Ultra Sierra Nevada 2026
Recommended gear
Essential equipment for tackling Ultra Sierra Nevada. High-mountain terrain with stretches above 3,000m.
Trail shoes, hydration vests, trekking poles, waterproof jackets and the rest of the gear you need. Every recommendation is tailored to the race's specific terrain: high-altitude scree in Sierra Nevada calls for very different shoes than a forest trail in the Basque Country.
Mandatory gear required by the organisation
The Ultra Sierra Nevada organisation requires this gear. Check official rules before race day.
- ✓ cortavientos — Essential above 3,000m
- ✓ frontal — With a spare battery for the night (Required for: Ultra 100K, Marathon 42K)
- ✓ guantes — Nights are cold at 3,000m
- ✓ silbato
- ✓ manta termica
- ✓ mochila hidratacion — Minimum 1L of water
Recommended products
Salomon
Race pickSalomon Speedcross 6
Salomon's most versatile trail shoe, ideal for technical terrain and mud. Exceptional grip with Contagrip sole and EnergyCell+ cushioning.
Strengths
- + Agarre excepcional en barro y terreno técnico
- + Protección de puntera reforzada
- + Sistema Quicklace cómodo y rápido
- + Drenaje de agua eficiente
Watch out for
- − Durabilidad media en asfalto
- − Horma algo estrecha para pies anchos
Black Diamond
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z
Ultralight carbon Z-pole foldable trekking poles. 137 g per pole in 110 cm length, 33 cm folded. EVA grip and adjustable strap. The trail running reference.
Strengths
- + High-quality carbon, ultralight (137 g per pole in 110 cm)
- + Compact 33 cm folded length: fits any ultra pack
- + Lightning-fast Z-pole deployment in a single move
- + Non-slip EVA grip even with sweaty hands
Watch out for
- − Fixed sizes, not adjustable
- − Carbon = more fragile than aluminum in hard falls
Altra
Altra Lone Peak 9
Trail running shoe with zero drop and wide FootShape toe box that allows natural toe splay. 25 mm stack with EGO foam for balanced cushioning without losing ground contact. MaxTrac outsole with 3.5 mm lugs, ideal for non-technical trails, forest tracks and long-distance paths.
Strengths
- + Zero drop (0 mm): natural foot posture with no heel elevation
- + Wide FootShape toe box: toes splay freely with every stride
- + 25 mm cushioning: enough protection without isolating from the terrain
- + Lightweight (315 g men's, 263 g women's)
- + Breathable seamless mesh upper
Watch out for
- − 3.5 mm lugs insufficient for deep mud or wet rock
- − Not suitable for very technical terrain or skyrunning
- − Requires adaptation period if coming from high-drop shoes
Specific tips for Ultra Sierra Nevada
- • Shoes with good grip are a must for rocky and snowy sections
- • A windbreaker and gloves are essential, nights are cold at 3,000m
- • Poles are recommended for the Ultra 100K
- • Headlamp with a spare battery for the night sections
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