This is the Trail Running Gear That Helped Me Complete the Cocodona 250

What You Need To Know

Arizona, Here We Come

For those that don’t know, the Cocodona 250 is a 250-mile point-to-point ultramarathon in Arizona that connects Black Canyon City, Prescott, Sedona, and Flagstaff. The race traverses varied terrain, ranging from desert to mountain and forest, and carries a non-zero risk of hallucinations. The weather and conditions can be as varied as the terrain, with highs that can exceed 90 degrees and lows that can drop below freezing on the final climb up to Mt Elden at 9,300 feet.

But, through all of it, I kept putting one foot in front of the other right up until I crossed the finish line. Here are the key pieces of gear that got me there in just under 100 hours on the trail.

I’ve been training in the Sunchaser for over a year now and rarely leave home without it once temperatures start to climb. Growing up in the Midwest, I didn’t really get to experience the benefits of evaporative cooling — humidity tends to cancel that out — so the idea of wearing a long-sleeve shirt in the heat always felt counterintuitive, maybe even a little restrictive.

It didn’t take long to realize how effective it actually is. Keeping my skin covered made a noticeable difference, and when it’s really hot, I’ll wet the sleeves and sides to boost the cooling effect. That’s when the shirt really shines — the fabric feels cool, never clingy, and stays comfortable through a variety of conditions.

I wore it start to finish, and it never felt like something I had to manage. The scuba-style hood was perfect for cool mornings and overnights, the thumb loops gave a little extra protection for my hands, and the material held up surprisingly well over multiple days without feeling or smelling gross (though I should probably confirm that with my crew).

Honestly, it’s not surprising the Cocodona race shirt is a Sunchaser — it just works.

To be honest, I’ve never felt comfortable in this style of shorts. Other pairs I’ve tried either felt restrictive through the waist and thighs or just squeezed in all the wrong places. The Essent completely changed that for me — it strikes the right balance between support and freedom of movement (and breathing).

The wide waistband is soft and comfortable, and it doubles as a functional storage belt for small essentials like gels or even ice. The side pockets are secure and easy to use, holding a phone, fuel, or other small items without bouncing or shifting.

These are the kind of shorts you can put on and forget about, which becomes incredibly valuable over long distances. When you’re out there for hours — or in this case, hundreds of miles — the last thing you want is to waste energy adjusting gear or dealing with discomfort.

This turned out to be one of my favorite little gear setups for Cocodona. Having 1L of fluid in a soft flask with the hose routed up front made it way easier to stay on top of hydration without constantly grabbing bottles or breaking stride.

Over a race this long, small things start to matter a lot. I definitely drank more consistently simply because it was easy. The flask shrinks down as you drink, so it doesn’t slosh around, and the hose setup kept everything simple and low-maintenance, especially during climbs and overnight sections when my brain wasn’t working at full capacity.

It also worked really well in a fully loaded pack. Between layers, mandatory gear, and a lot of calories, it was nice having hydration feel easy and out of the way.

Overall, the experience was great. The setup was intuitive, everything was easy to use, and it worked really well as a mobile base for race week. It was especially useful for quick resets at aid stations — a place to change, take short naps, cool off, and regroup without much effort or setup.

The bed was surprisingly comfortable, and the additional pop-up tent design made it easy to set up and pack down. Having a refrigerator that continued to run even when the engine or generator was off was a huge plus, especially for keeping food and drinks ready between stops.

In the heat, the A/C unit made a noticeable difference, and the screens and window coverings helped regulate temperature and light. The additional front window coverings worked well, though the side window covers didn’t seem to fit quite right.

Despite its size, the van was easy to drive. The backup camera was especially helpful when parking or maneuvering in tighter areas. Even the pickup and drop-off process was smooth, and the support team was great. The user guides in the account portal were also very helpful for learning how everything worked.

Overall, it did exactly what we needed it to do and made race logistics significantly easier.

I haven’t worn gaiters for the past several years. I think the last pair I had were those nasty gal gaiters, and I have stressful memories of trying to get them off when my ankle started to swell really badly one time.

I cannot say enough good things about these. They zip up and fit loosely enough not to add pressure to your ankle, yet are well-fitting enough to keep debris from getting into your shoe.

I didn’t need to stop once to empty my shoes, and I feel like that greatly reduced the amount of dust that got in. I won’t be running another long run or race without these. They’re also simple because you do not need to attach anything like Velcro to your shoes, so you can easily swap in and out of different shoes, which was perfect for the setting.

I wore this shoe for the entire race, and it held up exactly how I needed it to. I didn’t roll my ankle once and had fewer foot issues than I’ve had even in a 100-mile race, which says a lot given the distance and terrain.

The fit was dialed from the start, and I felt no need to size up — and it stayed consistent as my feet swelled over time. It moved confidently across a wide range of terrain, from loose, technical trails in the Sonoran Desert to the rockier sections through the Bradshaws and the Sedona slickrock. At no point did I feel like I had to think about my footing, which is about the highest compliment I can give a shoe over that kind of distance.

Late in the race, when things started to unravel a bit, the shoe continued to do its job. The rocker helped keep me moving forward efficiently, and the stability was especially noticeable after 4 nights of sleep deprivation.

I used to think these were unnecessary — maybe even a little gimmicky. That didn’t last long. For years, I dealt with constant blisters and other preventable foot issues that would sometimes reduce me to a walk as early as mile 70 in a 100-mile race.

This time, I paired the midweight socks with Trail Toes at nearly every aid station, and the difference was huge. I had fewer foot problems than I’ve ever had — even compared to 50-mile races. That alone was enough to change my mind. I won’t go without them again, and I definitely won’t be judging them anymore.

I’ve been raving about this waist pack for a while now, and Cocodona really confirmed why. Being able to distribute weight between a vest and a belt made a huge difference over that kind of distance — it just felt more balanced and less taxing over time.

The storage is incredibly functional. I was able to carry up to 10 gels in the side pockets, and the kangaroo-style front pocket worked perfectly for my phone — easy to access without slowing down. I could also quickly snap my Lumen 800 Solstice light to the front of the belt without adding another strap or piece of gear, which kept things simple.

What really stood out was how much it could carry without feeling overloaded. I was able to stow my poles in the back along with an 800 mL flask, and it all stayed secure without bouncing or shifting.

Whenever I race through an overnight, congestion tends to hit me hard. Between poor air quality, dust, and cold air, I often struggle to breathe through my nose. In the past, I’ve used Afrin sparingly, but the results were mixed, and I never loved relying on something that turned out to be really habit-forming.

This was a much better solution. At each aid station, I used it to clear things out, and it made a noticeable difference. I was actually able to breathe again and get rid of the dust buildup that had just kept accumulating over time.

And there was a lot of dust — so much dust.

It’s simple, but effective, and it’s now something I won’t go to a race without.

This is the first bra I’ve worn that hasn’t caused any chafing — which, for me, is saying a lot. I’ve dealt with pretty bad irritation in the past, especially along the band and across my back, and that just wasn’t an issue here.

The fit is comfortable without feeling restrictive. It doesn’t squeeze or put pressure in the wrong places, and it moves well with you rather than against you. The all-ways stretch fabric strikes a really nice balance between support and mobility, which becomes more noticeable the longer you’re out there.

Like the best gear, it’s simple and forgettable — in the best possible way.

These ultralight, packable pants are incredibly easy to carry — they compress down to about the size of your palm, making them a no-brainer to stash in a pack for long days or multi-day efforts. The ankle zips are a small detail that makes a big difference, allowing me to pull them on quickly over shoes as temperatures drop in the evening.

The material is soft, quiet (doesn’t feel like you’re walking in a potato chip bag), and comfortable.

They’re exactly what you want for multi-day races with variable conditions: simple, reliable, and easy to deploy when you need them.

Slipping this on after the race felt incredible. The roomier fit, soft knit upper, and cushioned midsole hit that perfect balance of comfort and support when my feet needed it most.

After finishing, my feet were pretty beat up and stayed that way for a few days. This mule gave me a much-needed break from that — easy to wear, forgiving, and exactly what you want when everything feels a little bruised.

This spicy, refreshing drink has saved us more times than I can count. Within minutes, it settles the stomach and takes the edge off nausea in a way that feels almost immediate.

We actually have a rule: no decisions about dropping are made until you’ve had one of these. It’s become part of the process — a reset before anything drastic.