How Nike and Rivian (yes, Rivian) have reinvented the aid station

What You Need To Know

Heaven on four wheels

We all love aid stations. They feel like the oasis in the middle of a desert, only they’re real — not mirages. Aid stations are places to sit down, to change socks, to drink flat Coca-Cola. What more could you ask for?

Well, the problem is that traditional aid stations, which so often involve tents, folding tables, and several volunteers, are tough to set up in remote places. They have to be able to reach an accessible spot, which sometimes means using existing camps or staying close to road crossings. That’s great news when your ultramarathon of choice has those… but not so much when you’re actually out in the wilderness.

So, Nike set out to add yet another condition to its All Conditions Gear repertoire. This time, on wheels. It’s paired up with Rivian to create a fleet of new mobile aid stations, using each of Rivian’s models (at least those currently available) as a base. It’s calling the project the Ultimate Aid Station, and it’s making us want to head out west for some big mountain action.

Let’s dig into what makes these mobile oases so cool.

Challenges like no other

First, though, let’s talk about where Nike and Rivian are planning to debut these new vehicles. They’re pulling back the orange, delta-emblazoned colors at the Siskiyou Out Back (SOB) trail festival in Ashland, Oregon.

At a glance, it seems like a case of Nike sticking close to its own backyard, with Ashland just a few hundred miles from the Swoosh’s home base of Beaverton. But when you look closer, SOB actually unveils itself as one of the toughest ultras out west, with its Brink 100 calling itself a “true mountain hundred.” It’s a race that features more than 23,000 feet of climbing with a pair of 5,000-foot ascents — not exactly the terrain where aid stations are most at home.

On top of that, crew access is only available roughly every 10 miles (sometimes 20), and is not available past mile 77, making it very, very tricky to resupply. But when your course finishes with beautiful views of the PCT, the remote path is almost certainly worth it.

Also worth it? The first chance to try Nike’s new Ultimate Aid Stations. From the pictures we’ve seen, it looks like they’ll offer better snacks than we have in our office — maybe better air conditioning, too.

There are shorter distances available as part of SOB, down to an 8K, but the terrain gets no more forgiving. Even the 50K takes you from heights of 7,000 feet down to 4,000 feet and back again — twice.

What are the different Nike x Rivian aid stations?

Alright, now that we’ve established that SOB seems like one mean SOB to run, let’s talk about the fleet. Nike and Rivian cooked up six different vehicles, each with its own strength, so here they are:

• Rivian R2 Misting Station: Rivian’s newest SUV rolls in as the thermal reset station, using a run-through misting lane to lower body temperature without slowing the athlete. Nike also carefully designed the mist station to hit the face, neck, and arms without soaking gear — thus adding weight and slowing you down.
• Rivian R1T Recharge Truck: This is the cool one, the fueling powerhouse. It’s like Nike rolled an entire 7-Eleven into a single truck, adding a pair of slushie dispensers (with special electrolyte-infused orange slushies), a gear tunnel for slide-out nutrition, and a front trunk full of ice for hydration packs.
• Rivian R1S First Aid: Just as important as fuel is the ability to stay on your feet. This SUV packs blister relief, cold compresses, and nausea support — though you’ll probably want actual medical support for anything more serious.
• Rivian R1T Hot Fuel: What do trail runners need? Pancakes. At least, that’s what Nike decided for this second truck in the fleet, swapping pre-packaged fuel for a griddle to churn out easy-to-digest fuel.
• Rivian R1T DJ Rig: I mean, how can you not want a self-powered stage for a mid-race pick me up? This setup uses the vehicle’s onboard battery to power sound and light setups for off-the-grid entertainment. The truck is all about encouragement, and it’s pumped loud enough that you’ll still be able to hear it as you run back down the trail.
• Rivian R1T Ice Vehicle: Ice, ice, baby. This R1T is here to keep the rest of the fleet stocked with ice from staging areas, ensuring that the slushies stay cold and the ice frunks stay full.

Each of the Ultimate Aid Station trucks also features a canopy made from Nike’s Radical AirFlow fabric, using a series of holes to allow air to reach resting runners while still providing optimal shade.

The fleet is, of course, designed to move as one unit and set up like a small camp, but we’re curious to see how long that will last. We could absolutely see Nike and Rivian dispatching one truck at a time for races where the trail gets tight. That doesn’t sound like it’s the plan for SOB, but we’ll just have to wait and see what comes next.