The Polaris Challenge is two days of self-supported mountain bike orienteering in wild country. Checkpoint locations are planned and mapped by experienced mountain bikers. Participants ride to visit as many of these checkpoints over the two day* period. The three events always take place in late March, late June (or early July) and ealy October. There are three distinct formats as follows; Spring 'Classic' Polaris Challenge. 2 Day event. Remote overnight campsite. Participants ride with equipment for 7 and 5 hours, including overnight camping kit. Summer Polaris Challenge. 2 Day event from Basecamp. Participants ride with equipment for 7 and 5 hours. Autumn 'Light & Night' Polaris Challenge. 2 or 1 Day event choices from Basecamp. Participants ride with equipment for 6, 2 and 4 hours. 2 hour night stage. We've competed in many Polaris events over the years and helped to plan one or two as well, and these days we operate the shop at the events, supplying clothing and last minute bike essentials people might need. The three different events require different kit, so in this first instance we're going to look at the Spring Polaris, which is coming up at the end of March. This event requires racers to be completely self sufficient for two days and one night at a wilderness camp, so requires you to carry a tent, stove, sleeping bags, food, etc etc. In fact here's the official kit list and our recommendations, some of which we sell and some of which we don't, but this is what we genuinely use or would recommend. We've got recommendations for comfort and for lightweight racers. Take your pick or pick your compromise... Items in bold are available here, just click on the item to view the product details Required Kit
| Lightweight Race Recommendation
| Comfort/Budget Recommendation
| Waterproof Jacket or equivalent - e.g. Buffalo (a jacket with an integral hood is recommended) | howies Outback (£140) or Endura Stealth (£150)
| Endura Crosstrack Jacket (with hood- £70) | Waterproof trousers | Endura Stealth Waterproof Tights (£100) or Endura Venturi Pants (£110) | Endura Gridlock Trousers (£60)
| Full leg cover (1/2 or 3/4 length tights do not qualify) | iRule Whistlers (£60) or Endura Thermolite Tights (£45)
| Endura Humvee (£40) or Singletrack Trousers (£60) | Jersey or equivalent specialised wear | iRule Ronin (£90) or iRule Neo (£60) | TCJ Short Sleeve Baselayer (£16) | Second jersey, technical tee or thermal top (one of these tops MUST be long sleeved) | howies Light NBL Long Sleeve (£45) | howies NBL Half Zip (£55) | Insulating headgear. (Buffwear is acceptable) | Polaris Challenge Buff of course | Polaris Challenge Buff of course | Gloves | Endura Full Monty (£20) or Dexter Windproof (£25) | Sealskinz Windproof Gloves or Sealskinz Waterproof Gloves | Rucksack or equivalent carrier (panniers and/or trailers are acceptable) | Inov-8 Race Pro 22 (£50) or OMM Running Light 20SL (£40) | Inov-8 Race Pro 30 (£55) or OMM Classic 32 (£55) | Whistle | Integrated into chest strap of all above packs | Integrated into chest strap of all above packs | Compass | Silva Clip Compass (£10) | Silva Clip Compass (£10) | Torch (headtorch with spare batteries recommended) | Black Diamond Ion (£15) | Petzil Tikka (£28) - More expensive but more useful | First Aid Kit (MUST include large wound dressing and bandage) | Adventure Medical Kit Ultralight and Watertight 0.5 (£20) | Ortleib First Aid Kit | Sleeping Bag (a Blizzard Bag is acceptable) | Blizzard Bag or OMM Mummery 0.5 ssl (£) | Vango Venom 300 Down Bag (£90) | For Spring |
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| Tool kit and puncture repair kit |
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| Map (one is included in the entry fee) |
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| Tent (a hooped bivi-bag is allowable) | Terra Nova Laserlite Comp (£240), Vango Ultralite 200 (£160), | Terra Nova Laser (light and roomy) - £260, Coleman Raid (cheap and light) -£90 | Cooking equipment and pan (this must still be operable at the finish) | MSR Pocket Rocket (£30) and Foil takeaway dish | Jetboil (£50) | |
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Other Mandatory Kit Pedal cycle in good working order Helmet - Cycling ANSI, BSI, Snell (not climbing or canoeing)
Food for 30 hours - Ideas include: Noodles, Pasta n Sauce, Clif Bars, Custard powder, jelly babies, oatcakes, pepperami, beef jerky, dried fruit Mobile phone for an emergency phone call Biro, waterproof pen or pencil Emergency Rations - Couple of Clif Bars
Spring: Other Useful Personal Equipment - non Mandatory
Spare gloves - Smartwool Merino Liner Gloves
Spare socks - Smartwool Cycling Mini Crew or Sealskinz Mid Thermal
Cycling glasses - Adidas Evil Eye Explorer
Cycling shorts - Endura FS260 Fieldsensor Shorts (£40)
Vaseline
Waterproof rucksack liner - Exped Dry Bag XL £6.30
Bike bottles and/or hydration bladder - Nuun bottle or Inov-8 Hydration Bladder
LED rear light -
Poly bags for feet overnight (or during day!) - Asda ones don't have holes in them!
Sleeping mat - Balloon bed
Ear plugs for overnight
Water purification tablets or equivalent - Puritabs
Pain killers and/or anti inflammatories
Stove foil windbreak
Some participants find GPS useful and fun
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