Uphill, they help you move forward. Downhill, they stabilize your stride. But between two sections, where do you store them?
Quiver, belt, or directly on your trail vest… Here’s how to carry your trail running poles properly, without losing time or comfort.
The Trail Quiver: Practical and Accessible
The trail quiver is a textile tube attached to your pack or belt, where you store your folded poles.
Its purpose: to let you take them out or put them away in a few seconds, without stopping or removing your pack — a real time-saver on technical terrain.
The Advantages of the Quiver
- Practical: quick access, ideal when you frequently switch between carrying and using your poles.
- Lightweight: weighs only a few grams and quickly goes unnoticed.
- Stable: properly positioned, it stays close to your back, without swinging or rattling.
How to Use the Quiver
- Place the tips downward to avoid damaging your jacket and to make removal easier.
- Adjust the height of the quiver according to your body shape: too high and it bothers your shoulders; too low and it hits your hips.
- Test your setup during training on varied terrain to master the movement and ensure stability before racing.
Using a Raidlight Quiver
At Raidlight, we offer the Raidlight 2-in-1 Trail Quiver, an ultra-light model (70 g) with a stretch side pocket to carry a jacket or nutrition.
Its universal attachment system fits all trail packs, and its breathable fabric ensures stable support without restricting your stride.
An ideal companion for runners seeking efficiency and simplicity on technical terrain.
The Trail Belt: Minimalist and Quick to Access
The trail belt allows you to carry your poles without a backpack.
Light, close-fitting, and often equipped with elastic loops, it offers stable and quick storage, perfect for short races or training runs.
The Advantages of the Belt
- Total freedom: you run without a pack, and the poles stay securely in place behind you.
- Immediate access: you can grab them with one hand without stopping.
- Comfort: the belt supports the lower back and stays in place even on technical trails.
Tips for Using Your Trail Belt
- Always slide the poles in horizontally to prevent bouncing.
- Adjust the tension properly: too loose and it moves; too tight and it hinders breathing.
- Test it on different terrains before your race to find your ideal fit.
Using Your Raidlight Trail Belt
Our Made in France belts are crafted in our Chartreuse workshops with light and stretch materials.
They offer excellent support even when loaded, with multiple compartments for poles, flasks, or nutrition.
A perfect solution if you want to run light and autonomous without sacrificing practicality.
Carrying Poles Without a Quiver: Integrated Storage on the Pack
Some trail vests integrate a pole-carrying system directly, without quiver or accessories.
The poles are then attached on the back or on the straps for discreet and stable storage.
The Advantages of a Trail Vest
- No accessories: everything is integrated — nothing extra to add or carry.
- Balanced: the weight remains centered, without swinging.
- Simple to use: one movement is all it takes to store or retrieve them.
How to Use Your Trail Vest
- Learn the storage movement during training: it should become automatic so you don’t lose time on race day.
- Adjust the position of the attachment system based on your size and running style.
- Using a Raidlight trail vest with integrated quiver.
The Dynamic 10L pack is designed for intuitive and stable pole storage without extra accessories. Compact yet spacious, it includes a modular rear pole holder with a dorsal compression system for bounce-free support.
Its ergonomic 3D mesh harness ensures optimal ventilation and long-lasting comfort.
An ideal choice for regular trail runners or ultra-runners seeking performance, stability, and lightness.
The Right Choice: Test It During Training
Just like your shoes or pack, the carrying system must be tested before the race.
Each runner has their own body type, habits, and rhythm: what works for one may bother another.
Good Habits
- Try your quiver, belt, or trail vest on a long run.
- Observe movement behavior: bouncing, accessibility, shoulder or lower-back discomfort.
- Practice storing and removing your poles without stopping — the movement should become natural.
Why It’s Essential
A good carrying system is one you forget while running.
Tested, adjusted, and mastered during training, it becomes your ally throughout the race, with no wasted time or energy.
Carrying Your Poles with Raidlight
At Raidlight, each carrying system is designed and tested in the field by trail runners of all levels.
Our approach: lightweight, ergonomic, and durable equipment designed to support finishers on all distances. A design tested in real conditions on the biggest races. An eco-responsible and durable approach, true to our playground: the mountains.
Because in the end, carrying your poles is above all a question of balance between comfort, efficiency, and the pleasure of running.
