Running Clothes & Gear – Winter 2015 Edition

There are worst places to run in the winter than Washington, D.C.  Temperatures may drop in the teens on some mornings but 20 and 30 degree temperatures are the norm.  We tend to have maybe a dozen snow days, but the bigger issue for runners is freezing rain that chills to the bone and also causes slick surfaces.

Here are the clothes and gear that get me through the winter.  Many of these items have been discontinued since I originally purchased them.  If so, I’ve provided links to items that look comparable or alternative sites that seem to still sell the item.

Outerwear

What I look for: Warm but light-weight fabric, fleece lining, water-resistance, a fit that keeps the elements out (i.e., no gaps around the neck, wrists, and waist), and pockets.

On the light-weight end of outerwear, I have a few pull-overs that I wear with an undershirt.

Brooks PureProject Henley (Discontinued).  ($45).  This is a great pullover – light weight and cozy.   It feels like you’re running in your pajamas.  But, it’s also stylish.  The biggest downside is that it doesn’t have any pockets!  It’s also not very fitted around the waist, so, without an undershirt, cold air wafts up the shirt.

Saucony Ridge Runner Hoodie. ($105).  This is a recent purchase and I’ve only worn it once.  It’s warm enough for early winter days and very fashionable.  Functionally, the hoodie/neck warmer is a little too loose to serve either purpose well.  And, the front pockets are actually one large pocket.  It looks good, though.  It’s a little itchy so I would only wear it with an undershirt.

When the weather dips or turns foul, I bring out my favorite light-weight jackets.

Asics NYC Marathon Storm Shelter Jacket.  ($135).  On rainy days, I absolutely love wearing this jacket.  It’s warm and waterproof.  I’m constantly finding new features that make my runs more comfortable.  There are elastic pulls on the removable hood and waist band to keep it tight, vents on the sides that allow some body heat to escape, fabric on the wrists to keep the air out.  It’s a shame don’t sell this without the NYC Marathon logo.

Nike Dri-Fit Running Jacket.  ($110).  The model I have is an older one but the design looks pretty similar.  I like wearing this jacket for winter speed workouts because it’s very light-weight and the fabric moves.  My version has a very thin fleece lining and the fit keeps the warmth in.   The current model appears to have nice sized pockets and thumb holes on the sleeves.

When it gets cold and snowy, I bring out the heavy-hitters.

Road Runner Sports Jacket (Discontinued).  The R-Gear Night Watch Jacket ($80) looks comparable.  The jacket is fleece-lines and warm.  It’s also water resistant so it’s good for dry snowy days.  It’s not very fitted at the waist so it does let some air in but since I wear an undershirt, it’s usually fine.  The high collar keeps the cold out.

Saucony ShadowLite Softshell Jacket (Discontinued).  The Saucony Razor Jacket ($175) seems similar.  I wear this jacket on the worst winter running days and it keeps me dry and warm.  It’s pretty expensive but it seemed as though most waterproof jackets are a little spendy.  It has roomy front pockets.  The downsides are that the material is a little stiff.

Tights

What I look for: Light-weight fabric that allows for full range of motion in the legs, length, soft lining, a fit that keeps the elements out (i.e., no gaps around the ankles), and pockets.

Sugoi Midzero and Subzero Tights.  ($80 or $95).  I’m so happy with these tights that I rarely even try on other brands.  The midzero are lighter and allow for a lot of leg movement.  I do winter speed workouts in them.  The subzero are heavier and don’t move as well but they have a warm fleecey lining.  I’m 5’7″ and they hit about 2″ above my ankles, which is fine with me. The only problem I have with these tight is that there aren’t any pockets!  There’s a key pocket on the waist band but that’s it!

Lululemon Speed Tight.  ($108).  I’ve only worn these tights a few times because I bought them this past spring.  The fabric is definitely warm enough for D.C.-area winters.  I think I’d find them a little too restrictive for speed workouts, though.  They have those nice pockets on the tights that are deep enough for a phone.  And, the ruching on the bottom part of the tights is kind of stylish.

I also have two pair of tights from Hind that are great but have been discontinued.

Long Sleeves/Base Layers

What I look for: Warm, sweat-wicking fabric, soft against the skin, and fitted.

For my base layer, I’ll usually wear one of the long-sleeve shirts I wear in the fall since I’m wearing a jacket over it.  But, I have a couple of shirts I wear on the coldest winter days.

Nike Thermal (Discontinued).  This long-sleeve top has been discontinued but it’s perfect for winter running.  It’s thick and fitted but allows a lot of movement in my arms.  It also has a fleecy feel on the inside.

Craft Thermal Base Layer (Discontinued).  The Active Extreme looks similar.  I had my doubts about this top because it’s very thin and incredibly fitted.  But, the salesman at my local running store assured me it would keep me warm.  He was right!  This is a great thermal layer – light but super warm.  The current model looks a little heavier but it’s hard to tell from the image online.

Hats

What I look for: Warm, sweat-wicking fabric, soft, fitted and long enough to covers the ears.

As pictured above, I own a lot of running hats.  But, here are a few of my favorites.

Nike Beanie (Discontinued).  The Nike Run Hazard (~$22) is the replacement model.  It’s a little big for my head, but is probably a fits most people.  It’s also a little heavier than the old model.  Both versions are good for late fall/early winter when I mostly just want a little something to cover my ears..

Brooks Infiniti Beanie.  ($12).  I like this beanie because it’s light-weight and fits just above the ear.  I have one discontinued fleece model and one current model that has tech material on the top and fleece on the rim.

Saucony Drylete Skull Cap.  ($20).  The model I own is a little different than the online version.  It a very breathable, light weight cap.

Asics Felicity Fleece Beanie.  ($22).  The version I own doesn’t appear to be online.  It’s pretty heavy fleece and great for the coldest winter days.  The new edition seems lighter and has a cut-out in the back for a pony tail.  It also doesn’t seem to be fleece.

Burton Tech Beanie.  ($24.95).  This is just a standard ski cap.  I got this one at REI but they’re everywhere.  What’s nice about this one, though, is that it’s fleece lined.  Some nylon ski caps are really warm but a little itchy.

Gloves

What I look for: Warmth.

When the temperature drops below 40, I tend to double up and wear both gloves and mittens because my hands get very cold.

REI Liner Gloves and Fleece Mittens (Discontinued).  I hate it when great gear gets discontinued.  These gloves mittens are perfect – cheap, warm, and fleecy.  Luckily, I bought two pair of each.

The North Face TKA 100 Glove.  ($24).  If I do want a warmer pair of gloves than the ones I wear in the fall, these gloves are good.  They have a little more heft but are still light enough for running.

Smartwool Cozy Mittens.  ($32).  I rarely wear mittens on their own – I’m usually fine with gloves or want to double up, in which case this mittens are too narrow.  But, if I did want mittens along, these are nice ones because they’re very fitted and warm.

Neck Gaiters

What I look for: Warm, soft, snug but not tight, and light-weight.

It doesn’t get so cold around here that I want a balaclava.  I think I would end up being too warm with so much heat trapped around my head and face.  But, I do like wearing a neck gaiter on the coldest days to cover my mouth and warm the air a little.

Buff Hearwear.  ($18.75).  The Original Buff is very thin and light-weight.  I would say it’s about the thickness of a handkerchief.  Since it’s so thin, I’ll sometimes tuck the top of the back under my beanie.  It’s also very fitted around the neck and mouth.  It works enough for me for most of the cold winter days I encounter.

Turtle Fur Neck Warmer.  ($12.99).  This neck warmer is heavier and fleecy.  I’ve only worn it a few times because it’s too warm for most of my winter runs.

Gear

Hot Hands.  (~$10.50 for 10 pairs via Amazon.com).  Despite the glove lines and mittens, for long runs on very cold days, I’ll slip a pair of hand warmers between the two layers.  It’s heaven!  I felt bad about them being wasteful but I don’t think the biodegradable versions are as warm.  I would not recommend the foot warmers.  In my experience, they get way too hot and it’s a bit of a hassle to stop mid-run and remove them from my socks.  Instead, I wear a warmer pair of socks.

And, last but not least…

Treadmill

Gym Membership.  ($36/month).  On the most miserable days, I head inside and run on a treadmill.  I’ve toughened up over the years and now, I can usually run outside if the temperatures are in the teens, which doesn’t happen very often.  More than likely, I’ll head inside if the roads and trails are too icy.