MdS 2011 Questions

N22JDR

Hi All
I'm just wondering if anyone here has run the Marathon de Sables (or other Multi-Day desert run) before. I'm looking to buy some 2nd hand gear. Ideally a 5 Degree Sleeping bag (they are fierce expensive given the fact that I'll never use it again !) and Raidlight (or similar) poles. If anyone is looking to sell any of that kinda stuff I'd be delighted to take it off you hands.

Would be great if anyone knew of an Irish insurance company/broker that you can use to get insurance for foreign multi-day events ??

Many thanks.

hunnymonster

I thought the same about all the kit when we did it but we've actually ended up using it all (apart from sand gaitors) several times since MDS 09. The good sleeping bag was a really worthwhile investment for us. if you don't want to spend so much money, have a look at a cheaper bag and a couple of silk liners. You'll get almost the same thermal properties much cheaper and without adding much to your pack weight.

I didn't use poles but the raidlight ones were very light from people who did use them. Have you tried them out before.

one huge saving I would make if I was doing it again is not to waste money on the freeze fried meals. The made me very very ill and I would have been much better off with porridge and dried meats. Again, much cheaper and tastes wayyyyy better.

We didn't have Irish insurance for the event, I think we got ours through ultrafondus. That's certainly who we are with now for these events.

N22JDR

hunnymonster wrote: »

I thought the same about all the kit when we did it but we've actually ended up using it all (apart from sand gaitors) several times since MDS 09. The good sleeping bag was a really worthwhile investment for us. if you don't want to spend so much money, have a look at a cheaper bag and a couple of silk liners. You'll get almost the same thermal properties much cheaper and without adding much to your pack weight.

I didn't use poles but the raidlight ones were very light from people who did use them. Have you tried them out before.

one huge saving I would make if I was doing it again is not to waste money on the freeze fried meals. The made me very very ill and I would have been much better off with porridge and dried meats. Again, much cheaper and tastes wayyyyy better.

We didn't have Irish insurance for the event, I think we got ours through ultrafondus. That's certainly who we are with now for these events.

Thanks Hunneymonster. Sounds like great advise.

I tried out a guy's raidlight poles for a short while while on an other ultra. They seemed great. I think they could definitely reduce the impact of the downhill sections. I'm planning on being very tight on weight but these seem like a worthwhile addition.

I like the idea of the silk liners (if I cant source a 2nd hand bag). Personally I think MdS will be my one and only desert outing so can't see any need for the €300 desert sleeping bag anywhere on the horizon.

I'm totally with you on the freeze dried food. I'm stocking up on porridge (breakfast) and pot noodles (2 pots worth for dinner = same cals as an expedition meals pack).

Cheers for the tips/help.

N22JDR

Hi
I was also wondering if anyone had used an Irish cobbler (ideally somewhere near Dublin but not essential) to sew in their gaiters to their runners for a desert event ?
Would appreciate if anyone had the contact details for one of these cobblers.
Tks a mill

Zuppy

I used resin to bond mine to the shoe. Even if you sew yours take a spare sachet of glue or two with you to do 'running' repairs, excuse the pun

N22JDR

ZuppyLurk wrote: »

I used resin to bond mine to the shoe. Even if you sew yours take a spare sachet of glue or two with you to do 'running' repairs, excuse the pun

Cheers ZuppyLurk. I plan on sewing and glueing (not expecting to uses the shoes ever again). I'm just hoping to get a cobbler who has done it before. I'll definitely take your advise and bring a spare sachet of resin with me though .

Zuppy

Oh! and m and m's don't melt in the desert. :-) Crucial info for choc fix.