This afternoon I’m leaving for Tasmania to race in the XPD Adventure Racing World Championships. I got the call to race as part of Team Buff Thermocool when their regular female teammate had to bow out because of an injury. With a little more than a month’s notice, I’ve been training hard and I feel pretty well prepared.
Packing for an expedition race like this is practically a race in and of itself. My gear list is below. Somehow, I managed to fit it all in one huge duffel bag, one bike box and one carry-on backpack.
Custom bike box courtesy of Mike Kloser
Thankfully I didn’t have to pack Hank the dog
-4 Black Diamond headlamps (we have to have one on us at all times)
-1 set AyUp! handlebar and helmet lights
-1 pair Black Diamond folding carbon fiber Z poles
-3 pairs of La Sportiva trail running shoes
-1 pair SOLE Sport Flip flops
-custom made Polartec Neoshell anorak
-Out There! AS-1 pack designed by Mike Kloser
-ultralight sleeping bag from Macpac
-2 down jackets
-1 Polartec super secret prototype insulating mid-layer
-1 pair custom made Polartec Power Shield Pro pants
-1 pair of Westcomb Polartec stretch woven pants
-4 Polartec wool shirts (3 LS, 1 SS)
-3 LS Polartec high efficiency polyester mid-layer shirts
-lightweight windpants
-3 pairs of bike shorts
-2 bike jerseys
-3 pair of bike gloves (different weights to wear paddling and hiking as well)
-2 pair of Black Diamond insulated gloves
-2 Polartec knit hats
-1 SmartWool knit hat
-1 skull cap
-knee warmers
-leg warmers
-arm warmers
-1 pair of bike shoe booties
-1 pair Outdoor Research gaiters
-2 cases of Honey Stinger Chews, waffles & protein bars
-extra batteries
-candy corn (I’m missing Halloween here)
-snacks (gorp, gummy bears, yogurt pretzels, wasabi peas)
-Trek Superfly 100 29″ hardtail with Stan’s ZTR Race Gold wheels
-4 spare tubes
-2 extra Maxxis tires
-Bontrager bike helmet
-3 hydration bladders (1 for the bike, 1 for the PFD)
-5 water bottles
-electrolyte tablets
-Gu2O electrolyte drink mix
-extra Crank Brothers eggbeater pedals
-bike multitool
-Epic breakdown carbon fiber wing paddle
-Coleman bug head net
-emergency blanket & whistle
-2 pairs of sunglasses
-waterproof camera
-sunscreen
-lip balm
-Specialized S-Works MTB shoes with a Boa Closure System
-4 pair SmartWool PHD cycling socks
-1 pair SmartWool Compression socks
-2 pair running shorts
-PFD
-wetsuit
-Westone True Fit 3 earbuds (best headphones I’ve ever used)
-Water shoes
-Sportslick
-Chamois Butter
-first aid kit
-prescriptions for Cipro, Ambien, Bactrim (antibiotic)
-toiletries-
-bag of wet wipes
-glowsticks
-Gerber knife
-ipod Nano
-American flag
-Silva shin guards (for bushwhacking)
-bikini (for relaxing after the race)
-4 pair of underwear
-1laptop
-3 books
My awesome new Polartec Neoshell jacket that weighs less than 5 ounces (also, apparently it can be really buggy in Tasmania..and dark).
Ian is going to try and update this site with whatever race reports he can find online. Wish me luck and thanks for all your support!
Ugh…..how I (don’t miss these packing, travel, unpacking days). Best of luck to you and your team! ….its time to ski when you get back! Safe travels & racing.
I thought packing for XTERRA Worlds was alot…. wow! I can’t imagine. It’s alot to think about. Which is more difficult you think, the packing and planning or the race itself? You are an inspiration, Sari!
Where/Who made your custom neoshell anorak?
Jim, the custom NeoShell was made through Polartec and seem sealed by someone in New Hampshire. Unfortunately, I don’t know much more than that.