What to pack · Costa Blanca Trail Camp

Obligatorio we check for it on day oneRecomendado you’ll be gladOpcional your callObvio you were bringing it anyway

3 items

FeetLos pies

Marina Alta trails include rocky limestone, loose stones and uneven ground. Winter rain can make the rock slippery. Bring trail shoes you trust.

Trail shoeszapatillas de trailOur honest opinion, as promised: anything on a Vibram Megagrip outsole. Hoka, NNormal, La Sportiva, Scarpa, Merrell and Saucony all make one, and the yellow octagon on the sole is the tell. Grip beats cushion here. Worn in, with at least 100 km on them, and nothing bought the week before. Unsure? Photo of the sole in the group chat and we’ll tell you straight.ObligatorioEvery day
Running socks, five pairscalcetinesThe pair you race in, times four days on the trails, plus one spare for the day the sea gets in. Merino or synthetic. Cotton is how blisters start.Recomendado
Blister kitapósitos para ampollasCompeed or the tape you already trust, plus a small tube of anti-chafe. We carry a full kit, but your feet know your brands.Recomendado

3 items

Back and handsLa espalda y las manos

Plan for around 2–4 hours on the trails. The winter routes are still being finalised; we will confirm the kit and water needed for each day.

Running vest with two soft flaskschaleco de hidratación con dos frascos blandosBring a vest you have already run in, with room for water, food, warm layers and safety kit. We will confirm water requirements for each route and the weather.ObligatorioEvery day
PolesbastonesIf you use poles, bring them. If you are unsure, ask us during the pre-camp group session before buying anything.RecomendadoTrail days
A small bag for the caruna mochila pequeñaDry top, sandals, towel, the post-run snack. It waits in the van at the trailhead while you’re up on the ridge.Opcional

8 items

LayersLas capas

Winter can bring mild sunshine, cold wind, cloud and rain. Pack layers for exposed ridges and for stopping, not just for running.

Wind shellcortavientosPackable, hooded if possible. It lives in the vest every day, worn or not. This is the one a Spanish race marshal checks at the start line, so consider us the marshal.ObligatorioEvery day
Sun protection: cap, SPF 50, lip balmgorra, crema solar, protector labialWinter sunshine still calls for sun protection. Pack a cap, sunscreen and lip balm.ObligatorioEvery day
Waterproof jacketchubasqueroBring a waterproof jacket with taped seams. We will check the weather together and confirm what to carry each day.Recomendado
Long sleeve or light mid-layermanga larga o capa intermediaA warm layer for shaded trails, exposed ridges and stops. Bring layers you can carry comfortably in your vest.Recomendado
Sunglassesgafas de solLimestone glare is real. Ones that stay on your face when you look down at your feet, which you’ll be doing a lot.Recomendado
Neck tubebraga de cuelloNeck warmer at eight, sweat rag at noon, hat under the hood if it turns, pillow on the flight home. Weighs nothing.Opcional
Light glovesguantes finosBring gloves for cold or windy winter mornings, especially if your hands get cold easily.Opcional
Run kit for four daysropa de correrWhatever you train in: shorts or tights, tops, sports bras, the socks from above. Four sets covers the week. Pack for warm afternoons and cool starts, and nothing cotton on the trail.Obvio

6 items

Safety kitMaterial de seguridad

Spanish races call this the material obligatorio and check it at the start line. We’re gentler: we check it at our base on day one, then trust you.

Emergency blanketmanta térmicaThe foil one. Fifty grams, lives at the bottom of your vest all week. If you’ve never used one, good. Keep it that way.ObligatorioEvery day
Phone, chargedmóvil cargadoFull battery every morning, with the group chat, our numbers and 112 saved. Keep your phone available for emergency calls.ObligatorioEvery day
Personal medsmedicación personalAnything you take, plus whatever you’d want at 2pm on a ridge: your inhaler, an antihistamine, an anti-diarrhoeal, the painkiller you trust. Tell us on the call what’s in there. Nobody else needs to know.ObligatorioEvery day
WhistlesilbatoMost vests have one sewn into the chest strap. Check yours. If not, any two-euro whistle from a sports shop is fine.Recomendado
HeadlampfrontalWinter days are short. Pack a charged headlamp as a precaution, even though we plan to run in daylight.RecomendadoTrail days
Small power bankbatería externaBring a small power bank and cable for longer days.OpcionalTrail days

2 items

FuelLa comida

Bring food you already know works for you on longer runs. Final food inclusions will be confirmed with the winter dates.

Familiar trail foodtus geles de siempre, solo si tu estómago mandaIf you prefer a particular brand or food, bring it. We will confirm what is provided before you travel.Opcional
One real-food treatalgo de comida de verdadSomething you enjoy eating during a few hours outside. We make time for food stops.OpcionalTrail days

5 items

PapersLos papeles

Spain is an ID culture. The pharmacy wants it, the clinic wants it, the car-hire desk wants it, the race marshal wants it.

ID card or passportDNI o pasaporteThe real one for the flight, obviously. A photo of it on your phone for the trail, and a paper copy in your vest.Obligatorio
Travel insurance that covers trail runningseguro de viajeInsurance is mandatory for camp and it needs to cover trail running, which some cheap policies file under “mountaineering” and exclude. Read the small print, or send it to us and we will. Policy number and the emergency line saved in your phone.Obligatorio
EHIC or GHIC cardtarjeta sanitaria europeaEU and UK runners: it gets you treated at the public clinic in Dénia like a local. Everyone else: your insurer’s card does the job.Recomendado
A little cashalgo de efectivoTwenty euros in small notes. The village bar on day two takes cards in theory.Opcional
Arrival details, sent to uslos datos de llegadaLet us know where you are coming from. We will confirm arrival dates, meeting points and transport details once the winter plans are final.Obvio

8 items

Off the trailFuera del sendero

Warm clothes, comfortable shoes and time to rest at the hotel. Shared and private room options are planned; final details will follow with the dates.

SwimsuitbañadorFor the hotel spa. We will confirm the facilities and what to bring before camp.ObligatorioTrail days
Quick-dry toweltoalla de secado rápidoUseful after wet trails or a spa visit. We will confirm what the hotel provides.RecomendadoTrail days
Sandals or recovery shoeschanclasYour feet file a complaint on day three. Sandals for our base, the van, the beach and the massage table.Recomendado
A warm layer for eveningsalgo de abrigo para la nocheWinter evenings can be cool. Bring a warm layer for time outside and relaxed evenings.Recomendado
Loose shorts for massage dayropa cómoda para el masajeIf you choose to book a massage, comfortable loose clothing is useful. Final inclusions are still to be confirmed.Opcional
Ear plugstapones para dormirChoose a shared or private room when booking opens. Pack ear plugs if they help you sleep, in either room type or while travelling.Opcional
Plug adapteradaptador de enchufeSpanish sockets are the round two-pin European kind, 230 V. Most of Europe plugs straight in. UK, Irish, US and Swiss plugs need an adapter.Opcional
Notebook and penlibreta y boliFor ideas from conversations on the trail, or a few quiet notes about your days. Phone notes work too.Opcional

Six things

Leave at homeDéjalo en casa

Lighter bag, better week.

Brand-new shoes
The wrong pair at 180 euros is a real risk. The right pair with zero kilometres on it is a blister risk. Buy early, run them in, or run in what you have.
Hiking boots
Ankles get stronger by moving, not by being strapped. Boots also weigh a kilo you will feel on every step of 1,200 m of climbing.
A hydration bladder
Fine on flat trails. Choose a system you can refill easily and use comfortably on the trail.
Cotton, anywhere near the trail
It holds sweat, it chafes, and it’s freezing the moment you stop on the ridge. Save it for dinner.
A packed schedule
There is time between mountain days to rest. You do not need to fill every hour.
The idea that you’re the slowest
Someone will be. She gets one of us beside her on every climb and the same paella at dinner.

Six words

Spanish you will hear on the ridgeUn poco de español de montaña

Nobody needs Spanish for this week. These six make the trail funnier.

Vamoslet’s go, come on
You will hear it from Monika roughly every four minutes. It’s encouragement. Nobody’s complaining.
Sendathe path, the trail
“La senda va por ahí”: the path goes that way. Said with confidence, sometimes correctly.
Cuidadocareful
Usually shouted about two seconds after it would have been useful. Slow down when you hear it anyway.
Fuentespring, water point
The one word on this list that changes your day. Village fountains are drinkable unless a sign says no potable.
Cumbresummit
The top of a mountain. Our winter routes will be confirmed closer to camp.
Bajadadescent
Downhill trail sections. We share what helps us move with more confidence.

Cortavientos, manta térmica, silbato, móvil. That’s what the marshal at a Spanish race asks to see at the start line. Now you know what she’s saying, and you already own all four.

Something missing from this list, or something on it you disagree with? Say so in the group chat. Both of us have packed this list wrong more than once.