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Tough Guy gear
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I know this is ages off (end of Jan 2013!) but I wondered if anyone had any recommendations for what gear to wear for Tough Guy?
It's going to be cold. In and out of cold water and standing around waiting to get over obstacles.
I was thinking thermal everything - socks, leggings, top, hat and gloves. And probably get thermal compressions leggings and top. But everything is going to get wet, so I need quick drying stuff.
I'm thinking of buying it soonish, as it might all get wrecked on the Tough Guy course, and if I've bought it now then it won't feel so new in January!!
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Comments
i just used old running shorts and the top i got from sports direct, champion brand, its like a tech fit thing so its not loose (the course i ran had under barb wire crawls, loose clothing was not a good idea)
it only cost me like a tenner.
use old kit that you'd happily throw away after and something that it pretty abrasion resistant as you will be in very close contact with a lot of the obstacles
the twice I've done it I wore a Helly Hansen long sleeve top with an old cotton T over. some people swear by surfing rash vests as they can be warmer. on the legs, lycra running shorts and some old nylon football or rugby shorts over the top. and get some fingerless gloves as you'll be using ropes and climbing generally so these will help protect - fingerless biking gloves or gym gloves will do.
don't worry about quick drying - you won't be out of water/mud long enough to get dry!!!
and get some shoes with grip - fell running shoes like those from Inov8 or Walsh are best as they have soles that work in mud. and get laces that don't come undone when tied - and even then double knot them. decent wool rich socks will help keep the feet warmer.
be prepared to get cold and keep moving - the longer you hang around wet through, the colder you're going to get
a hat's good but be prepared to lose it at some point - you'll usually find another lying around to put on!!
after all that - it's great fun!!
Have a look at photos of last year's event to see the various outfits of choice.
There's always at least one nutter doing it in a mankini!
Symmsie as others mentioned no way would i blow any cash on "special gear" for TG wear your old stuff cos at the end it will be knackered or at the very least caked in mood and unwashable, just wear a long sleeve shirt and shirt on top not cotton or anything that would hold water . If you have supporters let them carry a change of hat and gloves for you so that you can put dry ones on when you have done most of the water jumps the change will warm you up, Alot of it is down to your training, a couple of weeks before the event get down to your local lake after a run when you are warm jump in a couple of times and just keep doing it till you are knackered honestly this works prepares your body and your mind so it isn't such a shock on the day
when i did this it was freezing cold, the first ones round literally broke the ice for those that followed. i wore tight technical 'helly hansen' type top, gloves, tight neoprene 'wetsuit style' shorts and inov8 mudroc 290's. i also wore a cycling skull cap and swimming hat and certainly didn't overheat. might also be worth wearing knee protection as mine got really banged up
I did a similar run this summer and just did it in 'normal' running gear i.e. a technical short sleeved top, tri shorts and shorts and trail shoes. The temperature was little milder than it'll probably be in January, but it was still a filthy day. Cold, pouring rain and very windy.
I found that at this race, there wasn't too much hanging around and after 5 minutes you were soaked to the skin anyway. I'd be careful of wearing too much and certainly wouldn't wear anything new/ expensive as I saw a lot of people with ripped gear. I'd also be prepared for a lot of cuts and bruises, I swear I've still got scars on my legs from it.
I'd agree about knee protection.
Oh, and Steve, what on earth are neoprene shorts ? Is this some specialist
fetish gear that you want to share with us ?
neoprene shorts - used by surfers, bodyboarders, swimmers who want a bit more water resistance, fetishists, incontinents etc...
keep your bits nice and toasty
Done it three times (last 3 years), and doing 2013 too. Only ever in normal running shorts and vest. I can't therefore comment on other suggestions, but nothing has made me want to try any other type of clothing because TBH the cold only kicks in as a serious problem *after* you're soaking wet, so anything thick and heavy will do virtually nothing useful prior to the water and be an absolute nightmare afterwards. I have nothing but respect for the lunatics who try it in fancy dress, but it must be horrific (the big stuff that is - those who run virtually naked are probably no worse off than anyone else). Obviously neoprene would be a different matter, but then I kind of think that's not the Tough Guy 'spirit' - the event isn't really intended to be something a bit like a triathalon - it's all *about* the extreme conditions, rather than trying to avoid them.
The biggest mistake I made the first time (and never again!) was to not arrange quick access to a towel and lots of thick dry clothes after the race. My bag was with a friend and I was semi-hypothermic trying to find them for about 15 minutes - the worst part of the day by far! Pack a bag with lots of warm clothes and make an accurate mental note of exactly where you left it, rather than leaving it with a friend - it's so busy and maze-like around the finish you might not find each other quickly.
Fingerless gloves are essential for the ropes, but you can buy these on the day.