- Mudder Guide: Chapter 3.2 -
Which running gear is right for Tough Mudder?
Aside from the right shoes, you’ll need proper running gear for Tough Mudder. Good running gear should fit these criteria:
It should be:
- Tightly fitted. Otherwise, it’ll soak up to much water and mud.
- Made from breathable material.
- Water-repellent and quick to dry.
- Sturdy and easy to clean.
We chose our own gear by these rules, and we weren’t disappointed.
Aside from these general points, we created a few tips on how to choose the right shirt, shorts and socks. In our Mudder Stuff section, you can find links to products you can trust. This will shorten your search tremendously.
Running shirt
On a warm day (60° and above) we recommend wearing a tank top or a short-sleeve shirt. Those will dry up the quickest, and they are very comfortable – you’ll hardly feel them. After washing the shirt, it’ll be as good as new.
Should the weather gods have a bad day and you have to run when it’s below 60° and/or rainy, or if you don’t like large amounts of mud on your skin, then you should go with a long sleeve shirt that will keep your body warm.
You can find proper shirts for women and men in our Mudder Stuff.
Running shorts
In moderate to warm temperatures, we recommend wearing shorts. They provide more comfort, and long pants would be too warm. Some mudders prefer to wear shorts that are a little longer and protect the knee.
If you have to run your Tough Mudder in cold weather, long pants might be an alternative, too. The cold is an enemy you mustn’t underestimate, and you should prevent your body from hypothermia.
Of course, you should wear functional clothing, not something people wear in Siberia.
You can find proper pants for women and men in our Mudder Stuff.
Underwear
Now to a point many fail to consider: What good can your quick-drying running shorts do, if you’re wearing cotton underwear? Not much! There are definitely more pleasant things than wet underwear.
We recommend wearing bathing trunks or a bikini bottom underneath your running equipment. In combination with your running shorts, long modern bathing shorts will scratch heavily.
Therefore, we recommend staying with the tight old-fashioned version – nobody will notice anyway.
Women should remember to wear a sports bra that suits the criteria we mentioned in the beginning of this article.
As always, you can find a selection of proper underwear for women and men in our Mudder Stuff.
Running socks
When running 12 miles, don’t cheap out on running socks.
A triathlete told us to wear two pairs of socks to prevent blisters and use the created friction to automatically dry the socks faster. We can’t tell you for sure whether it actually helped or not, but it didn’t hurt.
Try both options during your preparation phase and go with the one you like most.
Whether you should pick long or short socks depends on your personal preference. Even though long socks increase blood flow, most runners wear short socks.
You can find a selection of good socks in our Mudder Stuff.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article helped you. If you have any questions, want to tell us your opinion, or disagree with us on something – why don’t you write us an email? We’d be happy to hear from you!
