UTMB gear checklist: mandatory equipment, drop bags, and what runners forget

UTMB is as much a logistics race as a mountain race. Between mandatory equipment checks, weather swings above 2,500 m, and long night sections between Courmayeur and Chamonix, the athletes who finish calmly are usually the ones who packed with intent — not the ones who bought the lightest possible jacket at the last minute.

This checklist is written for UTMB (170 km, ~10,000 m+) and CCC-style events under the UTMB World Series rules. Always confirm the current mandatory gear list on the official UTMB website before you pack; requirements can change by year and by race.

Mandatory gear — pack it, test it, lay it out

Race organizers check mandatory equipment at bib pickup and sometimes on course. Missing one item can mean a time penalty or a DNS. Lay everything out 48 hours before Chamonix, take a photo, and do not repack in a hurry at the hotel.

Core mandatory items (typical UTMB list)

• Mobile phone with international roaming or local SIM — number registered in your runner profile
• Personal cup or soft flask (minimum 15 cl) — no disposable cups at many aid stations
• Two reservoirs or soft flasks totaling at least 1 L combined capacity
• Whistle — attached where crew can hear you if you are off the trail
• Survival blanket (minimum 140 × 200 cm)
• Waterproof jacket with hood and taped seams — not a windbreaker
• Waterproof trousers or over-trousers with taped seams
• Warm layer: long-sleeve top or equivalent (often required in addition to the jacket)
• Headlamp with spare batteries or a second lamp — essential for Grand Col Ferret and later
• Adhesive elastic bandage (minimum 100 cm × 6 cm) — not a tiny plaster
• Cap or buff, and gloves suitable for high-altitude cold
• Emergency food — gels or bars beyond what you plan to eat between stations

Drop bags: Les Houches, Courmayeur, and Champex

UTMB uses drop bags at key life bases. Treat each bag as a mini aid station with a clear label: name, bib number, race, and checkpoint. Use a durable bag within the size limit and avoid hard boxes that will not fit in crowded tents.

Les Houches (early race — still fresh, still cold at night)

• Spare socks and a light dry top — morale matters at 40 km
• Headlamp check: fresh batteries or swap to your backup lamp
• Warm layer if forecast drops — Les Contamines to Saint-Gervais can be wet
• Preferred gels or real food you know your stomach accepts
• Blister kit: tape, needle, small scissors, anti-chafe

Courmayeur (mental halfway point — Italy, heat, and decisions)

• Cooling items: ice-cap buff, lighter socks, sun sleeves if you run hot
• Salt capsules or electrolytes you have trained with
• Caffeine strategy: what you will use after 80 km, not what you hope works
• Change of shoes only if you have tested the swap in a long run — blisters from new shoes end races
• Note to self: pacing reminder for Grand Col Ferret and the long descent to La Fouly

Champex-Lac (deep night — warmth and stomach reset)

• Warm layer and dry socks — non-negotiable for the Col de la Forclaz section
• Simple foods: broth, potatoes, coke — whatever your crew knows you can still eat
• Second headlamp or confirmed fresh batteries
• Pain management you have discussed with a medical professional before the race
• Written crew instructions for the next 12 hours — you will not think clearly here

What experienced UTMB runners add (not always mandatory)

• Poles — allowed on most UTMB courses; practice passing and collapsing on descents
• Precut kinesiology tape for quads and ankles
• Small dry bag inside the pack for phone and warm layer
• Cash for small Italian villages and unexpected taxi needs
• Printed pace band or wrist notes for key climbs — phone batteries die
• Crew contact card laminated in your pack

Race-week packing timeline

1. Monday–Tuesday: final gear audit against the official PDF; replace anything worn or non-compliant
2. Wednesday: pack drop bags with labels; leave one spare label set in the hotel
3. Thursday: bib pickup and mandatory gear check — fix gaps immediately in Chamonix shops
4. Friday: shakeout run with full mandatory kit in rain or wind if forecast is rough
5. Saturday: sleep, feet up, drop bags to transport — do not reorganize at midnight

Organize this in Taper

Create a UTMB race in Taper, add the Ultra plan pack, and use the Checklist page for mandatory gear with task boxes. Duplicate items into drop-bag subpages under Travel & stay or Strategy, and use the race-week timeline page for Les Houches → Courmayeur → Champex milestones. Import your UTMB athlete profile URL when creating the race to pre-fill dates and links.