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[ Wire ] · Dispatch · Nov 07

Boston Marathon Gear Check Rules: Bag Drop and Hopkinton Policy

Because the Boston Marathon is a point-to-point race from Hopkinton to Boston, race-day baggage logistics operate differently from most major marathons. Runners must check their post-race dry clothes in Back Bay before boarding buses to the start, and the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) does not transport bags from Hopkinton back to Boston.

Here is how Boston gear check works, when drop-off opens and closes, what bags can travel to Hopkinton, and which items are prohibited.

Where and when is finish-area gear check in Boston?

Gear check is located near the finish area in Boston on Boylston Street and Berkeley Street, two blocks east of the finish line and one block west of the Boston Public Garden.

Operating hours on race morning are:

  • Drop-off hours: 5:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
  • Pick-up hours: 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Runners must use the clear plastic gear check bag provided by the B.A.A. at packet pickup during the expo. No other bags will be accepted at gear check. Before handing your bag to volunteers, you must affix your provided gear check sticker label matching your bib number and cinch the drawstrings tightly so items do not spill out. Do not check valuables, as race organizers are not responsible for lost items or bags.

Are bags transported from Hopkinton to Boston?

No. The B.A.A. does not transport bags, luggage, or backpacks from the start in Hopkinton to the finish in Boston. Any personal belongings you bring to the start must stay on your person or be discarded in Hopkinton.

Extra layers of warm clothing brought to the Athletes' Village must be discarded before entering your corral. The B.A.A. collects all clothing left behind in Hopkinton and donates it to local charitable organizations.

The single exception to bag transport is for participants requiring personal breast pumps or medical devices. Athletes registered for the B.A.A. Lactation and Medical Device Program receive an official 18" x 19" clear drawstring bag at the expo. Staff transport these bags from the start-area trailer to the finish-area Operations Tent at Boylston and Berkeley Street.

What bags can you take on the bus to Hopkinton?

Only official or compliant small bags are permitted on B.A.A. shuttle buses and inside the Hopkinton start area:

  • Start Area Bag: One clear plastic one-gallon bag (maximum one per runner) used exclusively to carry food or sports drink. You receive this bag at packet pickup containing your bib, though you may also supply your own clear one-gallon bag.
  • Waist pack: One waist pack per runner, measuring no larger than 5 inches by 15 inches by 5 inches, to carry fuel, medication, identification, cell phones, or keys.
  • Fuel belt: Standard manufactured fuel belts holding bottles of one liter or smaller.
  • Armbands: Armbands capable of carrying a cell phone or small camera.

All items and bags entering buses or secure areas are subject to search by security and law enforcement personnel.

Which items are strictly prohibited?

To ensure runner safety, the B.A.A. prohibits the following items on buses, in the Athletes' Village, and along the course:

  • Backpacks, handbags, shoulder bags, suitcases, and rolling luggage of any size.
  • Personal hydration systems such as CamelBak bladders, weight vests, and vests with water pockets or bladders.
  • Liquid containers larger than one liter, as well as any glass containers.
  • Selfie sticks, action camera poles, folding chairs, weapons, and strollers.
  • Bulky costumes extending beyond the perimeter of the body or covering the face.
  • Any item or bag exceeding 5 inches by 15 inches by 5 inches outside official clear bags.

To review cutoff times, qualification standards, and event logistics, visit our Boston Marathon page.

Sources: B.A.A. Info for Athletes

Sources Boston Athletic Association