Winter running tips and gear help?

Wool could be nice.

What I used to do is basically wear a summer shirt under a sweatshirt of some, kind, hat, gloves, regular socks and shoes, shorts.
If it's really cold, like freezing or below, i'll add sweatpants or tights.

Hat and gloves are a must though! I could run down into the 40s with shorts, and tech T-shirt, hat and gloves. BTW, I have a set of Nike running hat and gloves I picked up at an outlet store that have been good, but growing up I just used stretchy gloves and a knit stocking hat.

A wool base layer? Sounds itchy to me!

Consider silk as a base layer. For sources, consider looking at cold weather motorcycle gear. Sometimes it's a lot cheaper than running gear and it's virtually the same thing. You really need something that will wick away the moisture (sweat) from your skin.

wool socks for sure, but I'd skip the wool base layer and go with a thin silk layer.

I'm also in NYC so here are my suggestions:

layer up - thin layers you can add and strip as you go are best. I do a thin silk base top layer (got it from LL Bean) and use a thermal over that - I really like CRAFT for their thermals - expensive but I bought mine in 2009 and have abused the crap out of it and it's still as good as new and one of my favorite cold weather things. then you need a light windproof shell to go over it. you're body will be working and producing its own heat so the trick is to keep it in there... something you can ball up tiny and put in a pack should you get too hot and decide you want to carry it instead would be good. I have a cycling one that rolls up into nothing by Castelli. for your bottom layer, I'd invest in two pairs of tights - Bellweather and Sugoi last forever and are good bets. I have a lighter pair of Sugoi tights for late Fall running, and a fleece lined pair of Bellweather tights for dead of winter running. wool socks are a must - if you're running on snow covered trails, get some of those toe warmer thingies skiiers use. Gloves are another biggie... I can run in shorts and a tank top with arm warmers as cold as 50 degrees out, but once it goes below 60 I need gloves. I have a cheap thin pair of Nike gloves, and then I have a pair of thick fleece lined gloves for winter running. Last but not least, invest in a good beanie. The Smartwool ones are okay, but I actually love these things called Balaclavas - they're used for cycling a lot - fleece caps with a little area on the bottom to pull over your nose/mouth... sometimes it really helps with breathing as cold air can irritate your airways - also helps keep the snot at bay, having a fleece part pulled up under your nose.

But yeah, best thing to do is buy a few layers so you can adjust according to the weather - I actually keep a chart for cycling and running on what temperature requires what type of clothing... it's all about trial and error, but I hope what I've shared helps.

Tagging to read later. I am curious for the answers as well. I figured I was going to need to buy a bunch of Under Armour stuff lol.

I love wool base layers. When I run in colder weather 15 to 35 degrees F I wear a hat and gloves. I often wear a specific running-designed vest that provides ventilation in the back and wind protection in the front (sporthill). Occasionally I may wear a running jacket. In the snow I wear Yak Trax for grip. I often have to start out with some layers and remove or open things up on the run (unzip, remove gloves and just wear liners, etc.). And when it is really cold I wear a balaclava to keep my face from freezing.

The hardest part is starting out cold! But you warm up quickly, so you have to dress for that, not for how you feel when you step outside.

Last winter I found that layering a wicking tank or tee on the bottom, with a long sleeve polypropylene or other tech fabric top was just about perfect, especially with a half zip for ventilation (I live in California, but it gets damp/cold/windy here in winter, especially in the early morning!). If it's really cold or windy, a light fleece vest was great for keeping my core warm.

A light windbreaker/shell was good for rainy days. Lightweight beanie or fleece head-wrap to keep my ears warm - head wrap was nice because it was easy to loop onto my arm if I got too warm with it during the run. Lightweight gloves were nice too - I'm seeing more and more of them with the "tech finger" or whatever they call it, but ones that you can still use the touch screen on your phone or iPod without removing the gloves is very handy.

Other than that - running tights or capris worked well for me, I wore my usual running socks, but might opt for smart wool or similar brand if it was really cold.

Have fun - enjoy the various weather conditions! I think it's part of the fun of running.

thanks I was looking for the same

http://www.****ssportinggoods.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=13355327


i always go into ****s and they have tons of crap, but it is pricey. Plus if your running, you have to remember to dress less than if you were just going outside, cause you will get hot. I usually dress as if it is 10-15 degrees warmer than whatever temp it is.


those stars are d i c k


if it is 50 degrees i dress like its 60

if it is 40 degrees i dress like its 55

if it is 20-30 degrees i dress warm with like a wool jacket.


i have to keep my gym membership personally, cause where i live i get a lot of snow, and trying to pace myself in a foot of snow is a pain in my A S S

I love love running in the winter, even though I detest the cold!

The trick is to wear wicking fabric as your base layer. You still sweat when it's cold, and wet cotton is not good.

I wear a fitted under layer that is dry-fit material (long sleeve top and pants).
Fleece jacket -- sometimes 2 layers if it's below freezing.
Looser running pants (over the tight ones)
Dry-fit socks (not wool or cotton). Make sure your ankles arent exposed.
Glove liners (also dry-fit). They are thin and you can still start/stop your watch. Make sure our wrists aren't exposed.
Hat with face mask. I have one that covers my nose and chin, but I can pull it down under my chin when I get warm.

If you run in the dark, wear a reflective vest.

Dress for 20* warmer than the temp. (i.e. if it's 30* outside, dress for 50*) This helps to keep you from over-dressing.
For snow and ice: Yaktrax!! They are AWESOME! You can get them through Amazon.com for under $20

Also, runningwarehouse.com has GREAT sales, a good return policy and, oftentimes, free shipping.

Happy running

Can I add a question, what about running in the rain? Some people have said just get wet but others say buy a waterproof layer. Opinions please? X

That so much depends on the temperature. If it is rainy and above 10C (50F), I just get wet. If it is rainy and below 10C, I wear at least a water resistant jacket.

To answer the original question....

For winter running, I have whole stages of leg wear and tops:
I start with shorts and a t-shirt until about 15C (60F) - tech fabrics
Between 10 and 15C, I wear shorts and a long sleeve tech fabric tee (usually a race shirt I have acquired)
Between 5 and 10C, I usually go to capri running tights and a ls tee (sometimes a jacket if it's early in the morning)
Between 0 and 5C, I go to full tights, and add gloves and sometimes a wool beenie hat (it's an amazing Icebreaker one...love it)
When it gets really cold, I move to running pants that have a wind breaker in the front...sometimes I add tights below them. I might add a layer between the ls tee and jacket, though I rarely need to.

Yak traks are great for running in the snow. Trail shoes (such as the ones that Soloman makes) are also good 4 season shoes. I wear them on the trails in the nice weather and then in the snow (and even snowshoeing) in the winter.

As a snowboarder, wool and silk are both good baselayers and really comfortable. Wool is often a bit cheaper. I wear wool socks to snowboards, but couldn't imagine running in them. My feet are hot and sweaty running in my regular runnings even when it is well below 0C (perhaps that's TMI).

Can I add a question, what about running in the rain? Some people have said just get wet but others say buy a waterproof layer. Opinions please? X

when running in the cold rain, a waterproof jacket is great - biggest thing to look for is sealed seams, otherwise, it's not truly waterproof. as long as there are sealed seams and waterproof material, the next thing to look for is weight. I'd recommend going as light as possible to keep with the layering theme... if you get too hot, you can always remove a layer underneath and wrap around your waist. when you're running in the rain, you're going to get wet, no matter what you're wearing, but if you keep your top/chest warm and dry, you should be fine for at least an hour.

Can I add a question, what about running in the rain? Some people have said just get wet but others say buy a waterproof layer. Opinions please? X

I was just about to post the same question. I skipped my AM run today because of the first rain of the season, but I don't want to do that all winter.

I am an AM runner in NorCal so the temps aren't too bad during the winter months - at most down to maybe 35-degrees in the rain. The one race I ran in the race last year I wore a poncho, but was overheating 1/2 way through and it wasn't very ideal for training runs.

Nike has a winter running pant that is awesome! The fit is nice (not a tight). I found mine at "Sport Authority."

I am very fond of outdoor running. I daily went for it. My favouriate outfit for outdoor running is a light warm shirt and wool shorts.
Try this outfit, Hope you like it. Here are some pics chk them that may be helpful for you.. :flowerforyou:


http://www.thecustomclothing.com/women/shorts