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Completing the Marathon des Sables 120km Edition – The Essential Gear That Survived the Sahara
From the Garmin watch that maintained its charge throughout to the sleeping mat that provided minimal comfort, Rod Ardehali provides a comprehensive review of the equipment that endured one of the world's most challenging footraces.
Rod Ardehali Tuesday 03 February 2026 09:20 GMT
These were the items that transformed the experience from unbearable to manageable – and in certain moments, even enjoyable (Marathon Des Sables).
The Marathon des Sables has earned its reputation – with considerable justification – as the planet's most demanding footrace. The Morocco 120 edition condenses the original challenge into four intense days covering 120 kilometres, yet still delivers sufficient scorching heat, shifting sands and self-imposed hardship to make participants question their fundamental life decisions. Competitors carry their entire survival kit on their backs, sleep in exposed bivouacs, ration tepid water and become expert calorie trackers. There's absolutely no space for luxury items. Every piece of equipment must justify its inclusion – not merely regarding weight, but also psychological impact. Choosing an extra pair of socks might mean sacrificing your cooking stove. Opting for a plush sleeping mat could cost you the energy gels you'll desperately crave by the third day. Once you've struggled through your initial sand dune with backpack straps digging into your shoulders, your priorities narrow to absolute essentials: prevent chafing, avoid fainting, maintain salt levels.
I entered the Sahara Desert with a meticulously curated backpack and emerged with strong convictions about Velcro fastenings, zip durability, fabric breathability and powdered nutrition. The desert environment inevitably shapes such perspectives.
These were the items that made the gruelling experience manageable – and occasionally, surprisingly pleasant. What performed effectively. What fell short. And what equipment I'd confidently select again should I ever consider repeating this extraordinary challenge.
1. Garmin Enduro 3
A dependable watch proves almost as crucial as proper footwear in the Sahara environment. Runners need accurate information about their last hydration point, distance to the next checkpoint, and for many participants, their pace across soft sand terrain. Inaccurate data leads to poor decisions. A watch that loses power midway through a stage isn't merely inconvenient – it can disrupt timing strategies or, worse still, compromise Strava documentation.
The Garmin Enduro 3 appeared specifically engineered for this event. During four continuous days of GPS tracking, heart-rate monitoring and repeated sunlight exposure checks, the battery showed minimal depletion. Solar charging maintained power throughout daylight hours, while the display remained perfectly visible even under intense glare. Metrics including heart-rate zones, recovery estimates, pace measurements and ascent data stayed consistently reliable. Despite thick sand, heat distortion and perspiration, satellite connection never faltered. Additionally, the Velcro strap provided secure grip while remaining soft enough to prevent any skin irritation.
The verdict: Exceptional performance. A watch you completely stop worrying about represents the ultimate compliment in ultramarathon circles.
£770 £649 from Blacks.co.uk
Prices may vary
2. Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Classic SD
Victorinox's compact knife proved its worth multiple times daily. It efficiently opened paracetamol foil packaging, food packets, trimmed loose threads and cut tape, while occupying negligible space. When obsessed with weight conservation, this represents precisely the type of tool that demonstrates its value without adding burden.
The verdict: Compact, indispensable and flawless.
£25 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
3. Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20
Comfortable, breathable and lighter than many standard Marathon des Sables options, Ultimate Direction's Fastpack 20 sits high on the back and distributes weight effectively. It presents a sleeker appearance than the WAA pack favoured by most competitors, though features more complex strapping. The additional straps and toggles became somewhat fiddly after several days, particularly when fatigued. Nevertheless, it avoided rubbing, pinching or collapsing under load.
The verdict: Stylish, lightweight and generally dependable, though occasionally frustrating.
£123 from Ultramarathonrunningstore.com
Prices may vary
4. Arc'teryx Norvan Trail Jacket
The Sahara doesn't maintain consistent heat. During the hour preceding sunrise, temperatures become almost cold, with competitors spending these early moments preparing mentally, boiling breakfast and organising equipment. A lightweight layer makes these rituals tolerable and prevents heat loss before the day properly begins.
The Arc'teryx Norvan Trail Jacket proved ideal for this purpose. It provides wind resistance without feeling clammy, offers breathability when movement starts and packs so compactly it becomes virtually invisible within your bag. I wore it every morning. It eliminated morning chill, didn't adhere to sweat and never felt like unnecessary weight. When the sun rose and temperatures soared, it packed away instantly.
The verdict: Among the finest early-morning equipment I selected. Lightweight, reliable and brilliantly designed.
£400 from Arcteryx.com
Prices may vary
5. Arc'teryx Cerium
Temperatures decline significantly after sunset, making the Arc'teryx Cerium useful. It provides warmth without bulk, compresses compactly and survived repeated stuffing into dusty backpacks. Realistically however, it's probably more beneficial for events featuring greater wind and chill factors. Contrary to some online suggestions, you can likely attempt the MDS without a midlayer if your outer layer performs adequately. I'd unquestionably take this on alpine expeditions, but for high-temperature events, it represents luxury rather than necessity.
The verdict: Expensive, excellently crafted, though not essential for the MDS.
6. Huel Black Edition
Liquid calories feature commonly during the MDS. Consuming food in 47°C heat often feels impossible, making Huel Black serve as both breakfast and occasional recovery nutrition. The macronutrient profile is excellent and digestion remains steady, even when appetite disappears. The drawback involves water temperature. Everything you drink becomes warm in the Sahara, making Huel preparation a psychological challenge. It remained functional and predictable – which matters most – though the taste shifted towards functional rather than enjoyable after several days.
The verdict: Reliable and effective, though less satisfying than chewable meals after stages. A valuable safety net.
£34 from Huel.com
Prices may vary
7. Expedition Foods Freeze-Dried Meals
Calories matter more than flavour here, though taste still assists when exhausted and dehydrated. Expedition Foods became our bivouac's unofficial morale booster. Lightweight, calorie-dense and simple to prepare, they provided genuine comfort following lengthy stages.
The Thai green chicken curry consumed after the marathon stage represented the entire week's highlight. Even simpler options fulfilled their purpose: delivering concentrated, digestible calories without stomach upset. They compressed efficiently and rehydrated rapidly, even with warm water.
The verdict: My most effective food item. I should have packed more.
£12 from Expeditionfoods.com
Prices may vary
8. Vallon Heron Desert Sunglasses
Designed specifically for ultra-endurance events, Vallon Heron sunglasses achieve perfect balance between comfort, coverage and optical clarity. The wraparound frame remained secure during hours traversing dunes and rocky terrain, while anti-fog lenses handled sweat and temperature variations impressively.
Critically, the Category 4 tint provided essential protection against Sahara sunlight – sufficiently dark for harsh glare yet maintaining sharp vision during dawn and dusk. A strong contender for MDS runners seeking performance without bulk.
The verdict: Lightweight, secure and effective against desert glare.
£135 from Vallon.com
Prices may vary
9. Puresport Electrolytes
Electrolytes aren't optional during the MDS. I packed one sachet per alternate checkpoint – a definite mistake. In 47°C heat, you require minimum one per checkpoint. Without sufficient salts, your body cannot properly absorb water, leaving you feeling like a sloshing water container. The watermelon flavour proved easiest to consume and provided welcome relief from warm water taste.
The verdict: Absolutely vital. Pack more than you imagine necessary.
£20 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
10. Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 25F Sleeping Bag
Night temperatures don't reach freezing but can feel sharp, particularly when your body experiences extreme stress. The Big Agnes sleeping bag delivered proper warmth and comfort, facilitating overnight recovery. The material feels soft, insulation performs reliably and it handled sand, sweat and condensation effectively. The compromise involves weight. For general camping, I'd recommend it unreservedly. For the MDS, you could select lighter options and conserve valuable grams.
The verdict: Excellent quality sleeping bag, though heavier than required for this race.
£500 from Alpinetrek.co.uk
Prices may vary
11. Exped Flexmat M Sleeping Mat
The Exped Flexmat M sleeping mat surpasses nothing, though only marginally. It kept me off the ground and added minimal cushioning – sufficient for sleep. You feel every ridge and contour beneath you, though it endured, packed quickly, never tore and eliminated concerns about inflatable mattress punctures.
The verdict: Functional though spartan. Don't anticipate comfort.
£29 from Ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk
Prices may vary
12. Adidas Adizero Running Kit
The Adizero vest (£34, Adidas.co.uk) and long-sleeve top (£60, Adidas.co.uk) represented two of my most valuable apparel selections. They wick sweat efficiently, dry rapidly and feel incredibly lightweight beneath a backpack. The shorts performed well too, though material around the drawstring began tearing faster than anticipated.
The Adidas Terrex Soulstride Flow trail running shoes I wore proved reliable and responsive without losing energy. Relatively inexpensive, I'd read that soft sand and relatively slow race pace meant expensive technical trainers weren't essential. This proved accurate. Excepting the final day's hard-baked earth running, sand remained forgiving and temperatures prevented sustained fast running (for me at least...).
The verdict: Excellent kit with minor durability concerns.
£30 from Adidas.co.uk
Prices may vary
13. MDS Desert Gaiters
The MDS desert gaiters are robust, though absolutely require professional stitching by a cobbler before travel. Attempting this in Morocco will have you searching for needles, thread or, as some fellow racers discovered, staple guns. Or worse, emptying sand from your trainers every hundred metres.
The verdict: Essential equipment, though prepare them properly.
£21 from Waa-ultra.com
Prices may vary
