How To Use DirtBags

In this guide we'll go through every single scenario you can use DirtBags. As well as creating products that ask less of the planet to current options, we're also creating resources, one of those compliments DirtBags and that is a list of nutritional brands that sell energy gels, powders and fuel in bulk as well as a database of home-made guel recipes, you can find that here.

Before we dive in, we'd love for you to join us at the Trail Running Community where you can discuss nutrition, fuelling, DirtBags in more detail, your adventures and the nature and wildlife experienced you had.

FUEL & GEAR ORGANISATION TEMPLATE

Using Energy Gels in DirtBags

If you are used to having energy gels as part of your fuelling strategy, this is how you can use DirtBags with this fuel type.

Best DirtBag Size: Small

Make your own home-made energy gel at home or buy energy gels in bulk from a nutritional company and simply weigh your small DirtBag as you fill each one to get precise fuel and carb amounts. A 45g weight Small DirtBag will have approximately 30g of carbs in it, depending on what carb choices you use.

It's then as simple as making as many energy gels in the small DirtBags as you want depending on what training, race or adventure you are doing.

When you need it, you open up the zips, consume in a few seconds, close the zip and then place the empty small DirtBag in to a large DirtBag to keep yourself and gear clean and so you can take home, wash, dry and reuse on another day.

Bulk Options/Resources:

• Check out FindTrail.co and their fuel database to find energy gels in bulk.

Using Energy Powder in DirtBags

If you prefer to use energy powders in your training, racing and adventures, this is how you can utilise DirtBags with your fuelling strategy.

Best DirtBag Size: Small and Large

Buy your energy powders from your favourite nutritional brands and simply decant the powder in to small DirtBags whilst you weigh them.

A 45g Small DirtBag will contain approx 35-40g of carbohydrates depending on what energy powder you use. Now you have a single serve energy powder in a small DirtBag.

Repeat this with as many as you need to get 60g+ of carbs per hour. For instance, if you are running for 6 hours, you would aim to have 12 of these small DirtBags and you would decant two of them each hour in to two soft flask (one in each soft flask).

It takes just 20-30 seconds to take out from your hydration vest, open the Small DirtBag up and decant in to your soft flask or bottles as you also add water. Then put the empty DirtBag in to a Large DirtBag to keep organised and take home to wash, dry and reuse on another adventure.

You can also use Large DirtBags to carry energy powder too, carrying a full days worth of energy. Just pour your required amount in to the DirtBag from your tub or bag and add a small serving spoon in to the DirtBag too.

When you need to add energy powder in to your soft flasks or bottles, just open up, use the serving spoon to put in your exact amount you require, close the DirtBag and pack away to use later.

Using Energy Chews and Bars in DirtBags

If you prefer a solid form of fuel, you can buy or make these at home by checking out the fuel database and recipes at FindTrail.co

Just like with the energy gel setup, you have your chew or bar or choice and portion them in to small DirtBags.

I love to use chewy sweets as they more often than not have glucose and fructose as their main ingredients. You simply put a few of them in to a small DirtBag, in this case I would add around 40g of chewy sweets, energy bar or energy chews I have bought and this would give me around 30g of carbs per small DirtBag.

Depending on how long I was running for, i'd make two portions for every hour I was out on the trail and this would cover me for at least 60g+g of carbs per hour.

Just like with single-serve packets of energy chews or bars, you can get precise fuelling for your training, racing and adventures but also potentially save money and most importantly, save on plastic waste that goes in to the landfill. As once you have used your small DirtBag with your energy chews inside, put the empty in to a Large DirtBag to keep it organised and then wash and dry that at home, ready for your next adventure and to be reused.

Organising Gear in Large DirtBags

If you want to organise gear to be used at specific moments for ultra-marathons, fastpacking and longer distance adventures, small and even more specifically, Large DirtBags are perfect for this use case.

Below we'll go through a foot management kit that I have used on longer adventures. But you are free to use large DirtBags for whatever gear, equipment or accessories you want to keep organised or potentially dry in your bags.

In a Large DirtBag I will keep a small microfiber towel and a spare pair of socks. In another Large DirtBag I will keep k-tape or fleecy webb (some of the best tape i've ever used for taping up my feet), scissors (use safety scissors or those as part of a multi tool) and bandages.

In another Large DirtBag I will have a number of Small DirtBags that will contain foot cream (something like Trenchfoot Cream), sterilizing cream, foot talc, safety pins.

This would be considered a complete foot management kit for me. I can take my socks off, wash my feet (with water), dry them with the microfiber towel, then talc them whilst I keep my feet out to continue to dry and air.

If I have blisters I can treat them with the safety pins, sterilizing cream, k-tape, scissors and then put a fresh pair of socks on before I continue. Everything is organised in just two Large DirtBags, makes it easy to find, should all be dry and kept in a small setup that you could even take with you if you don't have access to drop bags.

Above are just some of the items and fuel options you can put in to your DirtBags. They show you the basic scenarios they can be used and what they can replace, single-use plastic packaging and plastic ziploc bags that all end up in landfill.

Below we go through exact scenarios you can use DirtBags to be more environmentally friendly whilst still having convenience and potentially saving money on fuel sources too.

Trail Running and Road Running Scenarios

Pre-Workout Fuel

Decant bulk bought energy gel, home made energy gel or energy chews that you have bought or made yourself in to a small DirtBag. For an energy boost before intervals, tempo runs, speed work or a high intensity training session.

Just like a single-use energy gel, you get the exact carbs that you require, 20-40g depending on what fuel you use, you get the convenience of just opening up the Small DirtBag and consuming it in seconds. But without any of the plastic waste that is created after a single-use, all whilst potentially saving money too! 

You can stick with your favourite nutritional brands gels or chews during racing but recreate them for training to save money.

During Workout or Race

Multiple small DirtBags with gels, powders, or homemade fuel for sustained energy. Aim for a small DirtBag containing 30g of fuel in the form of bulk bought or home-made energy gel or chew every 30 minutes for a 60g of carbs per hour fuel strategy.

Just put 2 for every hour of running in to your shorts, waistbelt or hydration vest to consume when you need them.

You can stick with your favourite nutritional brands gels or chews during races but recreate them at home to use when training and this could save you money.

If you prefer snacking on more real foods, you can use the Large DirtBag to carry home-made fuel options in a larger bag that you just grab food from when you need it. I love to run with potatoes, energy balls, potato cakes, crisps, dates that can all provide the energy I need for long adventures.