What should you bring to a marathon? Pack in three piles: what you'll race in (tested shoes, socks, outfit, bib, watch and the fuel you trained with), what you need at the start (throwaway layers, a small snack, water, tissues and anti-chafe), and what you want at the finish (dry clothes, easy shoes, a towel and food). Lay it all out the night before, and only bring gear you've already used on a long run.
That's the short version. Below is the full list, how to carry water and gels without breaking any race rules, and the post-race car setup most runners forget until they're standing in a parking lot, soaked, wondering how to change without giving everyone a show.
What should you pack the night before a marathon?
Do this the night before, not race morning. Lay everything out on the floor like a "flat runner," pin your bib, and walk through the race in your head from the start line to the finish. If you touch it during the race, it goes in the pile.
- Race shoes you've already put real miles in. Race day is not the day to break in anything.
- Race socks you've worn on long runs (plus a spare pair for after).
- Race outfit: shorts or tights, top or singlet, sports bra. All tested on long runs, especially the seams.
- Bib, with pins or a race belt, and your timing chip if your race uses a separate one.
- GPS watch, fully charged.
- Fuel: the same gels, chews or drink mix you trained with, in the amount your plan calls for.
- Anti-chafe balm for anywhere that has ever rubbed on a long run.
- Hat or visor, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm, depending on the forecast.
- Phone and ID if you plan to carry them.
- Race info: corral or wave, start time, transport plan and where you'll meet your people after.
What do you need at the start line?
Fall marathons usually mean chilly mornings and a lot of standing around. The goal is to arrive warm, fed and with an empty bladder, then shed everything right before the gun.
- Throwaway layers: an old sweatshirt, sweatpants and cheap gloves. Many races collect discarded clothing for donation, so check your race's policy.
- A trash bag or cheap poncho for rain, wind, or sitting on wet grass.
- A small pre-race snack you've eaten before long runs.
- Water or your usual drink to sip while you wait.
- Tissues or a few squares of toilet paper, because the porta-potty supply is never guaranteed.
How should you carry water and gels during a marathon?
Most big road marathons have plenty of aid stations, so plenty of runners carry only gels and drink on the course. Others like to run their own hydration and stop only when they want to. Either works. Just practice it in training, and read your race's rules first. Some big-city marathons limit what you can bring through security. For example, the Chicago Marathon doesn't allow hydration backpacks or running vests with bladders, but does allow front-pocket vests, fuel belts, handheld bottles and soft flasks.
The minimalist setup: a race belt
Our Running Race Belt ($14.95) holds your bib with a cord and cord lock, so you don't need safety pins, and it has loops for gels or lip balm. It weighs 1.25 oz, has reflective squares, and lets you wear the bib on the front or back. It's one size and stretchy, so you just adjust it.
Carrying your own water: a soft flask
If you want water between aid stations, a soft flask is the easiest thing to carry. The UltraFlask 500ml holds 17 oz, weighs 1.4 oz, and collapses as you drink, so it doesn't slosh. It has a locking bite valve you can open with one hand, fits all Orange Mud hydration vests and most hydration packs, and goes in the dishwasher afterward. You can even freeze it overnight for slow-melting cold water on a warm race day.
Want more options for longer days? Browse our marathon hydration vests and packs or read our guide to essential marathon hydration gear.
What should go in your gear-check bag?
If your race has gear check, it's usually a clear, race-issued bag, and some races won't take anything else, so check the participant guide. Pack it for the version of you who just ran 26.2 miles and can barely bend over.
- Dry shirt, a warm layer and dry socks
- Comfortable recovery shoes or slides
- A small towel and some wipes
- A snack and a drink you know your stomach likes
- A plastic bag for sweaty or wet clothes
Leave valuables out of gear check. Races generally aren't responsible for lost or damaged items.
What should you leave in the car for after the race?
This is where most packing lists stop, and it's where a lot of race days go sideways. You finish. You're soaked, salty and stiff, and you still have to drive home. Set up the car before you leave for the start, so post-race you just open the door and sit.
- A seat cover that can handle sweat. The Transition Wrap Extreme ($49.95) is a waterproof car seat cover, a private changing wrap and an oversized 30" × 60" microfiber towel in one. A sealed TPU membrane between two layers of microfiber means sweat stops at the wrap, not your seat. It's machine washable and packs into its own stuff sack.
- A seat belt cover. After a marathon, the belt lands right on a salty, chafed shoulder. The magnetic Seat Belt Wrap wraps on, snaps shut and comes off for the wash.
- A full set of dry clothes, plus warm layers for a cold fall afternoon.
- Recovery shoes, water or a recovery drink, and real food for the drive.
- A bag or bin for wet gear, so it doesn't end up all over the floor mats.
If you want both seat pieces, the Car Kit bundles a Transition Wrap Extreme in your choice of color with a 20" Seat Belt Wrap for $67.95, versus $74.90 bought separately. US shipping is free on orders over $75.
How do you change after a marathon in a parking lot?
Towel off with the Transition Wrap Extreme first, then wrap it around you and clip the belt, and swap shorts, top and socks underneath. When you're dressed, unwrap it and put it on the seat before you sit down. That's one piece of gear that gives you privacy, a towel and a clean seat, without doing the towel-in-your-teeth dance next to your car. We go deeper on this in Keep Your Car Clean and Change Anywhere.
What should you NOT bring on marathon day?
- Anything new. New shoes, a new top, new gels or a new breakfast are how a good race goes bad.
- Gear your race doesn't allow. Check the rules on bags, vests, headphones and strollers.
- Valuables in gear check. Carry your phone, or leave it with a friend.
- Too much stuff. If you didn't use it on your last three long runs, you probably don't need it.
Running your first one? Read our 5 important tips before your first race too.
Your marathon race-day checklist
Screenshot this and check it off the night before.
Race kit: shoes · socks · shorts or tights · top · sports bra · bib and pins or race belt · timing chip · watch · fuel · anti-chafe · hat or visor · sunglasses · sunscreen · phone and ID
Start: throwaway layers · trash bag or poncho · pre-race snack · water · tissues
On course: gels in a belt or pocket · soft flask or handheld if your race allows it
Gear check: dry top, layer and socks · recovery shoes · small towel · wipes · snack · bag for wet clothes
Car: seat cover or changing towel · seat belt cover · full change of clothes · warm layer · water and food · bin for wet gear
Marathon packing FAQ
What should I bring to a marathon?
Bring the race kit you've tested in training (shoes, socks, outfit, bib, watch and fuel), throwaway layers and a small snack for the start, a gear-check bag with dry clothes and recovery shoes, and a change of clothes, towel and seat cover in the car for after.
Should I carry water during a marathon?
You don't have to if your race has frequent aid stations, but many runners like carrying a soft flask or handheld so they can drink on their own schedule. Practice whichever approach you choose on long runs, and check your race's rules, since some events restrict hydration packs or vests with bladders.
What do you wear to the start of a cold marathon?
Wear your race outfit with old throwaway layers on top, like a sweatshirt, sweatpants and cheap gloves, plus a trash bag or poncho if it's wet or windy. Shed the layers in your corral just before the start.
What should I put in my marathon gear-check bag?
A dry shirt, a warm layer, dry socks, recovery shoes or slides, a small towel, wipes, a snack and a bag for wet clothes. Leave valuables out, and use the bag your race requires.
How do I keep my car clean after a race?
Put a waterproof seat cover down before you leave for the start, keep a bag or bin for wet gear, and change into dry clothes before you drive. A changing towel that doubles as a seat cover, like the Transition Wrap Extreme, handles the changing and the seat with one piece of gear.
Josh Sprague is the founder of Orange Mud. He built the first Orange Mud pack, the HydraQuiver, in his garage in 2012, after years of running trails and ultras, riding gravel and racing triathlons.
