Kit for the OMM 2008
Posted in Running
Firstly let me apologise as its a bit of a long rambling post however as my first time in elite a lot of thought has gone into my kit.
There may be a few last minute changes but apart from checking the weather on the Friday evening prior to the event I have it all sorted. This isn’t a replacement to the excellent Planet Fear Annual roundup of suitable kit. This is my take on weight vs comfort vs performance vs cost.
Clothes
On both days I will be wearing Lycra 3/4 leggings. They will keep me warm when moving slow and fast drying when they get wet. I have a choice of two tops and much will depend on the weather. A thin Rab top and a thicker NRG top. Probably the thicker warmer top as I am desperate to stay warmish at the overnight camp. Main consideration is a long sleeve means you can roll the sleeves up if warm and both have a collar so can stop any chance of rubbing on my neck from the bag. Also just in case you a wondering, fast wicking undies to stop my janglies jangling. Hat is a Helly Hansen lifa and some windproof gloves are somewhere? I need to find them. I may wear a montane windproof as well?
For the overnight camp I am taking some polartec berghaus leggings at 265g and either a polartec fleece at 250g or a Rab Microlight Alpine down jacket (my prize from the RAB MM) at 340g. The top will depend on the weather forecast but I am leaning towards the lightweight polartec fleece as it is warm when wet and combined with my NRG top I will hopefully be warm.
Cooking and Food
Stove and gas are a conventional pocket rocket and a 100g gas canister possibly 125g? I can usually get away with a 100g canister as all my food is just add boiling water. No cooking or simmering involved. A bit of foil for a wind shield and Job done. I am doing elite so won’t have a huge amount of time in camp anyway.
Food has always a big consideration and I have traditionally took too much food or food I didn’t fancy. Each time I have took less and less and now I feel I am at the minimum I am prepared to go with. I still need to ensuring enough food is taken but make sure its spot on.
I am taking two packets of cous cous (typical 2 serving per packet). I add some chilli’s and spices and season with loads of salt (to replace lost salt through sweating) and a bit of black pepper. Ainsley Harriott Packet mixes has proven to me he isn’t just a useless twat. He actually makes some good mountain food! I also take a couple of pepperami sticks or chorizo for meat and taste. I add these to the cous cous with the boiling water and hey presto my meals!
Breakfast is 2 packets of ready brek and a sachet of hot chocolate for the milk. All I need to do then is add water and cook on stove. Drinks are warm nuun’s! Maybe take a tea bag? All food packed in an aluminum mess tin to eat out off. Probably take either the fork from Wilfs on the Friday meal or may splash out on an OMM spork!
I will also take as many nutrigrain elevenses bars as I can be bothered to take (either Carrot Cake or Ginger Bake). These bars are great for snacking on at camp, eating with your breakfast or eating on the run when your stomach starts screaming for proper food. Quite versatile trail food. My partner is taking some rice crispie bars. These are very lightweight for carb content and quite nice (chocolate caramel) so I may mix my nutrigrains with these.
Along this I take a load of High 5 gels and a packet of jelly babies per day and a packet of Nuun.
Sleeping bag and Tent
The tent was the biggest dilemma. We have between me and my partner 2 tents. His is a small two skin Coleman Cobra. I then found out at 3 kilos that it was rather heavy. This has now been dumped in favour of the Coleman Ridgel X2. A small sweat box of a tent with a coffin shape. Not the greatest tent available and very small but at 960g you cannot argue on the weight of it. As a solo its a great tent. As a team it will be a tight squeeze.
I am concerned about cooking if it rains. There isn’t enough space to cook so we are fashioning a porch from a bit of plastic sheeting, a peg and a bit of medical tape. Not going to be great but good enough to quickly cook up a bit of cous cous.
Sleeping bag and mat is a Rab top bag (420g) and a balloon bed (120g). Total combined weight of 540g actual weight. I have never used the Rab bag before as it is a recent addition to the kit however it feels considerably warmer than my other options which is a Vango Ultralite 200 weighing in at a hefty 850g and is only comfortable down to 5 degrees. It means I have taken off a hefty 400g in total from my mat and bag from my last race. and half a kilo from my last OMM as I used a duomat. Should the forecast be really cold I may invest in a silk liner but I probably won’t bother.
Waterproofs
Waterproofs I am taking my Montane Atomic DT jacket. Not very breathable but what is when running around in the hills. Main thing is it is light, waterproof and does the job. Trousers are some cheap lightweight ones? They weighing in at roughly 250g and probably cost a tenner? Nothing fancy but I won’t run in them whatever the weather and in an emergency they will do the job! Here I could cut another 100g or more but it means a lot of expense to upgrade waterproofs so will keep with what I have got.
Other stuff
I am taking a lightweight emergency bag as opposed to a blanket. My partner will take a blanket. Use the blanket for insulation but if the sh*t does hit the fan then a bag is better than a blanket in an emergency. Head torch is a Myo XP. Not the lightest of head torches but as there is a chance of us getting into camp with darkness setting in I am happy running and navigating with this. Here I could cut 150g easily but I am happier with the brighter head torch and the bag.
I am using the new Inov8 Elite Shadow 20ltr pack at 365grams. It is considerably lighter than even a stripped down OMM sack and very comfy! (full review to follow after the OMM).
With all kit in the bag minus the day food of gels and jelly babies I am currently weighing in at 3.6kg however I reckon I may just be edging over 4 kilos with a bit more food added.
Summary
I am happy with my kit selection and pack weight. I think despite knocking off at least a kilo on last year and even last months Rab Mountain Marathon I am actually taking warmer clothes and not really scrimping anywhere. I could edge a bit more off with a few tweaks but I think the extra weight sacrifice is worth it for a bit of extra comfort and safety. This list could change depending on the actual weather but is the base from what I am working on.
Some of this gear is shared with my partner. I have the joys of the tent skin (717g on day one when dry) whilst he has gas (250g), poles (277g) and stove (86g)
Note there are no luxuries in the kit at all. It is just the basics that you will need. Some people prefer a comfy overnight camp for a good day two. I would prefer to run lighter both days than have extras. Remember 100g here, 50g there soon adds up to an extra kilo overall.
So what is other peoples standard weight in these events? I hear some people are up to 7kg or more? What are peoples thoughts on kit selection? Too much? Too little?
October 27th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
…so how was it for you?!!!
July 12th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
i’ve done a couple of lamms and always overdone it on the kit front. looking back, we even took a proper kettle one year, ridiculous i know! this year i reckon we had about 6kg plus water which nudged us towards 8kg – too heavy to run to be honest. for the omm (if we get a place), i’m looking to cut the list quite drastically.
July 16th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
A proper kettle? With plug and the lot
. I always start with the basic list then look at weather conditions to decide which items of clothing is most suitable. Never take water. You won’t need it for the OMM its a weekend that is guaranteed to rain! You want any tips then give us a shout!