BUILT FOR RACE DAY.
Running has always been about preparation for me.
I'm Reinout Harkema, a passionate runner with a background in the military. As an ex-soldier, I naturally prepare for everything in detail. Gear checked. Nutrition packed. Backup plan ready. I like knowing everything is taken care of before heading into a challenge.
Over time, I noticed that many runners around me experienced race day very differently.
People forgot nutrition, anti-chafe cream or sunscreen. New running shirts got ruined by safety pins. Expensive sweaters and jackets were left behind at the start because runners wanted to stay warm before the race. And almost everyone seemed to have the same doubts before every event:
Did I pack enough?
Did I bring too much?
What do I actually need today?
Because I always brought everything carefully prepared in my own race-day pouch, other runners constantly started asking me for things before races.
"Do you maybe have anti-chafe?
"Do you still have an extra gel?
"Where did you get that race belt?
"Do you maybe have sunscreen?"
At first, I was simply helping other runners around me.
But after hearing the same questions over and over again, the idea behind HARKEMA slowly started to grow.
What if runners no longer had to think about all those small race-day essentials themselves?
What if there was one carefully selected kit that simply gave runners peace of mind before the race even started?
That idea became HARKEMA.
A premium race-day essentials brand designed to help runners feel prepared, calm and focused on race day.
Every HARKEMA kit is built around simplicity and preparation.
No unnecessary products.
No overcomplicated choices.
Only the essentials runners actually use before, during and after a race.
From nutrition and anti-chafe cream to race number belts and emergency ponchos — every item is included for a reason.
Because race day should be about performance.
Not stress.
