Raidlight, specialist in trail running gear for the desert, develops and designs products tailored for desert races, especially stage races like the Marathon des Sables® or the Half Marathon des Sables®. Every trail runner can equip themselves according to their race format, balancing lightness, technical features, and comfort. From the Saharan cap to desert gaiters, including the trail running backpack, everything is designed to help you 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 the right trail running shoes for a desert race is very important. An unsuitable shoe could put you in difficulty and jeopardize the success of your desert adventure.
What type of shoes?
If you hesitate between trail running shoes and road running shoes, both can indeed be suitable. However, since you don’t know in advance the type of terrain you will face, it’s better to go for trail running shoes that will provide the necessary grip on the most technical sections. Trail shoes are more versatile and will adapt to all types of terrain you encounter. So it’s a much wiser choice.
👉 And to meet these criteria, we developed a model made for long distances: the Ultra 4 shoe.
Its injected EVA sole and foam pads provide all the comfort you’ll need. Whatever the duration of your effort, you’ll feel the comfort of this shoe throughout your race.
Another important point is moisture management, especially for a race in the desert… The Ultra 3.0 trail shoe has no lining, which is one less layer, allowing the mesh to better evacuate 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 condition 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 itself 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. Also, if you need to wear a support bandage, dressing, or k-taping, you can only do so if your shoe has enough room. Keep in mind you’ll be wearing your shoes for several days in a row. It’s very likely your foot won’t have time to shrink between stages.
How to install desert gaiters?
Desert gaiters are essential to prevent sand from getting into 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 information on the dedicated page.
- Your gaiters come with a roll of Velcro. The inside of the gaiters is also covered with Velcro strips.
- To fix the gaiters, ask your cobbler to sew the Velcro strip (do not glue it) around your shoes, just above the sole. For optimal protection and durability, sewing is essential because glue doesn’t withstand the abrasion caused by sand. Be careful not to overlap the strip by wrapping it multiple times around the trail shoe and avoid leaving any excess. The Velcro must go strictly around the shoe once.
- To put on the desert gaiters, align the Velcro inside the gaiters with the one previously sewn on your shoes.
- You’re now ready to face the desert!
For more tips, don’t hesitate to check out our other blog articles!
