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How (and What) to Pack for a Running Trip

If you're a runner, you probably like spending at least part of your vacation getting some miles in—here's how to pack so that your running gear doesn't take up too much space

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(Photo: Will Porter)

“Why are you lacing up your running shoes? You’re supposed to be relaxing,” they ask, a bewildered look on their face, piña colada in hand. Well, I’m going to have my piña colada later, thank you very much. First, I need to let my Strava followers know that I’m still putting in the work.

A vacation is obviously a great way to kick back and take a load off, but for those of us who run, it can also be a great excuse to go for a run (or five) in a new, exotic place, even though it may leave our fellow travelers scratching their heads.

Last month, I went to France for the first time. The trip began with a few days exploring Paris, followed by a few days in Chamonix to cover UTMB and enjoy the scenery. Just this past weekend, I drove five hours from LA to the Eastern Sierra to race the 50k during Mammoth Trailfest. Both trips were heavily focused on running, yet they were also very different. One involved flying across the world, pesky checked bag weight limits, and gear that could pull double (or triple) duty, while the other offered me all the space an SUV has to offer, though I did have to pack everything I needed for a race—resulting in me bringing considerably more than what I packed for France.

You may think that if you’re traveling and want to run, you can just throw a pair of running shoes in your bag and call it a day. But there’s more to an expert-level packing job than that, and I’m here to offer a few packing considerations and gear recs for the next time you find yourself running on vacation.

How Much Space Will You Actually Have?

The first thing you should figure out is exactly how much gear you’ll have space for on your trip. If you’re driving, my vote is to load up the car with everything you can think of. For my trip up to Mammoth last week that’s pretty much exactly what I did. I filled my with clothes, gear, and even a few extra pairs of running shoes so I could make a gametime decision about which pair I’d wear for the race. Then I filled a duffel with all the extra food I wanted for my few days away, I packed a cooler for the front seat, and loaded a tote bag with all my work stuff and some extra bits. I even packed an extra watch and two heart rate monitor chest straps, just because I could.

For Paris and Chamonix, on the other hand, I had to make compromises. I had airline weight limits to think about, and I knew I didn’t want to try to lug more than two suitcases up and down city streets. Packing for nine days away, unsure if I’d be able to do an actual load of laundry or not, and knowing I’d probably be coming home with more stuff than I left with, forced me to be picky when I was packing for the trip. This is where I had to get creative, which leads me to my next tip.

Cram Packing Cubes Set

Gregory Alpaca Rolling Duffel 100L

Make Versatility Your Top Priority

For both trips, but especially for France, I wanted to bring clothes and running gear that I knew could serve more than one purpose. I brought road running shoes I liked enough to wear around town but could also be laced up for a couple of runs along the Seine in Paris. For Chamonix, I knew I’d need some extra trail gear, so I brought the most versatile gear in my closet. I brought anti-stink merino wool tees that could be worn on a run or out to dinner, running shorts with hand pockets that I could wear while cruising through the UTMB Village one day and up into the Alps the next, and a rain jacket that was burly enough for standing in the rain but still packable enough to bring along on alpine adventures.

Hoka Tecsky Rain Jacket

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Portal Marka Liner Short

Now for the Footwear

Since you’re packing for a running trip, you will need to figure out what you’re going to wear on your feet. Regardless of where you’re going, packing shoes is a pain, and even more so if you’re trying to bring running shoes on a trip. The solution? Bring running shoes you don’t mind wearing around all day. This seems like an easy (obvious) solution, but you’d be surprised by how many running shoes aren’t actually great for walking all day.

If you’re racing and really need your , that’s fine, but I wouldn’t recommend touring Rome or spending all day in NYC walking around in Alphaflys. If you can, I’d always recommend bringing running shoes that are stable and provide support—usually this means you’ll want something closer to a daily trainer than a racing shoe.

I prefer to walk around in trail shoes; they usually have a wider base and more support to meet the demands of off-road running. My go-to is the Norda 001. They’re not cheap, but the comfort and versatility is well worth it.

Sure, walking around constantly on your trail shoes might not be the best thing for their lugged soles, but a few days won’t hurt. If you’re not a trail runner, road shoes are obviously still a great choice, but like I said, I would steer away from racing models.

Norda 001a

Nike Vomero Plus

Packing for a trip where you’ll spend a lot of time running will undoubtedly require some extra thought and care, but there’s no substitute for getting out and putting some miles on your feet while you’re on vacation. If you spend just a few extra minutes thinking about how much space you’ll have, how versatile you can make the clothes you pack, and which shoes you can wear all day, you won’t find yourself skipping a run because you’re missing any gear.

So get those runs in, and once you’re done, have a beer or two for me.