Suppliers



Salomon


Here's an outdoor equipment manufacturer whose products are absolutely superb. I've used their packs on a number of races and also for training. Their clothing and shoes are also excellent. You can't go wrong having Salomon as one of your suppliers. Not surprising, therefore, that you can see their brand worn by many of the world's top extreme runners and adventure racers.

LifeSystems


This is one of those companies that makes extremely practical gear for travellers and makes it to the highest specifications. Particularly good are their first aid kits. But they also supply a wide variety of really useful kit like titanium knife, fork and spoon sets, hardwearing travel bags, bio-degradable soap, travel-towels, stow-bags for small items of luggage etc. Their kit is rigorously tested and I've been using much of it for many years now. Available at most decent outdoor equipment shops. In fact, if the shop doesn't stock it be wary of anything else it sells. Lifesystems is an excellent company making outstanding kit.

Hammer Nutrition UK


For years I hoped that E-Caps (a US-based company) would find a UK distributor for their outstanding products. And now they have - BodyNectar - so here is the link. E-Caps manufacture Endurolytes and HammerGel, among other great nutritional products. I have used Endurolytes for a few years and found that when using them I can sustain near perfect electrolyte levels, even in the Amazon Jungle during the Jungle Marathon in 2003 and 2004 where I had to drink up to 16 litres of water per day to counter dehydration. I never race without Endurolytes now. I just wouldn't. E-Caps also make a wide range of other products too, including HammerGel. I used HammerGel very successfully on a number of races. It tasted better than anything else I found in the UK. The link here is to their UK supplier.


Wright Socks

The Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica had a partnership agreement with Wright Socks and all runners were given several pairs in their race goody bag before the start. I used them throughout the race, avoiding blisters as a consequence. I have never got on with double layer socks before so I was quite sceptical about using them. However, they performed so well during the Coastal Challenge that I found myself using them all the time afterwards. I wouldn't recommend them for desert wear as the sand gets in between the two layers and can't be removed easily. Nevertheless I use them for practically every other environment and for all trails in the UK and training. They don't smell either which is a whole lot more than can be said of some of the leading brand socks on the market now. They can be purchased from Runner's Need. Try a couple of pairs and see if you get on as well with them.