Carrying, and using, the right gear, nutrition and hydration is the single most important element of DGT-Run for all athletes. The route traverses a mostly uninhabited and hostile natural environment and runners will be out on course for between 40-100 hours, all things going well. Sometimes they don’t. The duration and nature of the event means that multiple weather patterns and changes might be experienced and all possible outcomes need to be considered. It can go from sunny, 30 degree C temperatures to sub-zero, windy, rainy, stormy and snowy weather in a matter of hours.

Safety teams will be carrying all their own gear as well as rescue ropes and medical equipment. Helicopter evacuation is not guaranteed, or even likely in many circumstances, and the chances of your spending another night in the mountains with your rescuer before being evacuated are high.

In light of this absolutely no short-cuts will be permitted when it comes to Compulsory Gear and the Gear Check that will take place at Registration. If any runner is missing an item of Compulsory Gear they will not be permitted to register until they have produced it. Any athlete found not to be carrying an item of Compulsory Gear out on course will be disqualified and asked to leave the race route immediately. This will be via a long descent of the nearest pass.

We cannot overemphasize the importance of the Compulsory Kit List - it really could be a matter of life and death.

Provisional Compulsory Kit List (subject to amendments)

Per Person

• Valid Passport and certified copy (together with Lesotho visa if required)

• Backpack

• Head torch (waterproof)

• Spare batteries for head torch - no rechargeable batteries - sufficient for 4 nights use (regardless of your estimated race time)

• GPS unit (watches allowed)

• Spare batteries for GPS units / charging for GPS watches - sufficient for 120 hours use (regardless of your estimated race time)

• Baselayer top and bottom - must be made of either synthetic or merino wool; no cotton base layers allowed 

• Mid layer top - minimum weight 150g (recommend carrying at least two mid layer tops)

• Waterproof top - with sealed seams and hood - Waterproof Rating must be > 10,000mm

• Waterproof bottoms - with sealed seams - Waterproof Rating must be > 5,000mm

• Sun hat

• Gloves - recommend two pairs - inner layer and water/wind proof outer

• Beanie or buff for head warmth

• 2 x buff (excluding buff for head)

• Water carrying capacity - minimum 2 litres

• Space blanket - not older than 6 months

• Bivvy Bag (at least 150g total weight) or sleeping bag

• Food for duration of the run

• Phone with roaming activated

Per Team

• GPS Unit (in addition to the GPS units carried by each runner - ie three units per team total - Team GPS to be a hand held unit with changeable batteries in case GPS watches of runners run flat)

• Spare Batteries for GPS units - sufficient batteries for 120hrs (regardless of your predicted time) of GPS usage

• First Aid Kit - exact specifications TBC

• 1 x compass - standalone - not part of watches

* Organisers may add a shelter for team and make sleeping bags compulsory if weather conditions require these.