Spine Race Winner's Kit List

By Damian Hall & Jack Scott

Spine Race Kit List - From 2023 Top-Two Damian Hall & Jack Scott

INOV8 athletes Damian Hall and Jack Scott both broke the men’s course record when finishing first and second in the 2023 Spine Race. Dubbed ‘Britain’s Most Brutal Race,’ the 268-mile ultramarathon saw runners battle their way up the Pennine Way trail amid savage winter conditions.

Following an epic battle, Damian eventually prevailed in 84hrs 36mins. Damian and Jack finished side-by-side, with Jack having 41 minutes added to his finish time following a navigation error that led to him taking an accidental shortcut.

But what kit did they both use to tame one of the world’s toughest ultra running events? Read on.

Damian and the one pair of shoes he used for the 268-mile race. Photo by inov-8.

SHOES

Damian: I wore one pair of ROCLITE ULTRA G 320 from start to finish. No real foot issues is the holy grail for the Spine. So very happy there.

Jack: I wore three pairs throughout the race – the ROCLITE ULTRA G 320 for the first 106 miles, then the ROCLITE G 275 for 60 mid-race miles, before shifting to the X-TALON 255 as we got further north and the snow deepened.

I have worn these shoes for all sorts, from winning 4-mile fell races to covering huge distances. The way they held up and felt after so many miles in such deep snow was superb. In my opinion, the most versatile shoe on the market, and my favourite!

Jack making his way through the market town of Hawes. Photo by Tanya Raab.

JACKETS

Jack: To succeed at the Spine you need convenience and comfort. The best bit of kit for me was the VENTURELITE jacket. The huge front pockets allowed me to have vital things I needed to hand without having to wear a waist pack. I stuffed food, a map, extra gloves and more into the pockets.

It’s designed as a hiking jacket but for the added protection and feel you get, it’s well worth any extra weight. I also used the older PROTEC-SHELL jacket. The Spine isn't about stats and figures, you need to be comfortable and keep moving.

Damian: I love the head protection and comfort of the older PROTEC-SHELL so I used that again. My THERMOSHELL PRO insulated jacket was used a lot more than anticipated, often worn underneath my outer shell for extra warmth. I really missed the THERMOSHELL PRO when I left it behind for one of the sections.

Damian battling the deep snow and icy winds. Photo by Steve Ashworth.

OTHER INOV8 KIT

Damian: The WINTER TIGHTS were brill, the right balance of warmth, breathability and flexibility for me. My bumbag (WAIST PACK) was really useful for quickly accessing food and my WRAGS were brill too – their versatility helping keep me warm around my neck and head.

Jack: The waterproof TRAILPANT worked superbly and kept me warm and protected, and my hooded TECHNICAL MID-LAYER stood the test as an extra layer having proven great in training too. I used an older 25-litre pack to give myself plenty of space and to avoid restricting myself. I know Damian used a 15-litre pack, and I could have risked it, but for me I feel I made the right decision and enjoyed having the extra space.

I also loved the EXTREME BEANIE HAT which was comfortable, breathable and warm, helping keep me protected when it was blowing -16C on Cross Fell. I didn't put my sleeping bag in a dry bag, so when I pulled it out to sleep at Middleton it was very damp. I ended up sleeping under my THERMOSHELL PRO jacket, which was warm and dry.

NON-INOV8 KIT

Jack: My Petzl NAO+ headtorch was brilliant. When the wind was blowing – when the batteries could have failed due to the wind chill – it stood strong and did its job. A pair of poles is crucial in a race of this length, and I picked up my Black Diamond Carbon Z poles up at Hebden Bridge. They stayed strong all the way till Byrness where unfortunately one snapped. I’d had them four years and I'm blaming Mr Hall for pushing the pace and making my pole technique resemble something like Mr Blobby under pressure! I also used some heavy-duty socks when temperatures really plummeted.

Damian: The Petzl NAO+ headtorch was dependable and bright, yet again. Leki poles were essential. My Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar did fail on me at one point, but was generally a big help with nav.

A kind support team member uses warm water to help remove Jack's frozen shoes at the end of the Spine Race. Photo by inov-8

DROPBAG LUXURY

Damian: Veloforte (chocolate) Recovery Protein Shakes were yummo.

Jack: A towel to dry my feet and some chilli beef jerky.

THE SHOVEL ON THE KIT LIST – DID YOU USE IT?

Jack: I was planning on digging a hole, ambushing Damian up on The Cheviots when he came streaming past and pushing him in. However, the ground was frozen with deep snow, so I accepted second place and that was that. If I had a bigger shovel or better digging aid it could have been nasty.

Damian: Mind your own business!