fix it.
Run one session in the dark with your headlamp so race-morning starts aren’t a surprise. If your race allows poles and has big climbs, use them on a training climb or two.
Week 12: Taper and plan
Cut your mileage by about half and keep a few short, easy runs. You will feel restless and a little sluggish, which is normal. Lay out your gear, read the course profile, and write down when you plan to eat and drink.
On race day, go out slower than feels right. Most beginners who struggle in an ultra started too fast. Walk the hills, eat early and often, and treat aid stations as a pause, not a rest.
Anything longer than a marathon (26.2 miles). The usual distances are 50k (31 miles), 50 miles, 100k, and 100 miles.
How much should I spend to start ultrarunning?
About $215-270 beyond shoes, at the lower vest price: a vest ($105-170), a headlamp ($70-80), fuel ($30-55), and chafe care ($10-30). Poles add $70-195 if your race has big climbs.
Do I need trekking poles?
Only for mountain races with long climbs. Flat or fast courses don't need them, and a few races ban them. Check your race's rules first.
How is ultrarunning gear different from trail running gear?
Trail running gear is built for runs of a few hours. Ultra gear adds a vest with more capacity, a headlamp for the night, a fueling plan, and chafe and blister care that matters past mile 30.
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