This post contains affiliate links.
Have you ever found yourself getting ready to go out for a run but not been sure what you needed to bring?
When I completed my first marathon, I realised that there were a number of things that all runners should at least consider bringing with them regardless of the length of their run. Some of these could be life-saving, and others may simply help improve your performance.
Check out our list for the top things runners should consider carrying during their workouts. For convenience, I’ve put a table showing all the products recommended in this post.
Quick disclaimer: I’m an affiliate for these products. However, I could be an affiliate for many different products but I specifically chose these ones because they’re the products I actually like and recommend. By using my links, you help support this website.
| Essential | Recommended Product |
| Water | Kuyou Professional Hydration Backpack |
| Snacks | Natural Guava Energy Bar |
| Gels | High Five Sports Nutrition Energy Gels |
| Reflective Gear | BTR Outdoor Sports Jacket&LED Reflective Running Bands |
| Waterproof Running Clothing | Best Selling Waterproof All Weather Cap &Kaps Nano Protector Waterproofing Spray |
| Running Armbands | Gritin Running Armband |
| Hand Warmers | Superchamp Hand Warmers Multi Pack |
| Fitness Trackers | Fit Bit Charge 4 |
| Torch | Everbeam H6 Pro&Icoco Pro Run Light |
| First Aid Kit | Guardsy Mini First Aid Kit |
Water
Probably the most obvious, right? There are a few different methods that you can use to carry water. Examples include a hydration backpack, a water bottle and a running belt. Hey, if you’re interested in finding out which method is the best for carrying water on a run, I wrote an entire article comparing the pros and cons of all three. You can find it here.
For the sake of this article, I’m going to cut right to the chase and recommend purchasing a running hydration backpack. The reason for this is that backpacks carry the largest amount of water and can offer several additional benefits, such as extra storage space whilst spreading out the weight of the water. You can check out my chosen hydration backpack here.
Water is crucial to bring on your run. Keeping yourself fully hydrated when running can help prevent dehydration, help with weight loss and boost performance. The amount of water we should be drinking can vary depending on the individual. Still, it’s usually a good idea not to go over a litre of water an hour because this can result in overhydration. Too much water would lead to vomiting, nausea, low blood pressure and maybe even seizures. How do I know this? Because I’ve also written another entire article on why it’s a good idea to carry water while running, which you can find here.
Snacks
Depending on the length of your run, you may want to consider bringing some food with you. Although there are plenty of great foods for runners to eat before and after a run, mid-run snacks need to be easily carried and supply you with plenty of energy to keep going.
According to experts, any run that lasts over an hour would benefit from taking in some extra food. This is because your glycogen stores begin to deplete at around the one hour mark, and you might be left feeling sluggish and unable to move. This feeling is famously known as hitting the wall, and you can find out more about it here. There are many natural foods that you could carry with you to help support your run. Some people recommend foods like raisins and bananas. Although foods like this are very nutritious, food like bananas are usually difficult to carry. I would recommend carrying something like a power bar instead, which is specially designed to stop your glycogen stores from depletion and keep you moving. My personal favourite is the Natural Guava Energy Bar. This bar has been made in one of the most natural ways possible and has been described as “The Secret Energy Food Of Colombia’s Cyclists.”
Gels
Similarly to foods like energy bars, gels are a quick solution to keeping your energy up whilst being easily storable. Usually, energy gels come in disposable sachets and weigh around 40 grams. Too many energy gels can have a nasty effect on your stomach, believe me, so some manufacturers recommend that you don’t consume more than one every 20 minutes. To take an energy gel sachet, all you need to do is tear off the top and squeeze it directly into your mouth.
Sachets lean more towards providing you with as much energy as possible rather than coming from a completely natural food source. So they may not be as natural as energy bars.
The typical ingredients you can expect to find in energy gels include:
- Maltodextrin- A white, starchy carbohydrate that manufacturers use in many foods to improve their thickness and overall quality. It’s also really popular in sports gels because they are tasteless and a very good source of carbohydrates.
- Simple Sugars- Including fructose, glucose and sucrose, these sugars can easily enter the bloodstream for maximum energy.
- Caffeine- In addition to giving you more energy through sugar and carbohydrate, some energy gels aim to keep you as focused as possible.
- Flavourings- With artificial and natural flavours, energy gels can be made to taste like pretty much anything the manufacturer wants them to.
- Electrolytes- As well as maybe vitamins and anything else that might provide runners with some extra nutritional value they can use to boost their performance.
I personally like to use the High Five Sports Nutrition Energy Gels. The main reason is that I love the taste (orange with fruit juice) and also because I find that they give me plenty of energy when I’m running without being too harsh on my stomach. They’re also the best seller on Amazon, which was an added bonus for me when I bought them.
Reflective Gear
Reflective clothing should be part of any runners attire because it’s important to keep safety in mind no matter where you’re running. That being said, anyone who plans on running on roads late at night, by water or out in nature on trails etc., should seriously consider making sure that they are easily visible.
There are many different ways you can make sure that your clothing is reflective:
- Reflective Gear- Depending on how visible you want to be, you can consider using something as small as a reflective wristband. You can also opt for choosing some running gear that got the added feature of being reflective. The hydration backpack I recommended earlier is equipped with reflective layers so that anyone coming up behind you will notice you quickly. Running armbands, water bottles and even your shoelaces can be equipped to be reflective.
- Reflective Clothing- Like running gear, running clothing is especially useful for runners who will be out in high-risk areas and want to be easily noticeable. Specially designed high-vis jackets have become a part of many runners arsenal and have likely come in handy more than once.
For runners looking for something that can provide maximum visibility, I’d recommend something like This Running Jacket, which is designed to be part of an athlete’s overall kit whilst also making them as reflective and visible as possible. This specific jacket is also equipped with lots of pockets for extra storage, which is a bonus.
For runners exercising in the daytime in safe environments, something simple like these LED Reflective Running Bands may be all you need to consider using.
Waterproof Running Clothing
If you plan on running in weather that’s wet, it would be a good idea to consider waterproof clothing. By making sure that water bounces off your clothing, you can avoid damp fabrics and steer clear of the problems associated with that. Examples include chafing and feeling weighed down from any excess water weight.
There are two different ways you can ensure that your running clothing is waterproof.
- Specially Made Clothing- Probably the best option. Sports apparel manufacturers have gone above and beyond in making clothing for runners specially designed to withstand the elements. For example, this Best Selling Waterproof All Weather Cap has been made completely of polyester and uses a three-layer structure to keep out both rain AND snow.
- Waterproof Spray- For the most part, these sprays are made to make your running shoes waterproof rather than clothing. Running shoes are specially designed to be breathable, so it’s worth noting that any sprays you use won’t completely waterproof your running shoes. However, they may help wick water away during light rain. There are several different kinds of waterproofing spray available to buy online. Kaps Nano Protector Waterproofing Spray are a good option because they’re designed to suit most materials and are also both dirt and moisture repellant.
Running Armbands
Running armbands are a great idea for running beginners because it takes the attention away from holding your phone so that you can focus on your run. If you’re just getting into running and curious about how you should approach getting a running armband, why not check out my article on how running armbands should be properly worn? You can find it here.
Running armbands come in all shapes and sizes and offer different benefits alongside them. Whilst many come with a transparent plastic exterior touch screen, some also come with a closed-off compartment. In my experience, the best kinds of running armbands are the ones that come with the ability to use your phone screen whilst running.
The running armband should also come with the following:
- Additional Storage- Many running armbands are equipped with compartments made for essentials like your keys.
- A Stretchy Strap – that can easily fit around your arm. Plenty of elasticity is also important for runners flexibility.
- Strong and Sturdy Velcro- A common problem with running armbands is that the strap can come undone mid-run. Make sure your velcro is properly attached to your arm.
- A Headphone Port- if you are considering running with wired headphones.
Many armbands are available on the market that offer plenty of features that can come in handy for runners. Suppose you’re looking for a running armband that delivers on the features described above. In that case, I’d recommend choosing the Gratin Running Armband. Make sure that the running armband is suitable for your phone size before purchasing.
Hand Warmers
For the colder months, it’s important to keep yourself warm when running. At the same time, you’re probably going to be reluctant to wear too many layers as this could slow you down. There is also potentially some benefit to running in colder conditions. According to experts, running in colder weather could even be better for you. This is because there is less heat from outside sources, which can be taxing o the body during exercise.
Hand warmers are a great solution for runners trying to keep warm during a workout. As they can be activated quickly and easily at any time, runners have the option of using a handwarmer only if they need to. Hand warmers are also great because they can be used on a single area of your body rather than covering the entire area.
Hand Warmers come in many different shapes and sizes, but the most common kinds of hand warmers available are Pocket Hand Warmers, which are shaped like small blocks and are a good option if you plan on keeping your hand warmer primarily in your pocket. For these, I’d recommend something like the Super champ Hand Warmers Multi-Pack.
A Fitness Tracker
Fitness trackers are fantastic for keeping track of any goals you have relating to both your run and personal health. For example, many fitness trackers can track your heart rate and calorie intake whilst also taking your weight into account. They can also use maps and GPS to track the exact number of miles you have run.
It’s worth noting that when I say a fitness tracker would be a good thing to take on your run, I’m referring to anything from an app on your phone to a Fitbit. Personally, I like to use the free version of the Adidas Running App. However, if you’re looking for something more specialist, the Fit Bit Charge 4 is an amazing tool for runners which comes with built-in GPS and the ability to track your heart rate in real-time.
A Torch
Also essential for anyone running in dangerous conditions. In addition to reflective clothing, a torch is a brilliant tool to not only help guide your way during a run but also help make you easily visible.
The big issue with using a torch when running is that if you’re attempting to carry it by hand, it can seriously interfere with your workout. For this reason, most runners opt for a torch that comes with a strap. Examples include:
- Head Torches – Designed to strap on to your head. An upside to using these designs is that the torch is directly in your eye-line, meaning that it probably offers some of the best visibility for runners. The downside is that your head will move around a lot whilst exercising, so a steady ray of light might be out of the question in this case. Amazon’s Choice for a head torch is the Everbeam H6 Pro. Although it’s waterproof and shatterproof, I think the really cool thing about this product is that it has a wave motion sensor so that you don’t need to take it off your head every time you want to turn it on or off.
- Body Torches- Usually come with two lightweight straps, one going diagonally over the shoulder and the other going around the abdomen. In contrast to head torches, body torches are less likely to give you a direct line of light but are also more secure and less shaky as the body remains in a stiller position. If you’re interested in using a body torch for your runs, I’d recommend something like the Icoco Pro Run Light. This nifty headtorch was designed to be as comfortable as possible whilst providing up to 30 metres of light. It also offers a light that goes around your back, which looks like a brake light, excellent for visibility!
First Aid Kit
Like it or not, injuries are a common risk for most sports. This includes running. Some of the most common injuries that you can pick up from running mostly impact the body’s lower section, including the knees, lower leg, upper leg, feet, hips, ankles, and lower back.
If you become injured mid-run, there may not be much you can do besides get yourself home and spend some time treating the injury. However, by arming yourself with a first aid kit, you can still have a fighting chance at any problems that might be harming your overall performance, such as cuts and blisters.
When looking for a first aid kit, I’d recommend going for something small and compact that can be carried easily without being a burden. The Guards Mini First Aid Kit is a brilliant idea for anyone to carry with them when they’re out on the move. At a size of 10x10x5cm, this first aid kit can fit conveniently into a pocket. An instant cold pack, emergency blanket, LED torch, face shield, adhesive plasters, bandages and safety pins are just a few examples of what’s included.
