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What to pack for a gravel race

A full race-day checklist — tools, food, clothes, documents, and the small extras most first-timers forget until they need them.

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On-bike repair kit

  • Multi-tool with chain breaker
  • 2 tubeless plugs + inserter
  • 1 spare tube (correct size)
  • 2 CO2 cartridges + inflator, or mini pump
  • Tyre levers (x2)
  • Quick link for your chain
  • A short length of duct tape wrapped around a tool

Hydration & nutrition

  • 2 x bottles (one water, one electrolyte mix)
  • 60-90 g of carbs per planned hour (gels, chews, bars)
  • 1 emergency bar + 1 emergency gel beyond your plan
  • Salt tabs if it's hot or humid
  • Hydration pack (1.5-2 L) for long or remote routes

Clothing & body

  • Kit you've raced or trained in — nothing new on race day
  • Gloves (full-finger if it's cold or rocky)
  • Light rain shell if rain is even a possibility
  • Sunglasses + clear or photochromic lens backup
  • Chamois cream
  • Sunscreen (apply before start)

Documents & comms

  • Phone in a small zip-lock bag
  • Photo ID + a low-limit bank card
  • Race bib / wristband
  • Emergency contact written on the back of your bib
  • GPS / head unit with the course pre-loaded

Easy-to-forget extras

  • Anti-chafe balm
  • Lip balm with SPF
  • Painkiller (paracetamol or ibuprofen)
  • Plasters / blister patches
  • Toilet paper / wet wipes in a small bag
  • Spare cleats or pedal-fix bolts (long events)

Packing checklist by race distance

The longer you're out and the fewer aid stations there are, the more you carry. Use the list that matches your race, then check the organizer's required-kit list, which always takes priority.

Short races (under 60 km, roughly 2–3 hours)

  • Two bottles; aid stations usually cover refills
  • 2–3 gels or a bar per hour of riding
  • Plug kit, one tube, CO2 or mini pump, multi-tool
  • Phone, ID and card in a small zip-lock bag
  • Skip the hydration pack and spare layers unless the forecast says otherwise

Browse gravel races under 50 km →

Long races (100–200 km, roughly 5–10 hours)

  • Everything from the short list
  • Fuel for every hour, plus one extra gel and bar in reserve
  • Electrolytes or salt tabs for each bottle refill
  • Light rain shell or gilet that packs into a jersey pocket
  • Second tube, extra plug strips and a quick link
  • Drop bag (if the event offers one): spare bottles, food, dry socks, chamois cream
  • Charged front and rear lights if you could finish near dusk

Browse gravel races 150 km+ →

Ultra and self-supported (200 km+ or overnight)

  • Everything from the long list
  • Water capacity for the longest gap between taps on the route
  • Bags (top tube, frame or saddle) so nothing rides in your back pockets all day
  • Bright front light with spare battery or dynamo, rear light, reflective layer
  • Power bank and cables for GPS, phone and lights
  • Warm layer and long-finger gloves for night temperatures
  • Small first-aid kit, spare brake pads, tyre boot
  • Cash for shops and an offline copy of the route

Browse ultra-distance events →

The night before

  • Charge GPS, phone, lights and electronic shifting
  • Load the course on your head unit and check it opens
  • Check tyre pressure and top up sealant if it's been more than a few months
  • Pin your number, fill your bottles, lay out your kit
  • Mix bottles and pack food into pockets or bags in the order you'll eat it
  • Check the weather once more and decide on layers
  • Re-read the start time, start location and parking instructions

Related reads:

Find a local gravel raceTrain for your first raceChoosing gravel tyres

Gravel race packing — FAQ

Do I need a backpack for a gravel race?

For races under 4 hours with aid stations, two bottles plus on-bike storage is usually enough. For long or remote events, a hydration pack (1.5-2 L) is worth carrying for water, extra food, and a light shell.

What tools should I carry on a gravel race?

A multi-tool with chain breaker, two tubeless plugs, one spare tube matching your tyre size, two CO2 cartridges + inflator (or a mini pump), tyre levers, and a quick link for your chain.

How much food and water should I pack?

Plan ~60-90 g of carbs per hour and 500-750 ml of fluid per hour in warm weather. Carry one extra gel and one extra bar beyond your plan — aid stations sometimes run out of your preferred flavour.

What's the one thing most first-timers forget?

Chamois cream, sunscreen, and a small zip-lock bag for your phone and ID. They take five seconds to pack and rescue your day if it rains or you bonk.

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