Which hydration accessory should you choose on race day?

Whether it's a trail bag, a belt or a simple flask attached to your wrist, there are a multitude of accessories to help you stay hydrated during your EcoTrail Paris race. At first, the choice may seem complicated, but in the end it's very easy to select the most suitable equipment if you take a number of parameters into account: course distance, altitude difference, objectives, comfort, etc.

To help you make this difficult choice, Salomon has designed this special EcoTrail Paris hydration guide, which we hope will be very useful on D-day.

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Running the 45km or 80km EcoTrail Paris

For the 2 long-distance races of the EcoTrail Paris, the choice is quickly made! Whatever your level, your objectives or the altitude difference, you'll need to opt for a hydration vest. Why should you? Because long distances mean longer runs, which means you'll need to hydrate and feed yourself between the various refreshment points, and you'll need more equipment to adapt to the weather conditions. To do this, you'll need plenty of space and pockets to store your flasks, food, appropriate clothing such as a windbreaker or spare socks, and of course all the mandatory equipment such as a survival blanket.

There are several sizes, such as 5-liter jackets more suited to the 45 km and 12-liter jackets (including the latest ADV Skin 12), ideal for the 80 km EcoTrail Paris. However, it's all a question of preference, feeling and, of course, weather conditions. If the weather is very changeable, with rain and sunshine (and therefore requiring adaptation), it's best to have a 12-liter for the 45 km to store extra equipment.

You are running the 30 km or 35 km GTNS Access of the EcoTrail Paris

There are several schools of thought here, but it all depends on your objectives, the gradient and the estimated running time.

For the 30 km, if you're confident of crossing the finish line in under 2 hours and 30 minutes, a belt with a flask on the wrist will do the trick. With its gentle gradient, this race is all about speed. And where there's speed, there's a need to be lighter, and therefore to carry as little weight as possible on your shoulders.
And if you're not planning to blow your "PR", we recommend you take a hydration vest.

For the 35 km GTNS Access, as the gradient is greater, a hydration jacket will be more appropriate. However, if you're used to running with a belt over this distance and gradient, as some Salomon athletes are, don't change your habits... you can't change a winning team.

You are taking part in the 10 km or 18 km EcoTrail Paris.

For short formats, there are no strict rules. As mentioned above, it all depends on how much time you've planned to spend, or on your own preferences and habits.

If you're comfortable and confident in your performance, a belt with a wrist flask will suffice.

If you haven't yet got to grips with these distances and want to take your time, a hydration jacket will be perfect for you.

We hope you find this Salomon mini guide useful!

And of course, never test your equipment on race day. Train well beforehand to develop your own habits, such as knowing where to find your vitamin bar or reusable cup directly.

Don't hesitate to ask for advice at your nearest Salomon store or from other runners. Any advice from experienced people is good to take.