Beast Adventure Race Mandatory Kit –
Updated 23rd April 2025
Individual Kit – All race participants must carry the following
- Backpack
- Bladder or Water Bottles
- Dry Bag (for inside Backpack)
- Headlamp (Guide 500+ lumens / circa 10-12hrs battery life)
- Waterproof Shell Jacket & Over Pants
- Spare Base Layer
- Gloves & Buff
- Survival Blanket / Space Blanket
- Whistle
- Mountain Bike
- 2 Spare Tubes & 1 Powerlink
- Biking Helmet
- Bike Lights (Mounted Front / Rear on Bikes)
- Race Bib (supplied)
- High-Visibility Safety Vest ( suitable for wearing over jacket and backpack at night)
Team Kit – All teams must carry the following
- Compass x1 (spare recommended)
- Water Resistant Map Case
- Bike Repair kit (includes levers, pump & chain repair tool)
- Bike Bell (1 for each team)
- Bike Map Board (1 per team / mounted securely on bike)
- Transition Bag (s) – 1 for Teams of 2, 2 for Teams of 4. Max Weight 20kg
- Wet Bag (1 for Teams of 2, 2 for Teams of 4)
- Group Shelter (2 person or 4 person)
- 5meter Length of Rope x 2 (for kayak stage)
- Mobile Phone (fully charged and stored in sealed bag)
- First Aid Kit containing
- Pressure Bandage (Elastic/ Crepex2)
- Triangular Bandage
- Wound Dressings x3 (Sterile)
- Strapping Tape (Adhesive/ surgical tape)
- Disinfectant Clean Wipesx4
- Antiseptic cream
Please Note:
- Teams can bring/ use own paddles, buoyancy aides and backrests (suitable for fixing to double sit on top kayaks)
- Backrests will not be supplied by race organisers
- Race participants are responsible for bringing own food, drinks and goodies for the race
- Bikes will be transported (twice) during race. If people wish to protect bike frame(s) they can use protective wrapping.
- All Mandatory Kit must be carried during the race. Penalty of 20minutes will apply to any team found to be missing items during the race
The Beast will be made up of several different stages where you will be going from one discipline (e.g. kayaking) on another (e.g. Biking) over the 24hours in the race. Typically, on a 24 hour race you might expect 7 stages and you are required to stay together in your teams throughout the race.
Team adventure races do not follow a pre-defined course. Teams decide what route they wish to take from one control to the next on each stage. Teams can also decide what controls they wish to get, and which they may wish to leave out.
You will be racing through the night, and you can stop, rest and re-fuel at any stage as you will carry food and whatever you need with you during the race. Teams are also able to access team gear bags at pre-defined transition locations during the race.
It would be helpful but it’s not a requirement. The Beast is a great challenge for a group of friends to get together, prepare for and do. You can train and prepare for it and enjoy the challenge. The most important thing in team adventure racing is working together as a team to get through the race.
Mountain bikes are used on the Beast AR.
Probably best travel option is to travel over by car and ferry. That way you have your car and all your gear with you and you can simple drive to race location.
Other option is to fly into Dublin Airport and either rent a car or get a bus down to Carlow. JJ Kavanagh run a regular bus service from Dublin airport to Waterford ( via Carlow ) every day and will take bikes. Details here.
A reasonably high level of fitness is required to complete the Beast and participants should be able to bike, trek/trail run and paddle at your own pace for a few hours in outdoor settings. You should also be used to being active in the outdoors in both good and bad weather conditions.
One team member should be able to read a map and plan a route from one control to the next during the race, all of which will be marked on the maps provided. The map reader should ideally be able to follow a bearing with a compass if required.
Double sit on top kayaks will be used and you can expect to paddle on flat and moving water ((L1 up to L2 conditions). There will be option to portage weirs if the paddling local rivers.
If you haven’t done much paddling, we recommend doing a few sessions with a kayaking operator as part of your preparation for the race.
Racers typically wear a cycle jersey, base layer, running shorts/ leggings, socks & trail running shoes and bike shoes during a race. Waterproof jacket and over pants are often needed in poor weather conditions and at night. Gloves, buffs are also used during races and all racers would typically have spare kit available in gear bags to change into during a race.
A good quality day pack is required for the beast to carry all mandatory kit, food, water and spare clothing items during the race. Typically, a 25-30lt pack would be used on races like this, with a platypus water holder.
Yes.
No, teams will need to be self-sufficient having own food during the race. Boiling water facility may be available in one or two transition areas (TBC)
Light snacks will be available at the finish line and an after-race meal will be provided.
We don’t think so at this point. Bikes will be moved without being in boxes