Strathpuffer 2026 Frozen Trails and Firepits

By Sean Unwin 22 Jan 2026

From frozen tracks to firepit nights, go behind the scenes with Alpkit and Sonder at Strathpuffer 2026. Riders, racing, and real winter endurance.

Strathpuffer 2026 greeted us exactly as expected: snow-covered, icy, remote, and buzzing with anticipation. Alpkit and Sonder flags were flying high on our Inverness pop-up shop, ready for a weekend of endurance racing, storytelling, and community in the heart of the Contin Forest.

The event site lay at the end of a narrow, single-track road coated in snow and ice, and progress was slow and careful. It took longer than expected, but eventually our on-site team consisting of Sean, Joe, Adam and Dave made it down safely.

The marquee area was solidly frozen, caked in snow and ice, so the first task was clearing the ground before we could even think about building the shop. Once cleared, everything came together quickly: walls, arms, tables and stock went up smoothly, and soon the pop-up shop was open and ready for action.

With the shop built, we turned our attention to camp. Our sleeping and cooking setup sat a couple of hundred metres down an icy track. A cluster of Zhota tents, a gazebo, and a firepit formed our communal space, where we cooked, warmed up, and swapped stories. Armed with Arctic Dream sleeping bags, we settled in for a sub-zero night.

Race day began early. Throughout the morning we met a steady stream of Alpkit regulars and first-timers alike, many keen to find out where their nearest store was. The event created a brilliant stage – competitors, supporters and spectators everywhere, all keen to chat gear and bikes.

The race itself started at 10, launching riders into a true winter wonderland. Stunning to look at, brutal to ride. Ice dominated the course, with some competitors opting for spikes and others bravely (or foolishly) going without. Many riders had hoped for exactly these conditions, and Strathpuffer delivered. Watching riders descend icy tracks at speed, framed by snow-covered forest, was exhilarating.

Alpkit and Sonder were well represented on course. Lily and Tom from the Hathersage store rode a Signal and Evol. Nick Howarth and the Team Rother Valley Riders were out on a Broken Road, Signal Pinion and rigid Frontier. Eliza from Edinburgh returned aiming to repeat her success from the past two years, having already won her category twice.

As night fell, conditions worsened. Temperatures dropped further and steady rain began to fall – not enough to melt the ice, but enough to turn other sections into deep, unrideable mud. Many riders were forced to dismount and carry their bikes. In the early hours it became truly treacherous, yet the riders pushed on, finally finishing at 11am.

From clearing ice to building walls, camping in sub-zero temperatures, and watching riders aged from 11 to 86 stand on the podium – Strathpuffer 2026 delivered everything it promised, and more.

Podium Results