Mandatory Gear List
The mandatory equipment is divided into two categories, equipment you and your team must carry at ALL times, and equipment you and your team must carry during a specific DISCIPLINE. It is not a list of what you should take, just the mandatory items that you must take for injury and short term survival purposes. Checks of mandatory equipment will occur during the race and missing equipment may result in penalties or disqualification as per the Race Rules. General Notes:
- Mandatory Personal Equipment is divided into two categories. Items that MUST be carried by each team member at all times (not passed to team mates to help lighten the load) and personal equipment that may be shared. Despite the rule that states that team mates stick together at all times, teams frequently get separated and the gear you carry at all times will help you survive and be located should you find yourself detached from your team.
- Mandatory Team Equipment can be shared any way a team likes
- Do not carry any prohibited items as outlined in the Race Rules
- Make sure you have all Mandatory Gear before you leave a TA otherwise tough penalties may be applied and you may not be permitted to continue on the course until absent item is located
| Mandatory Personal Equipment – on each person at all times | ||
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
| Whistle | 1 | Pea-less so it functions when wet. Easy accessible at all times |
| Official Race Bib | 1 | Must be worn at all times as the outermost garment |
| Waterproof Jacket | 1 | Should be modern, breathable, technology. Must be seam sealed |
| Long Sleeve Top | 1 | This first layer garment must be of a thermal material e.g. polypro or wool, not cotton. Short sleeve top with full length arm-warmers is acceptable. |
| Mandatory Personal Equipment – may be carried by any team member | ||
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
| Headtorch | 1 | Must be working when checked |
| Survival Bag | 1 | Silver foil type. Enclosed bag style only – no foil blankets |
| Hat | 1 | Warm, beanie type, not cotton. Polypro, thermal, merino as a minimum |
| Waterproof Trousers | 1 | Should be modern, breathable, technology. Must be seam sealed |
| Long Pant Bottom | 1 | This first layer garment must be of a thermal material e.g. polypro or wool, not cotton. Shorts with leg warmers is not acceptable |
| Warm Top | 1 | Long sleeve fleece of ‘200’ weight rating or synthetic/down jacket with equivalent fill power or greater |
| Gloves | 1 | Long fingered, polypro, thermal, merino as a minimum |
| Mandatory Team Equipment – carried at all times | ||
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
| First Aid Kit | 1 |
SEE NOTE BELOW
|
| Compass | 2 | Southern Hemisphere variety |
| Pocket Knife | 1 | Minimum 2 inch blade, sharp enough to cut rope or webbing in an emergency |
| Spare Headtorch | 1 | To serve as back up to 4 personal headtorches |
| Tent | 1 | The tent (carried as an emergency shelter) must be rated at least 3 seasons. Must have a sewn in floor. Waterproof single skin tents acceptable, double skin recommended. Must be sufficient size for all team members to fit inside, this will be tested. Must include all poles, pegs and ropes. No bivy bags |
| Sleeping Bags | 4 | Must be proper sleeping bags. No bivi bags, blizzard bags, top bags or wraps. Must include synthetic or down insulation and be full body length |
| Route Book, Maps, Race Passport | – | Route Book and map of area you are in must be carried at all times. Control Card/Race Passport information will be released in the pre-event briefing |
| GPS Tracker and Emergency Beacon | 1 | Provided by the organisers. Must be carried as specified by officials at all times |
| Strobe Light | 1 | Must be white light, high intensity (e.g. Xenon strobe lamp), 360 degree visibility, waterproof to 1m or greater, visible beyond 1nm (1.9km) and with charged batteries. It can be used in an emergency situation (on both land and sea) to alert others to your location. Headlamps or cycle lamps that flash are not acceptable |
| Stove | 1 | Capable of boiling water and supporting pan (see below). Will only be carried on specific sections of the race |
| Fuel | – | Transported in suitable container. Enough fuel for Stove to boil 5 litres of water. Will only be carried on specific sections of the race |
| Pan | 1 | Capable of holding and boiling at least 1 litre of water. Will only be carried on specific sections of the race |
| Mandatory Personal Equipment – Mountain Biking | ||
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
| Mountain Bike | 1 | Mechanically sound |
| Helmet | 1 | International Safety Certification |
| Front Light | 1 | Must be working when checked. One or two white or amber headlights that can be seen from a distance of 100 metres (one of these headlights may flash). Helmet mounted lights acceptable |
| Back Light | 1 | Must be working when checked. A red rear-facing light that can be seen from a distance of 100 metres (this may be steady or flashing). Bike mounted, not on backpack |
| Reflector | 1 | You must have a rear reflector (or reflective tape) that is visible from a distance of 100 metres when light shines on it (eg a car’s headlights). This is New Zealand law and must be enforced |
| Mandatory Team Equipment – Mountain Biking | ||
| Item | Qty | Notes |
| Repair Kit | 1 | Contents optional but at least enough to mend several punctures, a slashed tyre and broken chain. We highly recommend that you carry a spare rear light as these commonly break during events and will need to be replaced before continuing in the dark |
| Mandatory Personal Equipment – Water Activities | ||
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
| Paddle | 1 | Competitors to supply their own double bladed variety. All team paddles will need to be stored together for transport and tagged with your team name and team number (available before the start). You can use a dedicated storage bag for your 4 team paddles or alternatively simply bind them together securely. Ultimately, the safety of your paddles in transit is up to you so think carefully about how they are packed |
| PFD | 1 | Buoyancy vest that is securely fitting, free of defects and with minimum 55N buoyancy – International Standard |
| Glow Sticks | – | 100mm glow stick in a highly visible position at all times (i.e. shoulder position). Attached securely to PFD day and night. Glow stick is to be glowing when dark. Multiple sticks may be required (we recommend 2 per person) |
| Dry Bag | 1 | For dry storage of equipment (we highly recommend that this is a high quality dry bag which you can fit your entire backpack inside. It is acceptable to have 2 extra large dry bags per team each capable of holding 2 backpacks |
| Spray Deck | 1 | Waterproof material, neoprene or similar. To fit cockpit size 84cm x 40cm (must be a secure fit). Note: Most teams hire these from the event organisers |
| Whistle | 1 | Fixed to PFD, easily accessible. Pea-less so it functions when wet |
| Pocket Knife | 1 | Fixed to PFD via a lanyard so that it is easily accessible and within reach at all times. Blade long enough to cut rope or webbing in an emergency |
| Helmet | 1 | Whitewater certified design with no visible signs of wear or defects. This will be used to protect your head whilst white water paddling. Certified multisport helmets such as the Scarab Kong are acceptable |
| Wet/Dry suit | 1 | Neoprene-style that has a minimum thickness of 2mm. Recommend Farmer John style. Dry-suits acceptable. |
| Mandatory Team Equipment – Water Activities | ||
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
| Throw Bag | 2 | 10 metres in length minimum, rope must float, and it must be secured to boat and easily reachable at all times. One per boat |
| Duct Tape | 1 | Roll of tape to be kept in dry bag which can be used to temporarily repair any holes, cracks or leaks |
| Bailing Device | 4 | Device for removing water from flooded kayaks. Can be hand pump or cut up milk container |
| Inflatable Pump | 1 | Pump that can be used to inflate canoes. Highly recommended that teams bring two. Details on valve fittings will be provided in Newsletter 2 |
| Glow Stick | – | 100mm glow stick attached to rear deck of each boat. Glow stick is to be glowing when dark. Multiple sticks may be required (we recommend 6 in total) |
| White Light | 2 | White light visible for 360 degrees that will need to be attached to rear of kayak during hours of darkness. Waterproof. Headtorch not acceptable |
| Mandatory Personal Equipment – Rope Activities | ||
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
| Harness | 1 | Climbing variety in excellent condition with no visible signs of wear and tear. Skimo, ski touring or ultra lightweight harnesses not permitted. Must have a proper metal buckle and be designed with rock climbing in mind |
| Carabiners | 3 | Climbing variety in excellent condition with no visible signs of wear and tear. Twist lock or screw gate acceptable |
| Slings | 2 | 120cm length (i.e., when laid out, pulled tight and measured end to end) |
| Gloves | – | Full finger coverage, leather or equivalent grip |
Note: First Aid Kit
The list above is the MINIMUM required and is in place to deal with ‘trauma’-style injuries and acute blood loss. However, by far the most common injuries or illnesses in expedition events are due to cold/heat, gastrointestinal complaints or are foot related. We highly recommend you consider, as a team, what other items you may require (electrolytes, immodium, blister dressings, foot lubricant, etc). It is important that you and your team mates take personal responsibility for understanding the practical application of the above items. In most cases you will be the first responder to any injuries within your team. We will have a number of trained medical staff positioned around the course but they are there to deal with emergencies and will not be available to deal with standard AR-related injuries such as sore feet, blisters and chaff. With a number of teams only coming together just before the event it is important that you talk together about any medical issues you may have, however personal. For those of you who have personal medication e.g. inhalers, please carry a spare with you when out on the Event (not just in transition bag). 
