What Runners Should Pack When Traveling

Runners love to run when traveling. There’s the joy of discovering scenic routes in exciting new places, plus the fact that it’s the least complicated physical activity to do when on a trip. 

This article is all about the gear a runner needs to pack for a trip, plus other considerations for the running traveler. There are the essentials, and then items that are optional or context dependent, based on weather, type of trip, and the nature of the running that will be engaged in. 

Issues to Consider in Advance

Before deciding what gear to bring, there are a few considerations that will heavily influence the planning. Here are the main things: 

• Weather. The weather at your destination will be a key governor of what to bring. Pro Tip: Always bring one layer more than you think you need. You never know! If going for more than a week, be familiar with the temperature ranges at that time of year, and precipitation frequency & type.
• Season. The season will be a factor – independent of weather – mainly due to day length considerations.
• Type of running you’re planning on doing. Different gear will be required depending on whether you’ll be road running or trail running…or sticking to the treadmill! Also, if you’re planning on a longer run in an unfamiliar environment, you need to consider the hydration/nutrition/bathroom situation.  

The Essentials

The running essentials for a trip are pretty simple: appropriate running shoes, socks, tops, & bottoms. Weather is the major governor of the type of top and bottom required. Unless it’s guaranteed hot weather, think in terms of layers, and plan for temperatures that can vary 20°F from the seasonal average. 

If temperatures will be cold (as in, below 40°F), think about a hat or something to cover the ears, and gloves.

Wet weather running gear is the other consideration. Always err on the side of caution – you never know! 

If you normally have eyewear for running, such as sunglasses or prescription eyewear, remember those too! And also bring any other gear that is part of your regular running routing, such as a phone holder or running belt. 

Pro Tip: One extra consideration when traveling — and different from home — is the need for a pocket, at the very least for items such as hotel room key, ID, and so on. 

Optional Items

Any gear other than the ‘essentials’ depend on the individual runner, and the type of running they’ll be undertaking. 

If planning on a longer run, say more than five miles, the following items should be considered:

• Hydration belt or your other, ‘familiar’ method of making sure you’re properly hydrated. This is especially important if in an unfamiliar location or unfamiliar route, since the water and bathroom situations might be unknown.
• Something with a pocket. When traveling, runners might have to have a hotel room key, ID card, money, and so on in a different way than if running from home.
• Battery Charger. It’s best to make sure your phone, running watch, and so on are as fully charged as possible when running on a trip. There are just more variables involved, and you don’t want to be in a depleted battery situation. If going on a longer run, a portable battery charger (and cable!) might be needed. 

Context-Specific Items 

This last category applies to the type of running you will be doing. 

If trail running for example, there’s a host of gear specific to that activity that trail runners need to consider. Those doing long runs or ultras are usually pretty knowledgeable about their specific needs to undertake those activities safely and effectively. 

Weather and type of terrain are the other variables that might require specific type of gear. For example, think about whether you’re likely to be running when it’s dark, cold, hot, humid, wet, icy, or snowy! or other type of situation where particular gear or planning is needed.  

Finally, length of trip is a variable! If going for longer than a few days, do you need more than one top/bottom/socks? This also of course depends on the laundry situation. A good travel item for runners is a laundry sheet (to avoid over-purchasing at the destination!) or a bit of soap or powder for a hand wash situation. 

Happy traveling!