Industry News
The Crowded Starting Line: How OCR Is Fighting for Athletes in a Booming Endurance Market
September 26, 2026
From Couch to Barbed Wire: What It’s Really Like to Do Your First OCR
Every OCR veteran was once a first-timer. Before the medal collection, the race calendars, and the casual conversations about obstacle technique — there was a moment of pure “what did I just sign up for?” …
Best Headlamps for Night OCR: Because Running Into Obstacles You Can’t See Is Not a Strategy
Wall & Wire may earn a commission from links in this article. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence — we only recommend gear we’d actually race in. Night races and 24-hour endurance events like World’s …
Does Compression Gear Actually Help in OCR? What the Science Says (and What Racers Report)
Wall & Wire may earn a commission from links in this article. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence — we only recommend gear we’d actually race in. Walk through any OCR starting corral and you’ll …
Best Hydration Packs for OCR: How to Carry Water Without Slowing Down
Wall & Wire may earn a commission from links in this article. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence — we only recommend gear we’d actually race in. For Sprint-distance races, you can get away with …
Best Grip Gloves for OCR in 2026: Do You Need Them, and Which Ones Actually Work?
Wall & Wire may earn a commission from links in this article. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence — we only recommend gear we’d actually race in. The grip glove debate in OCR is almost …
Best OCR Shoes for 2026: 5 Trail Runners That Can Handle Mud, Water, and Everything In Between
Wall & Wire may earn a commission from links in this article. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence — we only recommend gear we’d actually race in. Your shoes are the single most important gear …
How to Train for the Barbed Wire Crawl: Faster, Smarter, Less Painful
Difficulty: Beginner Equipment: Bodyweight (optional: resistance band, stability ball) Obstacles This Helps With: Barbed wire crawl, low crawls, tunnel obstacles, any ground-based obstacle The barbed wire crawl is one of those obstacles that looks straightforward …
The Bucket Carry: How to Train for OCR’s Most Deceptively Brutal Obstacle
Difficulty: All levels Equipment: Sandbag, heavy backpack, or actual bucket with gravel Obstacles This Helps With: Bucket carry, sandbag carry, atlas carry, tire drag, any loaded carry obstacle Nobody fears the bucket carry before their …
How to Get Over the Wall: Technique and Training for OCR’s Most Iconic Obstacle
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate Equipment: Bodyweight, box or bench for step-ups Obstacles This Helps With: 4-foot wall, 6-foot wall, 8-foot wall, inverted wall, slip wall Every OCR athlete has a wall story. Maybe it’s the …
Your First Spartan Race: A No-BS Training and Race Day Guide
Difficulty: Beginner Equipment: Bodyweight + basic gym equipment Target Audience: First-time Spartan racers You signed up. Maybe it was a New Year’s resolution, a dare from a friend, or a social media rabbit hole that …
5 Grip Strength Exercises Every Obstacle Racer Needs
Difficulty: All levels Equipment: Pull-up bar, kettlebell or dumbbell, towel Obstacles This Helps With: Monkey bars, rope climb, Twister, multi-rig, Tyrolean traverse, bucket carry, atlas carry Here’s a truth that every experienced OCR athlete learns …
How to Crush the Rope Climb: A Complete Guide for OCR Athletes
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate Equipment: Climbing rope (or gym alternative), pull-up bar Obstacles This Helps With: Rope climb, Tyrolean traverse, any vertical climbing obstacle You’re on mile 7, your forearms are pumped, your grip is …