On my feet, I will wear waterproof boots for much of the race. But the Inov-8 Roclite 288 GTX — a high-top with a flexible sole and sticky-rubber tread — weigh half what traditional hiking boots might clock on a scale. With such lithe boots, you trade some support and protection for faster feet. It’s worth it in a race.
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Finding the right outerwear and apparel for Patagonia is a major challenge. My team has decided on tops and base layers from Ibex Outdoor Clothing. The company uses a fine merino wool that is viable across a range of temperatures. It retains some warmth when wet. It breathes when your body is hot. After years of testing every type of fabric on the market, old-fashioned wool is still a top choice when I race.
My mountain bike, the Giant Athem X1, is a fast and speedy iron steed. This high-end bike has dual suspension to take in the bumps. But for long cross-country segments, it is made to be efficient on flat ground and long climbs. I have ridden the X1 for three months of training and have come to appreciate its mutability across a spectrum of trail types.
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In icy Patagonian waterways that might include the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel, my team is not compromising on the gear. We will paddle two-person Necky Amaruk kayaks and stay outfitted the entire time in dry suits and hoods. We will paddle with gloves and booties on. The waterproof suits — Kokatat’s Gore-Tex Front Entry models — should keep us safe in the worst case of a capsize in the waters at the end of the world.
—Monitor Regenold and Team Gear Junkie at https://gearjunkie.com/patagonian-race.
