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Vests, poles, headlamps, and watches. The kit that survives 100 miles, and what fails at mile 60.

01Gear Locker · Sep 5, 2026Salomon ADV Skin 12 vs Nathan Pinnacle 12 vs UltrAspire Alpha: Which Race Vest?Three race vests compared on what matters at an aid station: fit and bounce at full load, flasks versus bladder, reachable pockets, pole carry, capacity for mandatory kit, and sizing. The ADV Skin 12 wins for most; the Pinnacle and Alpha win for specific bodies and races.9 MIN02Gear Locker · Sep 5, 2026Best Trail Running Shoes for Technical Terrain: Lugs, Rock Plates, Drop and Fit by SurfaceTechnical-terrain trail shoes decoded: lug depth by surface, rock plate versus stack, drop, heel lock and toebox fit, with honest Salomon, La Sportiva, Hoka and Altra picks and the sock-and-gaiter half of the system that stops blisters.9 MIN03Gear Locker · Sep 5, 2026Best Shoes for Your First 50-Miler and 100-Miler: Max-Cushion Ultra Shoes, Foot Swell and the Rotation PlanMax-cushion trail shoes for a first 50-miler or 100-miler (Speedgoat 6, Olympus 6, Mafate Speed 4, Ultraventure 4, Cascadia 20, Xodus Ultra 4), sizing for foot swell, the two-pair rotation, and the Injinji-plus-lube sock plan that keeps skin intact.8 MIN04Gear Locker · Sep 5, 2026Best Hydration Vests by Race Distance: 50K vs 100K vs 100 MilesLitres by distance, computed from real mandatory-gear lists instead of guessed: 50K, 100K and 100-mile capacity and fluid math, the Salomon ADV Skin 12 as the premium all-rounder, and the N NEVO RHINO 12L and RKV86 as budget picks with their trade-offs stated plainly.8 MIN05Gear Locker · Sep 4, 2026Best Headlamps for Night Running and 100-Milers: Lumens, Runtime and the Battery PlanHeadlamps for overnight ultras, chosen by runtime at 100 to 200 lumens rather than box lumens: Petzl Actik Core as the hybrid-battery primary, Nitecore NU25 400 UL as the 47-gram backup, beam pattern, reactive lighting, and the battery-swap plan at aid stations.8 MIN06Gear Locker · Aug 11, 2026Gifts for Trail and Ultra Runners: From a First 50K to a Hundred-MilerA tiered gift guide for trail and ultra runners, organized by who you are shopping for: the first-50K rookie, the seasoned trail racer, the hundred-mile buckle chaser, and the crew behind them. Every pick is anchored to a real ultra term, explained so even a non-runner can shop with confidence.9 MIN07Gear Locker · Aug 11, 2026Trail Running Wall Art: Elevation Profiles and Race-Day PostersTrail and ultra wall art works hardest when it earns its spot. This guide sorts elevation-profile prints and race-day posters by the room they live in, so your pain cave, office, and runner's den each say something true about the miles.9 MIN08Gear Locker · Jul 13, 2026COROS PACE 3, Reviewed OvernightAn ultra watch is judged battery-first. The COROS PACE 3 delivers 38-hour standard GPS, 25 hours all-systems, and 30 grams at around $229 — here's what that runtime actually means for a 100K and a 100-miler.7 MIN09Gear Locker · Jul 13, 2026Race Vest vs Belt vs HandheldsYour carry system is a math problem: distance, aid spacing, and mandatory kit. When a vest wins, when a belt is enough, when handhelds fail — and the one to buy first.7 MIN

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