What you need for orienteering?

For start with orienteering, you don’t need many things – basically the most important ones are map, compass and some running gear (at best covering whole your legs). But if you want to look like little bit more professional, there are some things you should consider to have.

Basic Stuff

• Map – without map, it’s not orienteering. Even if you want out of competition and for fun, you will need one.
• Compass – not totally necessary thing, but used by 99% of runners – for orienteering is used special version which is attached only to thumb, which make it possible to hold map under it with one hand.

Orienteering thumb compass and map in one hand

Running gear

• Running shirt – nowadays are popular short sleeves, usually are used special colour variants typical for runner’s home club.
• Trousers – nowadays are trousers usually used in 3/4 variant, of course in club’s colour like running shirt.
• Long socks – long socks are important for protection of legs against, at least, some of tears you can make yourself during running through forest.

Orienteering running clothes

Electronical devices

• Electronic chip – must have for competitions, otherwise you will be officially disqualified – usually it can be borrowed for some small fee there, but if you are planning to do orienteering little bit more, it’s good to have own one.
• Watches/sporttester – some people like to run with watches or even sporttester (to know their pulse). Also GPS loggers are getting more and more popular, although active GPS devices (with display showing your position) are strictly prohibited.

Optional

• Head band – if you don’t like sweat going to your eyes and soak map, then one of head bands is a good choice.
• Descriptions holder – basically all bigger competitions provide participants with separated descriptions of controls (where are directly situated) and many of orienteerers use special holder for them attached to arm. However, it’s getting popular to just hold them in hand.
• Tape-up – for runner with problems with ankles (the most injured part of orienteerer’s body – because of movement in terrain), there are tape-ups, stripes that limit movement of your ankle. So if you want to run fast through rocky terrain, it’s a best way how to protect against twisting your ankle.