The “Ultra-Technical” Marathon Gear You Probably Don’t Need
In running, there’s an unwritten rule: the more expensive a piece of kit is and the more technological promises it makes, the faster it must make you run. At the start of a marathon, you’ll occasionally, or more often than you’d think, spot that runner kitted out with every gadget under the sun. Carbon-plated shoes, “thermoregulating” tops and GPS watches capable of calculating the distance from Earth to the Moon: the sports industry keeps finding new ways to sell us the dream. Here, we’re taking a light-hearted look at the excesses of sports marketing and the high-tech gear that ultimately serves little purpose beyond stroking our ego, or emptying our wallets.
Shoes: the centrepiece
In 2025, the carbon-plated shoe is without a doubt the superstar of the marathon pack. High-performance foam, a carbon plate, thick midsoles… They were quite literally designed to propel you towards a personal best. At €350 a pair, they’d better help you smash your PB. What the marketing doesn’t tell you is that carbon-plated shoes are no substitute for training or endurance. In other words, even in a pair that costs a small fortune, you’ll still end up suffering like any proper marathon runner.
The “ultra-aero” compression suit
Yes, we mean the suit you saw sprinters wearing at the last Olympic Games. An ultra-tight suit made from lightweight, aerodynamic fabrics to reduce drag. In reality, though, unless you’re running your marathon at an average of 30 km/h, the difference is imperceptible. At the start, you’ll look like a superhero who will be switching between walking and running after 30 km of racing. And let’s be honest, pulling on an outfit like that and putting it through its paces at 25°C is mainly an invitation to sweat. Slightly counterproductive when you’re trying to avoid overheating.
The hyper-connected heart-rate monitor
A strap worn around your torso or chest, which sounds fairly unremarkable so far. In reality, it’s much more than a simple strap. Its sensors let you track your heart rate, effort level and even your mood in real time. Brilliant, right? For an elite athlete, perhaps. But when you’re struggling through a marathon, you don’t need a gadget to tell you that the red zone is getting close.
The NASA-developed GPS watch
It generally goes hand in hand with the hyper-connected heart-rate monitor. Some models cost half a month’s salary, making a GPS watch a genuine little technological marvel. If you believe the salesperson, the most advanced versions could even get you to the Moon without Thomas Pesquet’s training. Fascinating. With dozens of sensors and advanced algorithms, it promises in-depth performance analysis: VO2 max, cadence, elevation, fatigue levels, weather forecasts and, in some cases, your optimal recovery percentage. When you’re wrestling with your soul during your next marathon, you’ll only want to know how many kilometres remain before freedom. And for anyone still unconvinced, when you get lost on a long run, it isn’t your watch that puts you back on the right track. It’s Google Maps.
The XXL gel belt, aka the mobile grocery store
Some runners seem to confuse a 42 km race with Survivor. Their belt, fitted with roughly ten gel slots and three zipped pockets, is packed to bursting. Energy gels at around €3 each, salty bars, sweet bars, sweet-and-salty bars, purées and even a little sandwich… Just in case. Some runners chase lightness; for others, weight isn’t an issue. The problem? Most marathons have fully stocked aid stations every 5 kilometres. There’s no need to carry a food stash worthy of an ultramarathon. We’d like to ask the organisers: how many gels does it take before this runner officially becomes the race’s mobile convenience store?
Compression socks promising bionic legs
Compression socks are something of a bestseller. They’re supposed to do everything: improve blood flow, aid recovery, reduce muscle fatigue, lower the risk of injury and even run the marathon for you… In short, they promise light, tireless legs. But let’s be realistic: those ultra-tight socks won’t turn you into a marathon cyborg. If you’re undertrained or exhausted, don’t expect them to work miracles.
The revolutionary energy gel
Extra kick, long-lasting endurance, speed tonic… Judging by the packaging, one little gel is all it takes to turn you into a marathon war machine. A miracle elixir, the ultimate fuel, an energy boost. Reality, however, is rather different. The taste is questionable and not necessarily to everyone’s liking. The supposedly instant effect isn’t always that instant. No, don’t expect a boost worthy of a mushroom in Mario Kart. Then there’s the eye-watering price. Naturally, you try them for the first time during a race. At three euros a pop, you’re not going to use 50 during training just to “see if they agree with you”. And trying something for the first time in a race means stomach trouble. After 15 kilometres, you can’t face a third one and finish the race with a decent slice of banana at every aid station instead. Money well spent.
If the latest shoes are supposed to propel you forward, the GPS watch guide you and energy gels give you wings, don’t forget that training remains one of the surest ways to perform well on race day.