Winter running gear?

I haven't yet run in winter (so I'll be watching this thread, as I plan to this year) but dressmyrun.com lets you enter random conditions and then suggests the clothes that are appropriate. Perhaps that would help?

Don't worry too much about the leggings. You will be running which keeps your body temp up somewhat. Wear warm gloves and a fleece headband. Double up in leggings if you need to. My Arcteryx jacket worked pretty well for running. Long shirt under in case you get too warm. Wool socks!

You want to be a little cold at the beginning of your run, because you will warm up. Staying warm overall is a game of NOT SWEATING (wet=>cold).

I find that running tights with a windblocking neoprene panel in the front of the thighs to cut the wind are the best option for Upper Midwest/Plains winters. I also sometimes wear a pair of regular running shorts over the top--not for modesty, but for an extra layer of fabric over my butt. I have an older pair of the Road Runners Second Wind Tight. I've been very pleased with their durability and warmth. Pearl Izumi also makes a fantastic windblocking sports tight, but I don't think their Winter 15-16 product line is available yet.

For me, it's mostly a game of keeping my toes, hands, and ears warm. I swear by Drymax Winter Socks because I'm mildly allergic to wool (they are synthetic). A lot of people really like SmartWool socks, though. For hands, I *need* thick mittens with chemical handwarmers (HeatMax, HotHands, etc) in them to counteract Reynaud's syndrome. I have a fantastic pair of Salomon gloves that I can wear into the 40s or even upper 30s, but I haven't seen the 15-16 edition of them yet, either, and all the 14-15 ones sold out. (I hope to pick up a second pair this year).

I find that I sweat WAY too much to wear even a thin hat, but a winter running headband that covers my ears works great. I have a couple of the Brooks Infiniti in high-vis colors and they're perfect.

On top, the combination that works for me is a wicking/synthetic short sleeve T-shirt, arm warmers (I cut the toes off a cheap pair of knee socks), and when it is really cold a light running jacket like the Brooks Infiniti. I've tried thicker or fleece-lined or windproof jackets in the past, and I end up sweating too much no matter how cold it is. So that's been an experiment for me. You'll probably have to play around a little, too.

One thing to keep in mind is visibility. Even if you're not running at night, the light will be dimmer and road conditions might not be as good, so you'll want reflective stuff and bright colors, maybe even LED lights, so cars can see you better.

I do end up on the treadmill during the winter sometimes--of course their are whiteout days when the town forbids people to be outside for safety reasons, but also some days I simply have no place to run. The sidewalks have a foot of loose snow, there are snowplow piles blocking every corner that are taller than me, the shoulders of the streets are filled with plow detritus, and the local park turns its trails over to cross-country skiing. So--just be prepared for some schedule shakeups from time to time.

Finally, there will be GREAT deals on winter running stuff from the major online retailers (Running Warehouse, Moosejaw, REI, Backcountry) between Halloween and Thanksgiving. It's a great time to stock up on both leftovers from previous seasons, and the new stock for this year.

FWIW, our winters are snowier, equally windy, and not *quite* as cold as North Dakota.