Photos © Josuef Photos, Franck Oddoux, Marta Bacard for Cimbaly / MDS
Marathon des Sables (MDS) is a race where you can come out physically washed up but mentally stronger. As an eight-time finisher heading to my ninth start of this stage race happening in the Sahara in Morocco in a couple of days, I can share with you how I try to improve my gear every year. As you’re about to see, outdoor companies from across the globe are incredibly resourceful.
I eat British.
That is hard to admit for a Frenchman. For me, the best dehydrated food on the planet is from Great Britain. This is a country that, from a French perspective, has terrible food. So how on Earth can the Brits come up with excellent dehydrated meals? I wish both Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot would join forces to answer that question.
My brand of choice: Expedition Foods
My products for MDS: I use one 800kcal pouch in the morning and one in the evening. My breakfast favorites are the hot cereal with mango, and the porridge with strawberries and blueberries. My favorite for dinners is chicken tikka, chicken korma and Thai green curry.
Price: Around $10.50 per meal
Info: expeditionfoods.com
My gaiters are French.
Every year, I see friends in this race struggle with their gaiters. It’s a decisive issue. Sand will get everywhere if your gaiters are not secured, and you will have the hardest time going on with the stages each day. Some days are sandier than others, but overall, it’s very dusty and not having the right set of gaiters is detrimental, forcing you to trek or crawl. I’ve been there once. It’s a painful memory. There is only one good type of gaiter for this race: Raidlight. Other brands may carry a similar product, but this simple and robust design is what you should look for. Important: you will need to find a shoe repair store ahead of the race to both sew and glue the Velcro band all around your shoe.
My brand of choice: Raidlight. This small French company is led by an ultrarunner and multiple-time finisher of the MDS. They’ve been crafting products specifically for desert races for years.
My products for MDS: Guêtres Désert
Price: $44
Info: raidlight.com/products/guetres-desert
My trekking poles are from Utah.
I used them on mountain ultra-trail races such as UTMB and 6000D in Europe but have never carried them in the desert. Everyone who’s tried trekking poles in trail running knows they make a big difference. Since I’m now doing MDS by immersing myself in the desert at my own pace, enjoying the camaraderie more than any ranking or timing, I’ve decided to try them.
My brand of choice: Black Diamond. It originated with Yvon Chouinard, also the founder of Patagonia, and has been a very reliable brand for hard goods since Peter Metcalf, a core climber, took over as CEO (2010).
My products for MDS: Folding poles are a must since you need to travel on planes. Full carbon is lighter and more comfortable, so it all comes down to what you can pay.
Price: $140–$210
Info: blackdiamondequipment.com
My headlamp is also French.
Runners are required to carry a headlamp in this race. What you want is a combo of minimum weight, eventually rechargeable (see below) and a red light so you can use it in the dark without waking up your seven tentmates. The tents are a bit small for eight people and you’re almost certain to be touching your comrade’s sleeping bag at night.
My brand of choice: Petzl. I would argue that Petzl is the number one company in the world for headlamps, but since I’m French you’ll assume I’m biased. I am not.
My products for MDS: Petzl Actik Core (600 lumens, 88g, 3oz)
Price: $80
Info: petzl.com
My compression gear is Australian and Swiss.
I was introduced to compression 15 years ago and have had time to feel the difference. Not only is it scientific and works both during intense workouts for shock absorption and as a recovery tool, but it’s also very comfortable in the heat as it brings a cool feeling to the body. Wearing compression gear makes me feel protected and cared for, which is a morale boost. My bottom layer is a compression short from the Australian brand 2XU (two times you). My second product is called the Full Leg and it’s a pair of stockings, or sleeves, that compress your entire leg, from upper thighs to lower calf. It’s designed as a recovery product, so I’ll use it at night to sleep in (yes, it does look funny to me). My third compression product is a new lightweight breathable calf sleeve also from Compressport. I have been wearing calf sleeves during my Ironman triathlon “career” years and slowly introducing them to my ultrarunning habits. It also works as sun protection.
My brands of choice: 2XU, Compressport
My products for MDS: Light Speed Compression Shorts, Full leg compression leg sleeves, R2 Oxygen
Price: $85 (2XU) / $95 (Compressport) / $50 (Compressport)
Info: us.2xu.com, compressport.com
My sleeping set is Japanese.
This is a daring experience, but it worked for me last year. Usually, the sleeping bag takes up a lot of space in your backpack, which is annoying considering this is a self-sufficient event where they only provide water for the seven days of racing. I talked about my sleeping bag which was the size of a pair of socks last year. Because it’s not breathable (imagine sleeping in a plastic bag), I’ll use it as an outer bag instead of a sleeping bag. This year, I am introducing a made-in-Japan version of a lightweight outer bag from Montbell that I’ll use as my sleeping bag. Are you following me? I’m simply reversing the usage of those two products.
My brands of choice: Delmera, Montbell
My products for MDS: Delmera Emergency Sleeping Bag, Breeze Dry-Tech sleeping bag cover
Price: $9 (Delmera) / $129 (Montbell)
Info: amazon.com, montbell.us
I protect my eyes with Italian design and California engineering.
As a surfer, snowboarder and skateboarder, I grew up with Oakley revolutionizing sport sunglasses designs in the early 1980s. While living in Dehli, India, in 2012, a pair of Oakleys saved my eye when I accidentally hit a sharp branch with my face while trail running. I got stitches on my nose and cheek, but my right eye was saved by the strength of my lenses. There are many legit sunglasses brands out there, but because of my accident and how this Italian company focuses on design and impact resistance, I’ll forever be faithful. Also, in 2009, I was in Iraq as a reporter, and relied on a pair of ballistic goggles and M Frame® from Oakley’s military-graded line (oakleysi.com). Last, but not least, I live an hour away from their iconic American headquarters in Lake Forest and I’m happy to shop locally.
My brand of choice: Oakley
My products for MDS: Encoder with Prizm 24k Lenses
Price: $255
Info: oakley.com
I run in style with my long-sleeved shirt from California.
Based in Santa Barbara, Rabbit was started by two women and is a clothing revolution for running. I have worn their products since day one and both their feel and their durability are very good. I also love how creative they are. I’ve adopted a running shirt for MDS for a few years for two reasons: I can protect my arms from the sun when I need it the most, and I can stash stuff in the two chest pockets. My other brand of choice for running shirts is Patagonia, but they have fishing shirts not running shirts. They’re not as breathable.
My brand of choice: Rabbit
My products for MDS: High Country Long Sleeve Flannel
Price: $85 (check out their sales: they always have discounted running shirts)
Info: runinrabbit.com
My tech is from Utah and California.
I couldn’t run a 155-mile stage race without music or podcasts in my ears. As a journalist, I also need to make videos and take pictures on the go. In my opinion, Apple has created a monster of an outdoor product with its latest versions of the iPhone (you can’t email with a GoPro and send pictures or videos). I won’t use the AirPod Pros this year, they’re too expensive and I’m afraid of losing them. I’m adding a protective case for the phone from Pelican as well as a solar charger from Goal Zero. I secure it on the tent canvas as soon as I’m back to camp every night.
My brands of choice: Apple, Pelican, Goal Zero
My products for MDS: iPhone 13 Pro Max, EarPods, Shield case black Kevlar, Nomad 5
Price: from $699 (Apple) / $19 (Pelican) / $60 (Goal Zero)
Info: pelicanphonecases.com
My two backpacks are French and from California.
My experiment this year is to copy what Netherlands runner Ragna Debats did at MDS 2019 when she won: exchange her mid-size backpack in the middle of the race for a much smaller one. I’ll start with a 25L pack, which is already small if you consider all your food and other compulsory gear, but an ideal size for an experienced MDS runner. I will then change after three days right before the long stage (stage 4) and the marathon and final stage of the race (stage 5). Camelbak is very trustworthy with bigger packs, and Salomon is the best in the world for smaller, lightweight racing styles.
My brand of choice: Camelbak, Salomon
My products for MDS: Octane 25, ADV Skin 12
Price: $145 (Camelbak) / $160 (Salomon)
Info: camelback.com, salomon.com
Gaël Dutigny is a French journalist living in Southern California who has finished 8 Marathon Des Sables and 17 Ironman triathlons, as well as 4 UTMB. So far, his minimalism gear strategies for MDS and stubborn French mind have paid off. You can cheer for him during MDS and send him messages of love on the race website marathondessables.com/en. The race organizers print all messages sent to participants and distribute them every night after each stage. Aren’t they sweet? Gaël is bib 819. Merci beaucoup!