Preparing for the Trent 100 - What kit do you need?

The Trent 100 is a 100k challenge set in fantastic British countryside where competitors get to paddle the mighty River Trent. Now in its 5th year what do you need to take with you to make sure your paddle goes smoothly?

The organisers always have a list of essential kit that must be taken with you on the water, alongside recommended kit as well. So lets take each item in turn starting with your board. A river can be a varied environment, water depth will vary as will flow. A good touring board is recommended, in the region of 12’ 6 with a width of 28/30.  This will provide you with a good mix of stability and speed as all round boards will cause a lot of resistance when paddling against flow and wind. The board also needs to be big enough for your extra kit and dry bag. An ISUP or a hard board are both fine as long as the ISUP is a high quality brand, the last thing you need is the board deflating 20k down the river.

Next up, the paddle.  Carbon paddles are great, light and rigid they provide power in the water.  As the river can be unpredictable there is a potential to knock the carbon blade and cause damage so another material might be a good option.  There are many hybrid paddles on the market that can take a lot of stick when being bashed about on the river bed and banks.  Adjustable or fixed length is personal choice, many experienced paddlers will know the correct length for them so a fixed paddle is more common in events like this.  Blade size can vary, some paddlers will prefer a smaller blade and higher cadence but others will enjoy the power of a bigger blade in the water.  A good piece of advice is to try a few out as often you will have different paddles for different forms of paddling.

After that you need to consider your leash, a river is a flowing body of water so a waist belt system is a good shout here.  If you get caught up and can’t reach your ankle the quick release mechanism of a waist belt can be a life saver. The ASI use Panda QR belts for this reason. In addition to the leash all paddlers are required to wear a buoyancy aid for the Trent 100.

So that leads us onto additional safety equipment, this includes a throw line and a knife. If you have never used a throw line before then getting some practice in is a very good idea. The rope must be of the required standard as well as it will need to perform under heavy loads and water pressure. After that a first aid kit is another essential bit of kit.  Cuts, stings and grazes are a common feature when doing any extended distance paddling.

Communication, for the Trent 100 a mobile phone in a water proof pouch is required.  This should have your emergency contact numbers in should you have to use them.  As the Trent 100 is an inland event VHF radios are not normally used. Many paddlers have a good tracking app these days but a good old fashion route map is a good choice as well. 

Lets not forget clothing, starting with the feet.  You will be standing for a long time so appropriate footwear needs to be considered. Most paddlers opt for some kind of wetsuit boot or water trainer.  Don’t forget you will be getting on and off your board so you will need something to walk around in as well.  Wetsuits can get very hot if you haven’t got wet, so depending upon the weather this may not be the best option for you.  Base layers that are quick drying can be a good alternative.  If you have spare clothes then you can change if you take a dunk. A windproof cag will be advisable if the weather is poor.

Finally, we get into the recommend pieces of kit for the Trent paddler. Extra clothing in case you fall in. Sunscreen if your lucky enough to get some sunny weather too.  In addition to that water and snacks are a wise choice as well.  There are checkpoints along the way which will replenish you with food and water but having something like a high energy bar or piece of fruit can be very welcome when you’re burning lots of calories.

Spare fins, paddles and repair kits can be taken as well, there has been many a broken fin on river paddles so an extra just in case won’t do any harm.

So, there you have it. A run down of what you need to paddle the Trent 100.  The takeaway from this is that preparation is key.  If you plan things out in advance and make sure you have what you need on the day then when you hit the water you only have to think about paddling.

The Trent 100 takes place between July 21 to July 24, 2022 and is truly an event not to be missed!

For further information head over to the official website right here.

Photos: Courtesy of Trent 100