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JOIN NOWWhat to Wear for Hill, Trail and Fell Running
In recent years rules in the UK have tightened for safety reasons around the compulsory kit that should be carried with you. Since kit checks began, the term 'full body cover' was the general rule for hill races. This was then applied with common sense by race organisers, depending on the length/height of the hill and the weather conditions on that day.
However, now this has now changed with the rules stating full WATERPROOF cover. This means your jacket and trousers must be a waterproof fabric, with taped seams, and your jacket must have a hood. You don't have to wear it, but if it's not in your bag when a kit check takes place then you won't be allowed to race :-(
Best advice if it's a very short summer hill race is to check with the race organiser, as you may be let off with less. But if you are regularly racing in the hills or trails, then it's time to invest in waterproofs, so you can carry on enjoying your amazing sport :-) This isn't driven by running shops trying to sell expensive kit (honest!) it's for everyone's safety and enjoyment.
This article covers clothing. You can find advice on what to carry here, and choosing fell shoes here.
Tops / Jackets / Bottoms / Hats & Other Essentials
Combining Clothing Layers
Choosing how to combine these layers will vary for different runners, and also can be dependent on how far you are going and at what pace. It's also crucial to remember that the higher you go the colder it gets! If you're going for a longer slower run you will want to dress warmer than if you're racing or doing a faster run.
If you are going into the hills it is generally advisable to take a jacket with you, even if you don't wear it. With a jacket as part of your kit you can then choose your base layer according to the temperature. In summer that would be a T-shirt, the rest of the year you could go for a lightweight long-sleeve or a thermal.
If it's down under 5°C or so, or is very windy, then a warmer thermal top and fleecy tights would be best, as well as carrying waterproof trousers. If you're going for a longer run to higher hills or mountains then it's wise to pack an extra layer – more than you think you'll need – for safety.
Clothing for Hill and Trail Racing
Most hill and trail races in the calendar will now require you to carry / wear fully waterproof kit. This is getting stricter for safety reasons, so although you don’t need to toe the line fully waterproofed, you generally do need to carry it with you somehow.
For some trail races and short summer hill races you may not be required to carry it, so please check with the organisers what is on their kit list. Weather on the day could also play a part in some races decisions, so it can be wise to take options with you.
Running Tops
Moving towards long sleeved and thermal baselayers, the longest standing favourite has to be Icebreaker. Renowned brand that specialises in outdoor apparel made primarily from Merino wool. And the great thing about that is, it's well suited for temperature regulation, keeping you warm enough and great at wicking away sweat if you're hot. If you want a little more warmth these other brands have become the most popular choice of recent seasons; Icebreaker and Ronhill all offering options.
An extra wonderful touch with any merino layers is they're odour-free! I tend to favour cleanliness and have a fairly large washing pile at home, but if you're away on a trip and need to wear a baselayer back-to-back days then with a wool or polygiene top you can hang it up overnight, wear it next day, and not smell like you are doing so ;-) Janji, and Pressio make wonderful non-merino tops if you don't want to spend as much on something you can wear day after day.
Running Jackets
Montane, OMM and Ronhill and Janji all offer great lightweight waterproof jackets that will pass a kit check, plus windproof options that you can use for training.
If you want to go super light, have a little more breathability and protect yourself from the wind and only light rain then a windproof jacket will do the job. It won't keep you completely dry, so it doesn't suit everyone's comfort levels for the rain.
All of our fully waterproof jackets now include a hood and the majority of them offer 20,000 hyd head of waterproofing (10,000 is min requirement for a kit check) They also have taped seams and are very lightweight and packable – all boxes ticked in a jacket to wear / carry in the hills!
Running Bottoms
Most hill races will insist on a waterproof trousers as mandatory part of your kit bag. Hopefully they can spend most of their life in your bag, but for wild and wet days you will be glad of them. Ronhill and Janji make great options that pack small.
When you buy a pair of waterproof trousers, think about trying a larger size as well. You don't want them to flap about in the wind obviously, but consider that they will usually be over-trousers and you might need to fit them on in a hurry. They also don't have the stretch of lycra, so make sure you can lift your knees comfortably in them (as you would when you're running uphill!) and nothing is feeling too tight.
Running Caps & Other Essentials
In winter, hats and gloves are a general must, while neckwear is popular too. Again there are varying weights, so how thick to choose will depend on how much you feel the cold.
Gloves are like clothing and come in various thickness of fabric depending on how cold your hands get! Even if you don't get cold that easily, trust me you're likely to feel it in your hands first once the temperature drops. Next step up is for a windproof glove, which is a combination of being windproof on the back of your hand and a thicker (often fleece) over the palms.
Headgear comes in all manner of choices from beanies; caps, headbands and buffs! Waterproof caps are a wonderful alternative to a hood in a downpour, as they shield your eyes and you can still see where you’re going and even more useful if you wear glasses! Buffs or other neck scarves can be used to keep the chill off your neck, but can also be wrapped in various ways to make a hat / headband / sweatband / arm warmer. Their versatility makes them excellent to have a spare stuffed in your bag somewhere.
Happy running, and don't forget to enjoy the views!
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Eric W MunsonDecember 10, 2016 at 2:56am
Wait, you mean that in the UK runners are compelled to wear certain types of gear for certain types of running? Really? Seriously? Safety be darned; this is taking things a bit to the extreme, even in a nanny state. ReplyShyamala StottDecember 15, 2016 at 10:56am
Yes – it is indeed so that to take part in hill or trail running event you do need to CARRY OR WEAR fully waterproof clothing. You are only obliged to CARRY it during the race – the choice of wearing it is entirely yours :)
However, due to some tragic loss of life during these kinds of events some guidelines had to be brought in by the folks that look after our sport. You may not agree with them, but they do have our safety in mind. The UK isn't always blessed with decent dry weather so if you get injured just wearing a baselayer, or thin wind jacket and you are forced to stop running to wait for help you will get cold very quickly. This is why you then will appreciate your extra clothing if you're not someone that would have chosen to run in it.
Obviously these 'rules' only apply to organised events. While out enjoying your training runs alone, or with friends, you are totally free to make your own clothing choices!
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