Mountain Running Safety Gear - Benji Wiederkehr
My personal favorites of safety gear for extended, unsupported, high-alpine mountain running.
Benji Wiederkehr's expert gear recommendations on Rendezvu
Products in this list
- inReach® Mini 2 by Garmin — I always carry my inReach Mini to share my location with my family and to send an SOS message if something goes wrong. I’m still using version 2 instead of 3, because it has all the features I need and it’s slightly lighter.
- Fenix HM65R-T V2.0 by Fenix — If I plan to run extended sections of a route without daylight, I bring this headlamp as my primary light source. The light source and battery life are excellent and the headband is very comfortable. The Boa-like system make micro adjustments quick and easy.
- SOL Emergency Blanket by SOL — I always carry my emergency blanket in the high-alpine in case I get exposed to weather without being able to keep my body temperature steady through movement. Unquestionable benefit-to-weight ratio.
- SOL Escape Lite Bivy by SOL — I bring the SOL bivy instead of the blanket if the chances are high that I might need a dirt nap in cold or wet conditions. The bivy does a great job at keeping you warm even without an insulation layer.
- Classic SD by Victorinox — This tiny pocket knife comes with all the tools I might need in an emergency, specifically knife, scissors, tweezers for wound care. It’s part of my minimal first-aid kit which belongs in my pack on almost all remote routes.
- Aurora A8 USB-C Keychain Flashlight with UV Sidelights by RovyVon — If I plan to start or end a route in daylight, but with a higher risk that something goes wrong, weather, technicality, exposure, remoteness, etc., I bring this tiny flashlight as an emergency light source. My preferred variant includes an amber sidelight for ambient light and a red/blue flashing sidelight as an emergency signal.
- UltraFlask™+ Filter Cap by HydraPak — I try to treat my water from natural sources in almost all areas that I’m exploring. These filters are simple and quick to use with minimal added weight to a regular soft flask.
- BIC Mini Lighter by Amazon — I bring a small lighter as a last resort to start a fire to keep my body temperature up if something goes truly wrong. It’s part of my minimal first-aid kit which belongs in my pack on almost all remote routes.
- Leukotape P by Amazon — I bring a small section, rolled around my lighter, in my minimal first-aid kit which belongs in my pack on almost all remote routes. It’s great for small wound care or gear repair. It might not truly fix what’s broken, but it gets you back to the trailhead.
