Introduction

If you would like an insight into the rationale for our approach to the Minimum and Mandatory Clothing and Equipment, please take a few minutes to read our ‘Best Practice Blog: Risk Management and Crisis Communication’ which explores how effective risk management, such as our no-nonsense approach to mandatory clothing and equipment, helps prevent an accident from becoming a disaster.

The overwhelming majority of incidents at our events continue to involve cold participants requiring assistance on the course and/or retiring because they have become cold and/or wet. The theme that links these incidents is that none of these participants ever expected to be in that situation and some additional equipment would have made a substantial difference, and most likely, would have been the difference between continuing or retiring.

History clearly shows that the majority of deaths in fell, mountain, and trail running events result from hypothermia (getting cold). Hypothermia is not limited to the winter months. Our minimum clothing and equipment requirement is focused on this year-round hazard.

Over the years, we have conducted many emergency extractions of participants. In most cases, the participants had slowed down, become cold, slowed down more, and eventually become sufficiently cold and exhausted that an emergency response was required. Or, they had suffered an injury (just a sprained ankle is sufficient) and had become stationary and very quickly (minutes not hours) succumbed to the cold.

All our experience shows that injured runners remain stationary and get cold. Nobody expects to have an accident when they set off, and faster, or more experienced runners are at the same risk as everyone else. Participants should not expect a rescue to occur quickly, and runners will likely need to be able to look after themselves during that potentially lengthy period of time before help arrives.

There are several reasons why we require participants to carry both waterproof trousers and a waterproof jacket, combined with a synthetic warm top:

1. It enables a slow-moving runner (exhausted and/or with minor injury) to evacuate from the course.

2. These layers combined enable us, as event organisers, to continue with the event when weather conditions deteriorate because we know that this combination of clothing is effective in cold and wet environments.

3. Combined with the additional protection of a survival bag, this combination of clothing is effective in stopping a stationary runner dying from hypothermia.

Our clothing and equipment requirements vary depending on the seriousness and remoteness of the race.

Downloadable Checklist

We know that kit and clothing requirements can be a bit confusing so we are providing the following helpful downloadable checklists. Please check the Minimum and Mandatory Kit List carefully for the specifics of what is required for the race or event you are participating in. For the definitive kit list for your race, you can download the checklist PDF from the event website linked below.

2024 events onwards:

• SILVA Northern Traverse Kit List

• SILVA Lakes Traverse Kit List

• SCARPA Great Lakeland 3Day Kit List

• Cape Wrath Ultra Kit List

• Dragon’s Back Race Kit List

Kit check

Minimum and mandatory clothing and equipment vary from one event to the next and will usually be checked at registration (Cape Wrath Ultra, Dragon’s Back Race and Northern Traverse) and may also be checked as runners enter the start pen (our Skyline Scotland races) – sometimes both! The minimum clothing and equipment must be carried throughout the event from start to finish.

Our decision about the suitability of any item of clothing or equipment is final. Kit checks are conducted by appropriately experienced event team members, but they do not have the authority to interpret the minimum clothing and equipment list should there be any disagreement about the suitability of a particular item. Only the Race Director or nominated deputy can adjudicate if necessary.

If you have any questions about the minimum clothing and equipment, please read all of the details below, and if still unsure, please do contact us well in advance to clarify the suitability of your item. We will be happy to help. What we will not do, is discuss the purpose or the requirement for a particular item on the kit list, i.e. “I’ve never needed waterproof trousers before…”

Please don’t try to game the system, e.g. bringing ladies’ small waterproof trousers, when you are a large man. Please see our rules about deliberate cheating. Everything you bring must be fit for purpose and that means it must fit you.

Our participant Facebook groups for each event are usually a great place to get informal advice and recommendations, and we would suggest this is the first place to visit for general questions whilst researching possible new purchases. However, please be aware that comments from other people on these groups are not official policy and ONLY Ourea Events can give a definite answer about the suitability of individual items.

Part 2

Exceptional Weather Kit

We are being more prescriptive about the type of clothing and equipment that we mandate that participants must carry during periods of exceptionally cold and/or wet, or hot weather. These additional items must be carried as well as the ‘Standard Hill Clothing’ in part 1. Ensuring that participants are well equipped for exceptional weather is important for maximizing the chance that the event can continue despite unfavourable weather conditions.

Whilst we would expect to indicate the requirement to carry this additional clothing in the final event information email, when the weather forecast is marginal or changeable, it is possible that participants may only get a short time warning that this additional clothing is made mandatory. For example:

• Northern Traverse: We would notify participants at registration before the start, or we would notify the participants at a Support Point that they would need to carry this kit with them on the next section i.e., participants would need to pack their ‘Cold Weather Kit/Hot Weather Kit’ in their Support Point Bag for the duration of the event.

• Lakes Traverse: We would notify participants at registration before the start, i.e., participants would need to travel to the event with their ‘Cold Weather Kit/Hot Weather Kit’.

• Great Lakeland 3Day: We would notify participants at registration before the start of Day One, or we would notify the participants at the Overnight Camps i.e., participants would need to pack their ‘Cold Weather Kit/Hot Weather Kit’ in their Dry Bag for the duration of the event.

• Cape Wrath Ultra: We would notify participants at registration before the start of Day One, or we would notify the participants at the Overnight Camps i.e., participants would need to pack their ‘Cold Weather Kit/Hot Weather Kit’ in their Dry Bag for the duration of the event.

• Dragon’s Back Race: We would notify participants at registration before the start of Day One, or we would notify the participants at the Overnight Camps i.e., participants would need to pack their ‘Cold Weather Kit/Hot Weather Kit’ in their Dry Bag for the duration of the event.

• Skyline Scotland: We would notify participants at registration, i.e., participants would need to travel to the event with their ‘Cold Weather Kit/Hot Weather Kit’ kit.

Cold weather kit

The additional ‘Cold Weather’ clothing includes:

1. A second spare synthetic warm top (this must be hooded, and weigh a minimum of 300g)*

2. Warm and waterproof gloves

3. A warm hat and/or waterproof cap**

4. Full-length tights/trousers

When the ‘Cold Weather Kit’ rule is enacted, the requirement is to have two synthetic warm layers. One must remain spare (i.e. unworn) at the start of the day, and we expect the other is likely being worn at the start.

* This second synthetic warm layer is additional to one required in the standard hill clothing section and must be spare (i.e. unworn) at the start of the day. This synthetic warm top must be:

1. Hooded

2. be sealed in a waterproof bag

3. cover the entire upper trunk including your arms

4. have a minimum weight of 300g (The item must weigh 300g for a size male medium style, i.e., if you are a size small, we will accept a lower weight, and if you are an extra-large, it will need to weigh more.)

5. be a single layer and not two lighter weight tops

** During exceptionally wet/cold weather conditions, a buff is no longer acceptable as a hat, and an item designed as a hat (or waterproof cap) is required.

hot weather kit

The additional ‘Hot Weather’ clothing and kit includes:

1. Sun hat or cap with a visor shading the face

2. Additional 1,000ml carrying capacity of the participant’s water bottles / softflasks / Hydration System*

* We recognize different participants require varying amounts of water/fluid each day, if you happen to be someone who drinks less, you do not need to fill your bottles… but you do need to carry this additional capacity, i.e., empty bottles if you must!

Part 3

Hill Equipment

Running rucksack/vest or bumbag

We would like to highlight a growing problem of participants being unable to fit everything in their running vests… and only discovering this at the event! Given that there is the potential requirement to carry the additional Cold/Hot Weather Kit at some of our events, we would recommend a bag with at least 12L capacity… probably more. Your rucksack or vest must be sufficiently large to fit all your standard clothing and equipment into it and the Cold/Hot Weather Kit items. Also, some runners like to stock up on additional food items when passing a shop so you will need additional space for this. Participants are therefore strongly advised not to go for the smallest size pack/vest but to use something with some extra capacity.

We are updating the wording to include ‘Bumbag’ because for some of our trail races at Skyline Scotland, with fewer items on the mandatory kit list, a fellrunning style bumbag would be adequate to carry the minimum and mandatory kit.

As we always say, you should be training with the clothing and equipment you’ll need at the event… and then you’ll know that it all fits in your chosen bag!

Headtorch

You must carry a ‘Headtorch with sufficient battery to last the day/stage/event’ and it must provide sufficient light to be able to navigate in the darkness i.e., get yourself safely off the hill. There is no longer any requirement to carry spare batteries or a spare headtorch and the onus is on the participant to make a judgment about whether a spare battery or spare headtorch would be appropriate for them. We continue to recommend carrying a spare headtorch for any race that might involve the participant being out in the darkness. Please note if your headtorch battery is flat you would no longer be carrying the minimum and mandatory kit.

There is some excellent guidance about how to choose a head torch on the SILVA website here.

! Common mistake: using the 'torch' on a phone either as a main or spare torch

! Common mistake: using batteries up during the event, and then not having spares

! Common mistake: leaving your headtorch in your tent at our overnight events

Food

You must carry sufficient food for the duration of the race/day, and/or sufficient food for the section between support points. Please don’t underestimate this and if in doubt carry more.

! Common mistake: underestimating the amount of food needed for the day’s course

Water bottle SOFT FLASK and/or hydration system 

Please see the downloadable kit list for each individual event for the required carrying capacity for water.

means of payment

Participants must have a ‘means of payment’. This could be cash, credit/debit card, or contactless payment.

Part 4

Hill NAVIGATION equipment

Compass

This must be a full-size magnetic baseplate compass. A specialised thumb compass for skilled orienteers familiar with their use is acceptable. An electronic compass, wrist strap compass or mini survival compass are not suitable or acceptable.

Map (supplied)

Depending on the race, we may provide you with an official event map. Regardless of whether you intend to use the map or not, it must be carried throughout the event because it has essential information printed on it. For example, instructions on what to do in case of an emergency, address of the start/finish/overnight camp and/or support points and the organisers contact phone number. If you cut the map for ease of carrying, you must still carry the full map as you might not have cut out the section with relevant emergency information on it (i.e. the minimum kit is the FULL map, not just a section of it).

Part 5

Hill safety equipment

SURVIVAL BAG

This must be a bag and not a blanket (a blanket is inappropriate and ineffective). The bag should be made from a robust waterproof material. In severe weather you should tear a breathing hole in the ‘foot’ end and get inside the bag as shown below for maximum protection from the weather. You should sit on your rucksack/vest to insulate yourself from the ground. 

Whistle

You must carry a whistle. Summoning nearby participants is often the quickest way to obtain help in an emergency. You can either carry a dedicated whistle or a whistle that is integrated into the zip pull of your rucksack or vest, which is common these days.

GPS / satellite tracker (supplied)

We will provide you with an official GPS / satellite tracker (the only exception to this is our shorter trail races at Skyline Scotland). This must be carried throughout the event and full instructions will be provided to you about its use at registration and/or in the pre-event safety briefing.

Mobile phone

You must carry a functioning mobile phone, and this must be fully charged at the start of the race, or at the start of each day on a multi-day event. It must remain operational throughout the event, i.e., if your battery is flat you are no longer carrying the minimum and mandatory kit.

You might choose to keep your phone switched off to save the battery and enjoy the quiet of the mountains. However, we would highlight that we have tried phoning participants who have made navigation errors in the past, only to find that their phone is switched off, and we are unable to help them.

Should you become lost, disorientated, or fall behind the cut-off schedule PLEASE ENSURE YOUR PHONE IS SWITCHED ON as it is likely we will be trying to contact you.

Part 6

Clothing and equipment for overnight camps

(multi-day events only)

Over the years we have unfortunately seen participants who have had to retire because their overnight equipment is insufficient. Some items may seem unnecessary but please be reassured that these have been game changing at some editions of our multi-day events in the past.

overnight DRY BAG 

Please check the overnight dry bag requirements for the event that you are participating in:

A complete change of clothing and shoes

Participants must have a complete change of clothing, including shoes, that can be worn at the overnight camp. Please don’t skimp on this clothing and consider that you might be wet, cold and exhausted at the end of a long day, and you’ll need to sit around in an unheated marquee.

Warm sleeping bag

This should be a three-season rated sleeping bag. Remember that tents can become very damp, even wet, if conditions are poor and it is important to bear in mind that tents saturated from overnight rain, must be rolled up and moved to the next overnight camp so have little chance to dry. A three-season rated sleeping bag will help you stay warm at night even in a wet tent.

WARM JACKET

A warm ‘duvet’ jacket (or similar) for staying warm at the overnight camps is essential. This can be synthetic or down. Some runners have taken to bringing an open water swimming ‘dry robe’ for this purpose. This item of clothing must be separate from the spare insulated layer required for your hill bag, i.e., you require two warm jackets because when conditions are very poor, participants inevitably come off the hill with saturated clothing including their spare warm layer.

Sleeping mat

An inflatable mat is best - the thicker and warmer the better!

Plate/bowl, mug and cutlery

We do not provide disposable serve-wear so everyone must have their own plate, bowl, mug and cutlery.

Sun block

Please bring sun block that is Factor 50+ and waterproof.

Midge head net and insect repellent

Note that a mosquito head net will not work!

Personal first aid kit

A small first aid kit must include the following items:

• Tick remover

• Selection of plasters

• Antiseptic ointment

• Painkillers (e.g. paracetamol)

We strongly advise AGAINST taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and Diclofenac for pain relief during any endurance challenge including our events.

Mandatory items for Cape Wrath Ultra, Dragon’s Back Race, Northern Traverse only!

• Kinesiology tape (5cm x 5m)

• Small scissors

Personal blister treatment kit:

• Sterile scalpel blades x5

• Sterile island dressings (6x7cm) x5

• Sterile cotton swabs (5x5cm) x10

• Inadine dressings (9.5x9.5cm) x2

• Disinfection wipes x5

These items will be used by the medical team if you require treatment during the event.