Selecting the right kit for the Spine Challenger
I could really bore you here with detailed reviews of all the kit I had, but I wont. This isn’t a review this is simply an overview of what I did when it comes to getting the right kit for the Montane Spine Challenger trail run.
All those signing up for the Spine Challenger start out with exactly the same mandatory kit list. It was amazing therefore, to see the differences in pack sizes across all of us on registration day, even taking into account that some competitors were supported and some weren’t.
Full kit for the Spine Challenger as per the mandatory kit list
When I had my kit checked one of the Spine crew weighed my pack for me and it came in at around 4.5kgs. He commented on the fact that it was definitely at the lighter end of the scale mentioning that some had come in at 10kgs and over!
“By hook or by crook I was going to try and get the lightest kit I could”
My philosophy on this from the very moment I had been given a place on the Challenger back in February 2016 was to go light. By hook or by crook I was going to try and get the lightest kit I could. I strategically decided to by a new light piece of kit every pay cheque and prioritised the bivi, sleeping bag and stove. I had no intention of spending any time stopping to make a cup of earl grey on the route or set up camp for the night, so I went light on these items knowing that if the worst did happen then they would work in a survival situation, but it was never my intention to ever use them in anger if I could so help it.
There were items I didn’t skimp on however, such as my head torch, gloves and hard shell jacket. I knew how much I would rely on these particular items so I didn’t compromise here even for a weight gain. Essentially, all the things you know you will be using constantly such as these items need to be bullet proof. You get cold out there and you will get demoralised fast, or god forbid if your head torch fails.
I also did loads of long training runs with a full pack so as to get used to it, the feel of it, how it sits on your back, how things are packed. I tweaked this until I was 100% satisfied.
The final thing to think about with regards to the weight of your pack is why would you want to carry extra weight if you don’t have to? Carrying an extra 5kgs must be a real energy burner, and for what? Even if you decide to go unsupported you still have your drop bag at Hebden Bridge and Malham. You’ll have all your spare food and change of clothes available at these points. With regard to the food, im not sure it happens every year but in 2017, the great guys from the Mountain Rescue had manned feed stations at fairly regular intervals – some of these stations had soup, others had cake and tea and some, the classic Haribo sweets – stock up where you can!!
