[30-something with no savings] What equipment to buy for your first trail run

January 24, 2025

My name is Hiroki and I am a new staff member at OLENO.

Last time, in my blog about my first trail run, I only briefly mentioned equipment. There are a lot of articles like "Beginners Must Read! Necessary Equipment for Trail Running!" so I thought I would leave that to them.

However, there are many articles encouraging people to "get fully equipped to have fun," which may be fine for people with a certain amount of wealth, but I feel that this is one of the factors that makes it more difficult for people like me who don't have that much money to spare.

"Just gather the bare minimum and try running!"

So, I thought I would write about the minimum equipment I felt was necessary from the perspective of a 30-year-old with less than 200,000 yen in savings and barely making ends meet each month . (This is just my personal opinion.)

There is always something

T-shirt and pants

Basically, anything that is for sports is fine, so it's best to decide based on your favorite brand , design , and silhouette .

The minimum required functions are moisture absorption and quick drying, and the higher the moisture absorption and quick drying performance, the less discomfort you will feel when you sweat and the less cold you will feel when you take a break. However, since the quality varies by brand, I think you can get a T-shirt and pants with satisfactory performance within 7,000 yen each .

Base layer (inner layer)

Unlike road running, you sweat more than you think, and the difference in temperature you feel is greater, so there is a limit to how much sweat you can absorb and dry with just clothing. As someone who has experienced the hell of "my clothes are soaked, but my body is getting colder and colder," I truly believe that it is best to take precautions by wearing an inner layer.

You can buy innerwear at Uniqlo, but don't compromise and buy something good. I recommend the finetrack brand (4,000-5,000 yen) because it was better than I expected.

back

To be honest, I was a little hesitant about this. The amount of gear you need to bring will vary depending on the distance and mountain you plan to hike, so it's best to buy gear after determining the distance and mountain you can enjoy.

For example, if you mainly do road running and occasionally do trail runs of about 10km, it's fine to have a minimal bag or even no bag at all,

When you start a trail run of 50km or more, you will need a large trail running bag as you will need a change of clothes, drinks, and food.

As for me, I mainly do trail running, but I also want to do some trekking, so I bought a 12L bag and run short distances of 10km.

Considering the possibility that I may become interested in longer distances in the future, I think it's safe to get a relatively large bag like me. Trail running bags are quite expensive, with average prices ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 yen .

drink

If you are a road runner, you can run up to about 10km without a drink. Even if you are running 20km or more, you can bring some coins to buy drinks at vending machines along the way, but you can't do that with trail running, so be sure to bring a drink even if you are running a short distance.

I always carry 1L of water with me, but if I'm traveling less than 20km, 500ml might be enough, but it's better to be on the safe side. It only costs about 150 yen .

Shoes

I strongly recommend shoes for trail running. You can run in running shoes, but you will slip quite a bit on the way down . Moreover, the ground is often wet with humidity on the mountain, so there is a risk of falling, and because it is a slope, if you do fall, it can be a huge problem. (My phone screen broke.)

Prices vary depending on the manufacturer, but they cost around 20,000 yen . I wasn't interested in the latest model, so I bought an older model that was on sale for just over 10,000 yen .

socks

Socks are surprisingly often overlooked. I recommend wearing socks that are tear-resistant and have a strong grip . Even if you wear shoes that fit you perfectly, your feet will slip inside the shoes when you go down a mountain, and your toes will hit the toes of the shoes every time . This can cause the toes of your socks to tear, or the inside of your nails to bleed and turn black . I've seen people lament, "I can't wear sandals in the summer because my nails turn black."

So, it's a good idea to wear socks that have a strong grip (with anti-slip properties) and are durable enough to hold your feet firmly in your shoes when going downhill. The average price is around 1,500 to 3,000 yen .

I have written an article about the benefits of trail running socks, so please take a look if you are interested.

[A must-read for trail running and marathon beginners] Socks can help prevent sweaty feet and blisters.

Also, this is not a stealth marketing ad or anything, but I highly recommend the trail running socks from OLENO, the company I work for. (laughs)

OLENO Trail Running Socks Lineup

Wind Shell

This is to prevent cold sweat. Even if you take precautions with a base layer (inner layer) and a T-shirt, winter trail running can still be tough. So, if you're going for a winter run, be sure to have this.

Since it is classified as outerwear, it is a little expensive, but prices vary depending on the manufacturer, so it is best to look for something around 10,000 yen .

gloves

While they are designed to protect against the cold on winter trails, they are primarily used to prevent injuries .

Just like when going uphill, when going downhill, I adjust my speed while running, but if I just brace myself with my feet, I lose my balance, so I hold down a nearby tree with my hand to slow down. If I hold it bare, the branch will pierce me, so that's how it feels.

Not required, but at your own risk

Although not included as minimum equipment, we will introduce the equipment you will need in case of an emergency.

bell

It's a bear repellent bell. According to popular belief, the average number of incidents of ordinary people, other than hunters, being attacked by bears in Hokkaido in the 49 years from 1970 to the end of 2018 is only 1.2 cases per year. The probability is 0.04% to 0.06% , and for example, the probability of being involved in traffic accidents is about 0.2%.

However, be aware that when taking part in competitions or races, bringing a bell may be a condition for participation.

Emergency seat

It is a silver aluminum sheet that is worn over the head to keep warm if you are lost and waiting for rescue. Considering the probability of being lost, it is not necessary to have one, but like bear bells, it is often a condition of participation in competitions.

Change of clothes

You can get by without bringing anything, but most people probably take it with them to wear when they get home. If you do get lost, you'll need to wear dry clothes to prevent hypothermia, so it's better to keep it in your bag if possible, rather than leaving it in a locker at the station or in your car.

Above, I have explained the minimum equipment required for your first trail run. When I went trail running for the first time, I was very stressed because I didn't even prepare the things I introduced today, so I hope you will use this as a reference.

[Trail running trend news]

・Developed in collaboration with world-class trail runners. The ultimate model of trail running socks, the "Ultimate TNG"