Raidlight, specialist in trail gear for the desert, develops and designs products adapted to desert races, especially stage races, like the Marathon des Sables® or the Half Marathon des Sables®. Every trail runner can gear up according to their race format, balancing lightness, technicality, and comfort. From the Saharan cap to desert gaiters, including the trail pack, everything is designed to help the runner face the harsh conditions of the desert environment.
In this type of race, equipment is crucial and decisive. It can be a true ally or, on the contrary, a real burden. Choosing trail running shoes for a desert race is very important. An unsuitable shoe could put you in trouble and jeopardize the success of your desert adventure.
What type of shoes?
If you hesitate between trail shoes and road shoes, both can indeed be suitable. However, since you don’t know in advance the type of terrain you’ll face, it’s better to go for a trail shoe that will give you the grip needed on the most technical sections. Trail shoes are more versatile and will adapt to all the terrain types you’ll encounter. So it’s a much wiser choice.
👉 And to meet these criteria, we developed a model made for the long haul: the Ultra 4 shoe.
Its injected EVA sole and foam pads provide all the comfort you’ll need. Whatever the length of your effort, you’ll feel the comfort of this shoe throughout your race.
Another important point is moisture management in the shoe, especially for a race taking place in the desert… The Ultra 3.0 trail shoe has no lining, so that’s one less layer, allowing the mesh to better wick away sweat.
Finally, the Ultra trail shoe features Matryx technology, an ultra-resistant mesh reinforced with 19 Kevlar threads. This guarantees your trail shoes stay in good shape for a long time. All these features make this shoe the ideal choice for long or stage races, like the Raidlight Desert Trophy.
Which size to choose?
The shoe is one thing, but choosing the right size is also very important.
In trail running, we always recommend taking one size larger than your usual size. For desert races, don’t hesitate to go 1 to 2 sizes up. With the heat and the accumulation of kilometers, feet tend to swell a lot.
Having a bit more space will allow your foot to swell without feeling cramped and to breathe better. Finally, if you need to put on a support bandage, dressing, or k-taping, you’ll only be able to do so if your shoe has enough room. Also keep in mind you’ll have to wear your shoes several days in a row. It’s very likely your foot won’t have time to deflate between stages.
How to install desert gaiters?
Desert gaiters are essential to keep sand out of your shoes. Raidlight desert gaiters are compatible with all shoe brands.
👉 Raidlight extends its desert race expertise and now offers installation of your desert gaiters. Find all the info on the dedicated page.
- Your gaiters come with a roll of Velcro. The inside of the gaiters is also covered with Velcro.
- To fix the gaiters, ask your cobbler to sew the Velcro strip (and definitely not glue it) around your shoes, just above the sole. For optimal protection and durability, it’s essential to have them sewn, as glue won’t withstand the abrasion caused by sand. Be careful not to overlap the strip by wrapping it multiple times around the trail shoe and don’t leave any excess. The Velcro must go strictly around the shoe once.
- To put on the desert gaiters, position the Velcro inside the gaiters onto the one previously sewn on your shoes.
- You’re now ready to face the desert!
For more tips, don’t hesitate to check out the other blog articles!
