2026 SPINE SUMMER RACES KIT REQUIREMENTS
This is the 2026 Summer Kit List and is unlikely to change before the race but we will update runners by email if it changes.
Please note that any questions you want to ask via email about kit must be asked at least 7 days before the race, in the last week leading up to the race I will be too busy preparing for the event to answer any more questions.
(FULL, CHALLENGER SOUTH, NORTH AND SPRINT NORTH AND SOUTH EVENTS)
SECTION 1: COMPULSORY KIT LIST.
Including examples of kit that will pass and fail and minimum standard requirements.
SECTION 2: KIT CHECKS
Clear procedures for the pre-event and during race kit checks.
SECTION 3: MISSING KIT PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES
Clear procedures and penalties for lost, missing or damaged kit during the event.
COMPULSORY EQUIPMENT (SECTION 1)
All the items must always be worn or carried during the event unless specified. These items are all required for your safety and to ensure you have the correct equipment to enable you to complete the event in all conditions and be as self sufficient as possible. This list is not negotiable and if checked at any point on the course or at a checkpoint any missing items may incur a penalty as described in Section 3.
This list is the minimum mandatory minimum kit required for the race, you may carry any additional kit you require or wish to for your own comfort. We recommend you carry additional warm dry clothing in poor weather and protect items in your backpack with dry bags.
If on reading this, you are unsure if an item of kit passes or you need advice you can email Lindley@thespinerace.com for further info.
STARTING CLOTHING and SPARE items Clarifications
It is expected that you are starting in a full set of clothing appropriate to the conditions at the start of the race or when leaving a Checkpoint Location.
Any item that is listed on the kit list as a SPARE item is in addition to whatever you are wearing to start or leaving a Checkpoint Location and must be in your pack/vest and not worn.
Example. You cannot be wearing your SPARE Insulated Warm Jacket when leaving a CP where your drop bag is accessible, it must be spare
in your pack/vest and in addition to what you are wearing for the current conditions. If you are wearing it you must have another spare in your pack/vest at the point of leaving that location. This is the same for SPARE Baselayer top or bottom layers and socks. You can of course use any SPARE them during that stage.
Further clarification and penalties.
You cannot remove an item you are wearing when about to leave a CP location, just to put it on again outside when away from the CP just to circumvent the rule.
This will result in a time penalty for not having a SPARE item.
The SPARE items are for safety if you get very wet or cold or need extra layers in an emergency, They are not to make you take more unnecessary kit. If you fall in water, get very wet and cold or even injured you will need all that spare kit.
If we think you do not have enough kit for the conditions we will request you carry more and will not reduce this minimum requirement under any circumstances.
Kit List Explained
The Kit List is detailed and extensive and you must read all the pages relevant to each item on The Kit List.
All the items on the list must be presented at kit check for inspection (including footwear).
You can download the full kit list via the below button.
Medical Kit Clarification Notes
These notes help clarify the common question about the Medical Kit.
Re-hydration Salts: These must be dioralyte or own brand re-hydration salts, electrolyte tablets or salt tablets are not the same and will not pass.
Tape: Only K Tape will count and you must carry the correct tape and spares sufficient for the event. Carry and use what you wish but you must carry the mandatory amounts and spares. Pre-cut tape or thinner non 5cm wide tape will not pass.
Foil Blanket: This must be a foil blanket and not a foil bivvy or survival bag. This is in addition to the bivvy bag in the main kit.
Needles: Must be the correct type. We will supply the correct ones at kit check – green 21g Hypodermic 25mm-35mm only
You must carry sufficient spares for the whole event duration. If you run out it may not be possible to restock you from the medical teams spares.
Mandatory Drop Bag Kit
These are items you must have in your drop bag.
Lightweight Sleeping Bag: A small 1 season style bag for use in CP’s and tents. Must be capable of being packed in your race pack and may be recommended to be taken on the course in extreme weather if you are planning on sleeping out on the course. Consider carrying a pack with space for this alongside your kit.
CP Footwear: Footwear such as Crocs, Slides or Flip Flops to wear in CPs to protect feet.
Towel: Some CP locations have wash/shower facilities and the race does not supply Towels, you will not be able to shower or wash feet without a means to dry them.
These are not checked at Kit Check so do not need to be presented at kit check but if you are found not carrying these items they may be subject to the same penalties as other missing kit.
Recommendations
The above listed items are all Mandatory and the bare minimum we allow you to participate in the event with.
Please consider the items below, especially in poor weather conditions.
Additional warm clothing:
As you progress in the race and become tired or during colder weather you will find it harder to keep warm, especially as you slow.
Think about extra layers above the minimum list.
Sturdier Waterproofs:
There is a trend to wear/carry superlight waterproof layers that meet the HH criteria but the HH rating is only part of the story and heavier duty waterproof layers will perform better in serious weather and give you a better chance of completion.
Spare items in your drop bag for those things easily lost or damaged Gloves, Red lights, Hats, Neck Tubes, Safety Glasses and smaller items as not having these can mean you can’t continue if lost
Spare First Aid Kit Items in your drop bag.:
You need to have spares of medications and foot care and anything you need for minor injuries yourself, if you are at a CP location and you don’t have spare tape, needles or foot care items you can’t rely on the medical team always having enough to treat you.
They are there for emergencies, non minor injuries and support, you should be able to manage minor cuts and scrapes and foot care yourself.
KIT CHECKS (SECTION 2)
KIT CHECK – PRE-RACE
To ensure everyone is carrying the correct kit and to ensure fairness to all racers there will be a kit check at registration, it will follow the below procedure.
You will have your kit checked as the first part of the registration process; the kit checker will check a random set of items from a list. Some racers will receive full kit checks and some will receive checks on a selection of items.
Who gets what checked will be purely random based on what is on the list for your race number. If you forget any items or any items are not suitable then you may be required to have a full kit check to ensure nothing else is missing. Once all your items are checked satisfactorily you will be allowed to register for the race.
If you fail kit check you will be asked to return ASAP with the correct items and you will be unable to register until you have passed, you cannot collect a number without us confirming you have passed on all items. It is your responsibility to ensure you arrive at Kit Check with all the correct kit ready. If you have any doubt about kit being suitable either bring alternatives or check those items you intend to bring with lindley@thespinerace.com before attending the event. We cannot be held responsible for misunderstandings over kit standards. If you are in any way not sure then email, you will get a quick definitive answer.
Be aware information on social media is not definitive and may be out of date or based on previous years requirements. If in doubt, ask.
We will keep written copies of all kit checks including your signature on the bottom of the sheet to confirm you were checked should any dispute about kit occur at on course kit checks.
Suppose we allow any borderline items to pass, or we fail any contentious items. In that case, we will record those including a description or photo of the item in question for future reference. This will clear up any disputes on the course quickly.
ON COURSE AND CHECKPOINT KIT CHECKS
At any point on the course or at a checkpoint or safety staff can ask for a selection of items from the compulsory list to be shown. These will
usually be requests to ensure you are carrying critical safety equipment during poor weather or on higher risk areas of the course. If you
are missing an item of kit the procedures in section 4 below will be applied.
MISSING KIT PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES (SECTION 3)
The Spine races are self-sufficient adventure races and as such it is strongly emphasised that the competitor is responsible for ensuring they always have the right kit during the event. This includes protection from loss or damage whilst out on the trail.
It would be prudent to carry spares of easily lost or damaged items such as Goggles, Gloves, Hats and other smaller items in your drop bag to cover those possible losses and ensure your kit is sufficiently robust to survive the event.
The event is under no obligation to source, loan or supply in any way any items of lost kit so you can continue your participation in the event.
However, in the spirit and nature of the race we understand fellow competitors, race staff and volunteers will do all they can to help you continue your journey. They do so as an individual arrangement with no obligation or expectation.
If you are found to be missing kit at any point on the course or at a Checkpoint location, you will be subject to the penalties and procedures listed below without exception.
There are 30 items on the compulsory kit list, and they are all compulsory and to be carried at all times.
PENALTIES
All items of kit may incur a 1 hour Time Penalty for each item, at the discretion of Lindley the Equipment Manager.
You will not be allowed to leave a CP location until you have replaced that item regardless of the weather conditions, only the Equipment Manager can exercise any discretion.
Please note all time penalties will be applied when possible, to your time during the race but in some circumstances, this may be post-race, particularly if penalties are incurred in the latter stages of the event. A record of all-time penalties will be kept by HQ and the Kit Manager (Lindley – Lindley@thespinerace.com) and all decisions by the Kit Manager or the HQ team will be final. Time penalties are applied to your race time, you will not be held at any point unless your time penalty means you are now past the cutoff time for that location.
If you receive a time penalty or are held at a location whilst waiting for replacement kit and this means you are now past the cut off time for that CP location you will be considered to be timed out of the race and cannot continue.
Multiple Missing Items
If you are missing multiple items of kit at a kit check or are found to be missing multiple items of kit at checks along the route the race reserves the right to issue a warning or disqualify the competitor depending on the severity or frequency.
Accidental loss vs deliberate
Over the years some competitors have chosen to leave kit behind or not carry compulsory items, thankfully this is a very rare occasion but it can cause serious safety concerns. The race reserves the right to disqualify any competitor who has been found to be deliberately carrying less than the compulsory kit list.
For any clarification on this kit list information please email lindley@thespinerace.com
