Complete Guide to Adventure Racing: How to Start Your "Adult Adventure" and Essential Gear

Published on: April 1, 2026 | Updated on: April 30, 2026 | Author: Hiroki Nakata (Representative of KATANA Adventure Ltd.)

At the starting point, a map is handed over. Relying on that topographic map, which only has the coordinates of the checkpoints marked, we cross mountains, rivers, pedal our bikes, and aim for the goal. There are no directions. There is no correct path.

That is adventure racing.

Many may know Team EAST WIND, which appeared on the TV show "Crazy Journey," or Masato Tanaka, known as "the Demon Sergeant." Some may have been shocked by the "Eco-Challenge" available on Amazon Prime. The Japanese version and introductory version of that grueling race is now being held nationwide. Approximately 27 races are held annually across the country, from Okinawa to Hokkaido.

It's different from marathons. It's different from mountaineering. It's different from triathlons. You can simultaneously experience the intellectual thrill of reading maps and the primal pleasure of pushing your body to its limits. And there’s the addition of teamwork, creating a unique human drama—it's a one-of-a-kind sport.

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The joy of finding that orange and white flag in the terrain I imagined while progressing through unmarked paths. Or the joy of finding the flag after becoming lost, going up and down ridges, and traversing streams. It's irreplaceable. It's addictive.

The moment I found that orange and white flag blew everything away.

▶ In the next Chapter —— Why did a former mechanical engineer delve into this world? I will talk about my racing experiences during my time in the U.S. and the journey to my two consecutive victories in Niseko.

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Paragliding, mountaineering, trail running —— Having traversed the outdoors, I somehow completed the UTMF (Ultra-Trail Mount Fuji, an ultra-long-distance mountain race over 100 miles) in 2015. I felt a sense of accomplishment. But at the same time, there was a void of "What should I do next?"

At that moment, I encountered OMM (Original Mountain Marathon). Running through the mountains with a topographic map in hand, I became completely captivated by map reading. Even after the race, I kept muttering about the map, and my wife (Fukiko) didn't miss my remark, "I want to read maps more." It was a natural flow for Fukiko, who had previously been invited by a senior to participate in an adventure race and had always wanted to do it again. Initially, I resisted, saying, "It seems like there are too many things to do, like mountain biking and kayaking, so I don't want to." However, I quickly became hooked after finishing at the top with a significant margin during the Nokogiriyama Adventure Weekend in December 2016. Around the same time, I also stepped into orienteering and began attending map reading competitions every weekend.

The following years were all about immersing myself in map reading races. I won the overall championship at the 2017 OMM Score Long, and in the 2019 OMM Straight Elite, I teamed up with Fukiko to win the mixed category. I also achieved the annual championship in the Extreme Series that same year.

In the fall of 2019, when I packed too many races, I finally had a dream where I became a contour line. When I posted it on social media, it unexpectedly received a lot of attention. This is a story about how people become like this when they get too hooked on map reading. I also wrote about this period in an article contributed to the Orienteering Advent Calendar. → "Orienteering and Adventure Racing from a Working Adult's Perspective"

In 2020, I was assigned to Illinois, USA, for work. The neighboring state of Wisconsin is particularly active in adventure racing in the US, with over 13 races held annually in a series. Although it was an overseas assignment as an engineer, I continued to race there as well. I placed 3rd in the Wisconsin AR series and participated in the US AR National Championship twice.

📹 A recorded video of the US AR race by IMasa Adventure

The fields in America are different from those in Japan. Thorny grass, thorns, and plains with no visibility. Hellish depressions and swamps carved by glaciers. It took a considerable amount of time to get used to it. Competing in the diverse terrains of the world is no small feat. And the details of the gear directly reflect on time and damage to the body. The feeling I had in Japan of "if only I had better tools" became even more intense here. For detailed records of orienteering and AR in America, see here. → "Orienteering and AR in Chicago"

As an engineer for 16 years, I began to seriously think, "Why is there so much compromise in race gear?" during this period.

After returning to Japan in 2023, the team stepped up a gear. They won the 2024 Niseko Expedition (38 hours, the largest adventure race in Japan) against veteran teams from Australia and domestic professional teams. In the same year, they were invited to the Adventure1 Asia World Cup Malaysia IRON BOUND 48H and also challenged their first international expedition race. In 2025, they won Niseko again, resulting in an invitation to participate in the 2026 A1 World Cup Final (Langkawi, Malaysia). For more details, please see the race report.

There are things that become visible only because we continue to play seriously. Creating what we truly want. —— That is the origin of KATANA Adventure.

▶ In the next Chapter —— I will explain why Japan's unique "bushwhacking" fields are so harsh and how even slight differences in gear can significantly affect times.

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When discussing adventure racing, one cannot avoid the unique field environment of Japan. That is "bushwhacking."

Bushwhacking is the technique of pushing through areas without mountain trails. If you choose the shortest route on the map, there will naturally be "no path." High shrubs, bear grass, ferns, thorns, vines, fallen trees. —— You cannot be surprised by anything that comes your way. The key to shortening adventure race times is to get through such terrain as quickly as possible.

My bushwhacking style is "shortest distance principle." It is often more advantageous in terms of conserving energy to go straight through somewhat dense underbrush than to take a long detour. In fact, it is not uncommon for me, who runs a full marathon at around sub-3.5, to pull away from sub-3 runners in the bushwhacking section.

However, maintaining that "shortest distance" is not easy. If you are too concerned about your shoes, shins, and compass, you cannot maintain the route.

▶ In the next Chapter —— How engineers developed gear to solve on-site challenges. We will share the development stories of two products: gaiters and the switch compass.

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“Creating what we truly want” —— As the words say, KATANA Adventure's two flagship products were born from the race scene.

The impetus for developing gaiters was a simple "dissatisfaction." All the gaiters on the market are designed for climbing or light trails. The intense load of bushwhacking —— Impact from branches from the side, forces that cause slipping, resistance to mud and water —— There was nothing that was truly designed with that in mind.

In 2023, we decided that "we have no choice but to make it ourselves." We searched for fabrics, prototyped fasteners, and repeated field tests. We prototyped and verified parts with a 3D printer (Bambu Lab X1-Carbon). The cord that goes through the sole was initially a gear drive belt, but we tested many types until we arrived at Dyneema cord. The mechanism for easily tightening and securing the cord is a completely original design, and we have applied for a utility model. There were dozens of changes in shape. Each time it didn't go well, we changed the design and sewed it again. This process also increased the number of arguments between us (laughs).

Shoe gaiters must meet the absolute condition of "not riding up even when bushwhacking." Shin gaiters must "protect the shins in any thicket while not hindering movement. In hot weather, they can be lowered to release heat." Balancing flexibility and strength was the challenge. In 2024, we finally completed something that can be confidently called "this." Current model, in shipment.

The story of creating shoes gaiters and trail gaiters that don't slip while bushwhacking

The compass is the navigator's partner. In adventure racing, where there are many situations of taking supplies or riding MTB, a basic plate compass is difficult to use. That's why I have loved using the thumb compass (the type worn on the thumb).

However, when bushwhacking or sliding down a steep slope —— I have experienced many times when the compass slipped out of my fingers. Losing a compass during a race is fatal. After thinking, "Isn't there a way?" I arrived at the uniquely designed switch compass.

Of course, it can be used fixed to the thumb as a thumb compass, but when not needed, it can switch to a wrist compass (checked on the wrist side like a watch). Thanks to the rubber cord, the fit is improved, and there is no worry of it falling off, and it does not interfere with MTB or supplies. This is KATANA Adventure's flagship compass. I hope you check it along with the genuine KanPas compass. For detailed selection, see → How to Choose a Compass | Comparison of Plate and Thumb, Explained by an Adventure Racer Who Developed the Unique Switch Compass

View the compass product page →

▶ In the next Chapter —— Is it okay for those who have no physical strength or MTB experience? I will explain the "first step" of adventure racing by purpose.

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Adventure racing is not just for elite athletes. If you feel the romance, anyone can participate. Because before it is a race, it is an "adventure." What is required is not just "speed," but also the ability to read maps, collaborate with teammates, and make judgments in nature. Unlike marathons, where rankings are determined solely by time, the sense of achievement when you finish is incomparable to any other race.

I receive the most questions like, "Where should I start?" The answer varies depending on what you are looking for.

I myself became captivated by the fun of map reading at OMM, honed my basics through orienteering, and before I knew it, I was deeply immersed in adventure racing. Paragliding, mountaineering, trail running, kayaking, uninhabited islands, free diving —— The experiences from past activities have directly contributed to strength in adventure racing. Experiences in the mountains, rivers, and seas are never wasted.

▶ In the next Chapter —— Introducing the official KATANA Adventure calendar where you can see a list of adventure races across the country. You can quickly find races happening in your area.

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KATANA Adventure publishes information on adventure races held throughout Japan in one place as the "AR Calendar." You can check the national race schedule on a calendar and map, making it easy to see "what races are happening near your area." We cover a wide range, from a few-hour races for beginners to expedition races over 30 hours for experienced participants.

Information is updated regularly. We also welcome information from event organizers and participants. —— A map for nurturing Japan's AR scene together. We look forward to meeting you at some race.

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