Key takeaways
- A drop bag is a pre-packed bag of supplies the race transports to a specific aid station for you.
- It lets you access your own food, gear, clothes, and supplies mid-race.
- Especially important in ultras, and at points where crew aren't allowed.
- Pack it strategically: anticipate what you'll need at that point (fuel, dry socks, lights, layers).
What a drop bag is
A drop bag is a bag of supplies you pack in advance and the race transports to a specific aid station, so you can access your own food, gear, and clothing partway through a race. Especially in ultramarathons, drop bags let you resupply with personalized items at points along the course you can’t reach beforehand.
What to pack
- Fuel — your preferred nutrition and drink mix.
- Foot care — fresh socks, blister supplies, anti-chafe balm.
- Lights — a headlamp and batteries for nightfall.
- Layers — extra clothing for cold or weather.
- Spares — gear, sunscreen, and personal items.
For a 100-miler, a runner places a drop bag at the mile-60 aid station with a headlamp for the coming night, dry socks, fresh gels, and a warm layer — so when they arrive depleted at dusk, exactly what they need is waiting, even though no crew can reach that remote station.
How to use them
Pack strategically: anticipate the conditions and your state when you’ll arrive at that point, and label the bag clearly. Drop bags are essential where crews aren’t allowed or can’t reach, and useful as backup even when you have a crew or pacer.
The bottom line
A drop bag is your personalized resupply waiting at a race aid station — pre-packed with the fuel, gear, dry socks, lights, and layers you'll want partway through, transported there by the race. Essential in ultras and where crews can't go, the key is packing it strategically: anticipate what you'll need, and where, when you arrive depleted hours into the race.
Frequently asked questions
What is a drop bag?
A drop bag is a bag you pack in advance and the race organizers transport to a designated aid station along the course, where you can access it mid-race. It lets you resupply with your own personalized food, gear, clothing, and other items at points you can't reach beforehand — a key tool especially in ultramarathons.
What should you pack in a drop bag?
Pack what you'll likely need at that point in the race: your preferred fuel and nutrition, fresh socks, blister and foot-care supplies, a headlamp and batteries for nightfall, extra layers for cold or weather, sunscreen, anti-chafe balm, spare gear, and any personal items. Anticipate the conditions and your state when you'll arrive there, and label the bag clearly.
When do you use drop bags instead of a crew?
Drop bags are essential where crews aren't allowed or can't reach an aid station, and they're useful even when you have a crew as a backup. Many ultras let you place drop bags at several aid stations along the course. They put your personalized supplies where you need them without requiring people to be there, which is why they're central to ultra logistics.
Sources
- Ultra racing logistics — American Trail Running Association
- Endurance events — American Council on Exercise