Well, we’re back with the final installment in our series of adventure racing gear reviews.  If you missed the other parts, here they are: Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV.  Now, on with the show…

U is for Underwear – Patagonia Active Boxer Briefs

This could be the most essential piece of clothing that you’ll ever buy.  I mean, let’s face it.  You want to take good care of this area, right?  I thought so.  These boxer briefs are great.  They fit perfectly, there are no seams to chafe you, they wick moisture better than anything else I’ve tried, and they dry uber-quickly.  I wear these on all of my long training rides or runs and on all of my races.

V is for Vibram Five Fingers

What the…???  These might be the weirdest looking “shoes” in the world, but they are great.  First, I’d recommend reading Born to Run.  This is an awesome read, and it will help explain why these shoes are so great for you biomechanically.  I love to lift weights and do some metabolic conditioning in these shoes, and they are perfect for when I do some TRX suspension training.  I also do some trail running in them.  However, don’t buy a pair and immediately start doing all of your training in these.  You’ll hurt yourself since you’ve been wearing heavily padded shoes your entire life.  Slowly start working these into your training, and you can thank me later.  On top of all of that, they are a great conversation starter.  You’ll get stopped many times to explain what they are.  Check ’em out.

W is for Water Bottle – Camelbak Podium

Ever had a water bottle leak all over your backpack? Yeah, me too.  It’s not fun. Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore if you switch to these water bottles.  They have a locking mechanism that guarantees no leaks.  I usually carry two of these with some e-fuel mixed in them in my pack along with a hydration bladder full of plain old H2O.  This combo has worked amazingly well for me to keep me hydrated and cramp-free.  And I’ve never had a Podium bottle leak – EVER.  They even make an insulated version for your cold-weather training and racing, or if you hate when your water gets too hot during the summer.  So try out a bottle or two for mess-free hydration.

X is for XT Wings by Salomon

Your feet are your most valuable tool during an adventure race, so making the right shoe choice is crucial.  Every foot is different so make sure you try on several different kinds of shoes.  My favorite is a pair of Salomon XT Wings.  They are light enough for racing yet beefy and sturdy enough for bigger guys and every day training.  The traction is great, they breathe well, they’re durable, and they look great.  I LOVE the lacing system.  You don’t need to tie these shoes.  You simply pull them tight and lock them in place.  This is perfect for quick transitions between the biking and running legs.  Try out a pair and see for yourself.

Y is for Yakima Bike Racks

No matter what you drive, there is probably a Yakima rack that will work perfectly for you.  I have the Yakima Double Down 2 Hitch Mounted Bike Rack, and I love it.  It folds down easily, and it holds the bikes securely.  When not hauling bikes, the top part of the rack folds down so it isn’t sticking out needlessly.  No complaints at all with this rack.

Casey has the Yakima Swing Daddy Hitch Mounted Bike Rack that holds four bikes.  As the name suggests, this rack swings completely out of the way so that you can access the back of your vehicle easily.  It, too, allows you to fold the top part of the rack out of the way when not hauling bikes.   It’s a great rack.

Z is for Zip Ties

Zip ties, sometimes called cable ties, are essential for adventure racing.  You don’t really know you need them, until you need them.  Did that make sense?  There are thousands of uses for zip ties.  We helped a lady finish a mountain bike race by zip-tying her pedal back onto her crank.  My brother recently broke the zip ties holding his bike cables to the top tube.  I had a couple zip ties in my pack, and he was back in business in no time.  If you break a buckle on your pack, zip ties can help you out.  Seriously, why wouldn’t you carry some of these.  They weigh practically nothing, and their uses are unlimited.  Pack some zip ties on your next training session or race, and rest assured you’ll be prepared.

Well, that wraps up our ABC’s of Adventure Racing Gear and Equipment series.  We hope you enjoyed it and found it useful.  Let us know if you have any recommendations for gear in the comments section.  We’re always willing to try out something new.