Nearly 800,000 French people are trail runners. Trail running is a sport practised in the great outdoors, both in the mountains and in the countryside. Trail runners are looking for the great outdoors and the chance to challenge themselves. They share strong values such as mutual aid, humility and environmental protection. On Ekosport, you'll find all the equipment you need for trail running: trail shoes, clothing, trail poles, hydration bags and even a connected sports watch.

Why trail running?

Trail running is attracting more and more people of all abilities. A few years ago, the sport was relatively unknown. With the emergence of social networks and the media coverage of major races such as the UTMB, people has realised that they can train even in the city, enjoy immersive experiences in the heart of nature and run just for the fun of it. The big advantage of trail running is that it's a sport that's accessible to all budgets, as all you need is a pair of trail shoes and you're ready to hit the trails. The benefits of trail running are numerous: reconnecting with nature, challenging yourself, improving your physical and mental condition, conviviality, etc.

Essential equipment for trail running

Trail running is a fairly minimalist leisure sport, but requires more equipment and gear if you're going to compete over long distances or in winter. If you're running short distances and in summer, you'll need trail shoes suited to your stride type, trail clothing (shorts, T-shirt, sports socks) and hydration accessories (hydration bag or water bottle belt). For more regular running, particularly in the mountains and over longer distances, it's essential to equip yourself with safety accessories such as a GPS watch, a headlamp, a first-aid kit and a pair of sunglasses. For ultra-trails, i.e. long-distance races, you'll need a trail bag with sufficient capacity to guarantee your autonomy in terms of water, warm clothing (waterproof trail jacket, choker, mittens, etc.) and food.

Criteria for choosing trail equipment

To choose the right trail equipment, you need to take into account your level of ability and the distance you will be covering. During competitions, the organisers provide a list of compulsory equipment. As far as footwear is concerned, brands offer trail shoes for men, women and children. There are many criteria to take into account when choosing the right model: drop (difference in height between the front of the shoe and the heel), cushioning, quality of the outsole, quality of the mesh (waterproof or breathable shoes) and the weight of the shoe. To find out more, see our help page for choosing your trail shoes. Before buying a trail bag, also known as a hydration pack, you need to think about the amount of water you need. For nature races of less than 42 km, a hydrobag of less than 10 litres is sufficient. But if you're tackling longer distances, there are trail bags from 10 to 30 litres that will allow you to be self-sufficient. When choosing your clothing, look at the technical solutions offered by the brands: light, breathable trail clothing for summer, warm, waterproof trail clothing for mid-season or a windproof trail jacket.