Gear You Can’t Do Without for the 2025 Paris Marathon

The golden rule: test your gear

It can’t be said often enough: testing your gear helps you head off a whole range of problems. Blisters, chafing, overheating, digestive issues: the point of testing your kit is to reach race day with complete confidence in what you’re wearing and carrying. The key sessions in your marathon training and your long runs are ideal for simulating race day. Use these sessions for a full dress rehearsal.

That’s not all. Gear plays a crucial role in performance. We often focus on training mileage, mental preparation and specific workouts. Equipment is often overlooked when it comes to optimising performance.

These are the four pillars of a solid race setup:

• Comfort: prevent irritation, blisters and chafing.

• Performance: get the right cushioning and effective support.

• Effort management: keep an eye on your heart rate and pace.

• Safety: hydrate regularly and protect yourself from the elements.

The essentials for the Paris Marathon

✓ Shoes: your most important ally

The unavoidable pair of running shoes. While some runners tackle the marathon barefoot like champion Abebe Bikila, shoes are still more or less essential for getting through the 42.195 km ahead. Choosing the right pair is vital. For a marathon, they need to offer good cushioning and suit both your stride and your build. The trick is finding the right balance between performance and comfort. It all depends on your goal for the next Paris Marathon. A lighter pair will reduce muscular fatigue, but it will probably be less comfortable than a slightly more substantial model.

Over the past few years, carbon-plated shoes have become hugely popular. They can make a significant difference to runners’ times, with the plate helping propel the athlete forwards. If you’ve never worn them before and want to give them a try, make sure you choose a suitable pair and test them well before race day.

✓ Clothing: lightness meets performance

As with shoes, clothing has a major impact on performance, but even more so on comfort. Remember, running a marathon means committing to several hours of effort. You’re obviously going to sweat (unless you’re cruising so easily that you’re barely trying!). Sweat generated by exertion can cause irritation and become seriously unpleasant after several kilometres. Running brands have developed lightweight, breathable fabrics. That’s the kind of clothing we recommend for the Paris Marathon. Flat seams help prevent chafing, while lightweight materials work well in all conditions.

April weather calls for caution. The Paris Marathon usually takes place in the first half of April, and the weather can be a lottery. It may be mild and sunny or cool and damp. You won’t know until a few days beforehand, so make sure you have gear for rain as well as a spring-like forecast.

Small items such as a cap, sunglasses, arm sleeves or lightweight gloves are easy to find and can sometimes save a runner’s day.

A quick tip: if it’s hot, choose light colours. A black T-shirt absorbs around 90% of the energy it receives from the sun. Some of that energy is then released as heat onto your body.

✓ Accessories: performance support

In reality, all you need to run a marathon is a pair of shoes and some clothing. But a few pieces of small gear can help you optimise performance and improve comfort.

A GPS sports watch is a good example, and plenty of runners wear one. Paired with a heart-rate monitor, it lets you track your heart rate and make sure you’re not starting too fast. The watch’s GPS function is useful for checking your pace and hitting your splits. Some models can also provide reminders to take on fuel.

Different carrying options, such as a running belt or bottle belt, are ideal for carrying a soft flask and fuel. Belts stay secure and let you carry a small reserve without getting in the way as you run.

And then there’s the soft flask. These 250 or 500 mL containers are great for carrying water or an energy drink. You can hydrate without relying entirely on the race’s aid stations. Soft flasks also collapse once empty, so they take up very little room in your belt.

✓ Nutrition: make or break your race

Want to make race day miserable? Here’s a very simple solution: don’t drink and don’t eat. Joking aside, race-day nutrition and hydration are essential if you want to reach the finish line while staying on target.

To keep moving, your body needs fuel, just like a car. That fuel, or energy, comes from carbohydrates. Your dinner the night before and your breakfast will already have supplied your body with carbs. But it won’t be enough to cover the full marathon distance. That’s why you need to take on carbohydrates through gels, bars or purées. Without that extra energy, your body will keep drawing on its reserves until they run out. You’ll start to feel weak and may even become dizzy. That’s the bonk!

During your marathon, fuel regularly, every 20 minutes, alternating gels, drinks and purées to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort. Just like your gear, test your fuelling strategy in training.

All that’s left is to choose, test and fine-tune your gear for the next Paris Marathon. Adapt these recommendations to your habits and to what you like to wear. The one essential piece of gear for the Paris Marathon is the one that lets you feel comfortable from start to finish.