Triathlon Packing Checklist by Tara

Have you ever gotten to a race and realized you've forgotten something???   It's such a horrible feeling!  Chances are you've experienced it at least once, or if you're like my GCCTri teammate Allison Doize, then this has happened to you at every race you've done in 2016!  ;-)  

Allison & I after NOLA 70.3 (she forgot her helmet at this race)

Even though I've been racing triathlons since 2008, every time I pack for one I think to myself, "Dang there's a lot of stuff to remember!!!"  Triathlon has 3x as many sports as running, but it's more than 3x harder to pack for a tri compared to packing for a running race.  Due to this fact, I decided to make life a little easier on myself a few years ago by creating a triathlon packing checklist (really the alternative was to end up like my buddy Teddy who owned double of everything after his first season of racing, after having to pay full price at every expo for whatever piece of gear he had forgotten at that particular race).

Allison at Tri The Island - she forgot biking shoes & rode clipless pedals w/ sneakers and placed!

Here is my triathlon packing list for you to copy, edit, and share as you wish.  I hope it helps decrease the headache of packing for your next tri because triathlon is supposed to be FUN, not stressful :)  Note that wherever you see (   ), use that space to write in how many of that item you need to bring.  Also, I have it broken down by swim, bike, run, & race-specific because when traveling a lot of times you want to bring extra gear for the practice swim/bike/run in the day(s) before the race.

Packing List for Triathlon Equipment

Swim

• Swimsuit
• Goggles – 2 pairs
• Cap – 2 pairs
• Wetsuit - sleeveless
• Wetsuit - long-sleeve
• Speedsuit
• Anti-fog spray
• Cold Weather Gear
• Neoprene Cap
• Booties
• Ear plugs
• Petroleum Jelly

Bike

• Bike
• Helmet
• Biking Shoes
• Water Bottles (     )  
• Jerseys (     )
• Shorts (     )
• Sports Bras (     )
• Socks (     )
• Bike Pump
• Chain Lube
• Tools
• Spare Tubes - 2
• CO2 Cartridges - 2
• Cold Weather Gear
• Arm Warmers
• Booties
• Mini Booties
• Tights
• Long Gloves
• Balaclava
• Winter Jersey
• Wind Vest
• Wool Socks

Run

• Sports Bras (     )
• Underwear (     )
• Socks (     )
• Running Shoes 
• Shirts (    )
• Shorts (     )
• Hat/Visor – (     )
• Fuel Belt & Bottles
• Cold Weather Gear
• Running Tights
• Running Gloves
• Long Sleeve Shirts (     )
• Rain Jacket
• Fleece hat/headband

Race-Specific

• Race top
• Race bottoms
• Aero helmet
• Towel for transition
• USAT card
• Race Belt
• Socks
• Sports Bra
• Team Hat/Visor
• Bento Box
• Race Wheels
• Ankle Timing Strap
• Aero Water Bottle
• Pre-race clothes/shoes
• Post-race clothes/shoes

Other

• Garmin 920 & charger
• Ipod & Charger
• Suntan Lotion
• Sunglasses
• Body Glide
• TriSlide
• Recovery Tights
• Recovery Top

Nutrition

• Power Gels (     )
• Cliff Shot Bloks (    )
• Skratch mix packets (   )
• Cliff bars
• BeetPerformer Beet Juice