Race-Day Gear Checklist

How to use the Gear Checklist

Three questions, then a list you can tick off.

1. Distance. Sprint, Olympic, 70.3 or full. Longer races add items — a head torch for a pre-dawn transition, more bottles, a bigger nutrition plan — and change the notes on others.
2. Swim. Wetsuit-legal, not sure, or no wetsuit. If you don't know yet, pick "not sure" and the list will tell you to bring the wetsuit anyway. Many races only confirm whether wetsuits are allowed on race morning, once the water temperature is taken.
3. Forecast. Cool, mild or hot. This adds things like a throwaway layer for a cold start or extra salt for a hot day.

Your list is grouped by leg: race essentials, swim, bike, run, nutrition and after the finish. Each item has a short note on why it's there.

Tick items off as they go into the bag. Your ticks are saved on this device, so you can close the page and come back to it the night before. They aren't sent anywhere, which also means they won't follow you to another phone or browser. To pack on paper instead, print the list. You can also save or share the link — it rebuilds the same list from your three answers.

How to pack for race day

Pack by leg, not by drawer. Lay everything out on the floor in three piles: swim, bike, run. Add a fourth for race morning (ID, breakfast, layers) and a fifth for after the finish. Walking through the race in your head — start line, T1, bike, T2, run, finish — is the fastest way to spot what's missing.

Pack the night before, not the morning of. Race mornings start early, and you won't be thinking clearly at that hour. Bottles mixed and in the fridge, the bag by the door, the bike in the car or ready to go. Set up your watch's multisport mode the night before as well, not in transition.

Check the athlete guide. Every race has its own rules and logistics: when transition opens and closes, where you collect your chip and number, whether you need a licence, what you're allowed to leave at your spot, and whether you rack with bags or just your kit on the ground. Some longer races use separate transition bags handed in the day before. The checklist can't know these details for your race; the athlete guide does.

Keep your transition spot small. A towel to mark your space and dry your feet, shoes, helmet with the sunglasses inside, race belt with your number. You don't need a whole bag of options at your feet. Everything you lay down should have a job.

Bring backups for the small things that break. Spare goggles, a spare swim cap, spare tubes or a repair kit for your tires. These are cheap, light, and the ones most likely to end your day early.

Match the nutrition to the distance. A sprint needs very little. Longer races need a plan you've practised in training. If you haven't worked yours out yet, the Nutrition Calculator will give you a starting point to test in training, not a new plan to try on race day.

Dress for the start, not the forecast high. Race mornings are often cold even when the afternoon is hot. An old layer you don't mind donating or leaving behind keeps you warm until the start.

If your list includes a wetsuit and you still need one, the Wetsuit Finder will match you to a suit. If you're still deciding on a bike or a watch, see the Tri Bike Decider and the Watch Comparison.

Common mistakes

• Trying anything new on race day. New shoes, new gels, a new wetsuit, a new saddle. If you haven't trained with it, leave it at home.
• Forgetting the small essentials. Timing chip, race number, goggles, helmet. Races are more likely to go wrong because of something small than something expensive.
• Not checking the bike before you pack it. Ride it in race week. Check shifting, brakes and tires. Pump the tires on race morning.
• Leaving it to race morning. Packing in the dark at the last minute is how the goggles stay on the kitchen table.
• Overpacking transition. Extra bags and spare kit take up your neighbour's space and slow you down while you decide what to use.
• Ignoring the forecast. Cold and wet days need warm layers for the start and finish; hot days need sun protection and more fluids and salt than you'd think.
• Skipping sunscreen. You're outside for hours, even on grey days. Put it on before you put on your wetsuit or tri suit, not after.

FAQ

What do I need for my first triathlon?

Less than you'd think. Goggles, a swim cap (usually in your race packet), something to swim, bike and run in (a tri suit is easiest), a roadworthy bike, a helmet, running shoes, and a race belt or pins for your number. A wetsuit if the water is cold and wetsuits are allowed.

Run the checklist with "sprint" selected to see the full list with notes.

What should I put in my transition bag?

Everything you'll need for the bike and the run, plus a towel to mark your spot: helmet, bike shoes, sunglasses, run shoes, race belt, socks if you wear them, and any nutrition you'll carry. Keep spare goggles in the bag too. Check the athlete guide for what you're allowed to leave at your spot.

Do I need a tri suit?

It's not essential, but it's the simplest option. You can swim, bike and run in it without changing. Otherwise, wear something comfortable that you can swim in and that won't get waterlogged, and practise in it before race day.

What should I eat on race morning?

The same breakfast you've eaten before long training sessions — race day is not the day to experiment. Leave enough time to digest before the start. For fueling during the race, the Nutrition Calculator gives you a plan to practise in training.

What if I don't know whether the swim will be wetsuit-legal?

Bring your wetsuit. Races and federations set a water-temperature cutoff, and many races only announce the decision on race morning. The race's athlete guide will explain how it's decided. Choose "not sure" in the checklist and it will keep the wetsuit on your list.

Does my checklist save?

Yes, on the device and browser you used. Your ticks are stored locally and aren't sent to us, so they won't appear on another device. Print the list or save the link if you want it elsewhere.