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The right marathon running gear is the gear that works for you, your running and the demands of your training.
There are plenty of ways to prepare for 26.2 miles, and what works for one runner won’t necessarily work for another.
With members of our team preparing for marathon race day, we asked them what they’re actually using throughout their training - from running shoes and clothing to accessories and fuel. More importantly, we asked what they’ve learnt along the way.
Meet the runners
Louie
4 years of running | 2 marathons completed | Target: Sub-3 hours
"I am running a marathon to push myself and to have a target. I am a very driven person and find myself thriving when I have a physical goal to strive towards.”
Sandie
6 years running | First marathon | Target: Finish strong and enjoy it
“As it’s my first marathon and a beautiful route, my main goal is to finish it and enjoy myself.”
While their goals and experience are different, both have developed a clear idea of what they want from their kit.
Marathon Running Gear | The Running Shoes Carrying the Miles
There isn’t one best marathon shoe.
The more useful question is: which shoe works best for the way you run and train?
Both Louie and Sandie use different shoes for different types of running, rather than expecting one pair to do everything.
Louie’s rotation includes the New Balance 1080 V15 for easy runs, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 or Endorphin Elite for faster sessions, and the On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper for long runs.
“The 1080s are a very versatile all-rounder easy day shoe.”
For faster sessions, he looks for something lighter and more responsive.
“They are very light, responsive, and have a snappiness to them that I like on my session days.”
For long runs, cushioning and stability become more important.
“They are also very stable for a max cushion shoe which is good to keep my lower leg injury at bay.”
Sandie has developed a similar approach. Her rotation includes the Saucony Triumph 24 for easy and long runs, the Nike Vomero Plus for progressive long runs and RunClub sessions, and the New Balance Rebel v5 for shorter, faster intervals.
For her, cushioning has become particularly important.
“The main thing for me is a good amount of cushioning.”
Having experienced knee pain in firmer shoes, she now looks for a cushioned, bouncy neutral shoe for longer distances.
“A bouncy, cushioned, neutral shoe works best for me, especially going longer distances.”
The specifics of their rotations are different, but the principle is the same: different runs can benefit from different shoes.
What should you look for?
If you’re not sure where to start, our three road running shoe categories can help narrow things down: Float Experience, Enhanced Energy and Connected Experience. Think of them as a simple way to understand the different types of ride, feel, and benefits before finding the shoes that work best for you.
You might want:
- A cushioned, comfortable shoe for easy and recovery runs.
- A responsive option for tempo runs, intervals or marathon-pace work.
- A well-cushioned shoe for longer sessions when comfort becomes increasingly important.
- A race-day shoe that suits your running and feels familiar at faster paces.
The takeaway: There’s no single formula for a marathon shoe rotation. The best setup is one that gives you the comfort, support and responsiveness you need across the different demands of your training.
Marathon Running Gear | The Clothing that Keeps You Comfortable
When you’re running for several hours, comfort becomes performance.
Both Louie and Sandie look for lightweight, breathable clothing that fits well and doesn’t distract them from their running. But they also highlight something that becomes increasingly important as distances increase: storage.
Louie uses the INOV8 Elite Race Belt on longer runs to carry water, gels and additional layers. When he doesn’t want to use a belt, he turns to shorts with integrated storage.
Sandie prefers the Ronhill Tech Race Shorts for long runs, particularly because of the accessible gel loops, while the adidas adi365 2-in-1 Shorts give her enough storage for shorter runs without needing a belt.
It’s a small detail, but one that has changed how she thinks about running kit.
“It has taught me the value in having extra storage in shorts and how confident a comfortable kit can make me feel.”
Both have also found that the right fit can make kit almost disappear during a run — which is exactly what you want.
Louie puts it simply:
“Good fitting clothing/equipment is so important to avoid chafing or bouncing when you run.”
Then there’s the weather.
A lightweight, packable rain jacket can be useful when conditions change, while knowing when not to add another layer can be just as valuable. One of Sandie’s lessons from training was learning that an extra layer can quickly become something you have to carry.
“Wearing an extra layer and then having to carry it after 1km.”
Her solution? A better warm-up before heading out.
What should you look for?
Look for clothing that is comfortable, breathable, lightweight and suited to the conditions, but also think about how you’ll carry your phone, gels, water and extra layers.
The right combination is the one that fits comfortably, manages moisture and temperature, and gives you the storage you need without becoming a distraction.
Marathon Running Gear | Running Accessories
Or the small things that become significant. Marathon training has a way of turning small details into big ones.
A pair of socks you barely notice on a short run can become essential on a long one. A pocket that sits in the wrong place can become irritating after an hour. And something as simple as a hat, sunglasses or anti-chafing product can make a difficult run considerably more comfortable.
For both Louie and Sandie, socks have become an important part of their regular kit. They both use Hilly Marathon Fresh, with Sandie particularly valuing their breathability and blister protection.
“I couldn’t go a run now without wearing a pair of good running socks.”
Louie’s long-run essentials include his race belt and VAGA cap, alongside sunglasses and headphones.
Sandie has also added Body Glide to her regular kit, particularly when conditions are warmer or wetter.
These aren’t necessarily the pieces of kit you think about when you first start marathon training. But that’s part of the lesson.
The longer you run, the more valuable it becomes to solve small problems before they become big ones.
Think about what you need to carry, where it sits, how it feels against your skin and what might happen if the weather changes.
Marathon Running Gear | The Nutrition Behind the Miles
One of the biggest lessons both Louie and Sandie have taken from marathon training is just how important fuelling becomes as the distances increase.
Louie admits he didn’t expect one thing in particular:
“The amount of gels needed to fuel long runs!”
Sandie has found that fuelling has become an important part of being able to maintain distance and pace. She currently rotates between Maurten Gel 100 and TORQ gels, including flavoured and unflavoured options to keep things varied.
But the important part isn’t necessarily which gel you choose.
It’s finding what works for you and practising with it.
Long runs are an opportunity to test your fuelling strategy just as much as they are an opportunity to test your shoes or clothing. How often do you want to take fuel? What can your stomach tolerate? How will you carry it? What will you do when the weather is warmer?
These are questions worth answering before race day.
Sandie’s advice is straightforward:
“Experiment with different clothes and gels and see what works.”
Conclusion
If there’s one thing that comes through from Sandie and Louie’s marathon training, it’s that choosing marathon gear isn’t about finding a perfect list of products.
It’s about finding your setup.
Louie has learnt that increasing mileage means going through shoes faster than expected. Sandie has learnt the value of good storage and comfortable kit. Both have found shoes that suit different types of training, and both have discovered that fuelling becomes increasingly important as the miles build.
Use your training to experiment, find what works for you, and enjoy the process. Getting to 26.2 miles isn’t just about the finish line - it’s about everything you learn, experience and enjoy along the way.
