fellas, listen: winter running apparel round-up
alright look, before we start just understand one thing up front.. if you’re gonne run in the cold, you just have to accept that at some point during your run you will be cold. wether it be your nose, your toes, maybe your ankles.. or even your ears.. the goal for cold weather running should not be to be warm when you step outside from being inside.. it should be to be able to sustain you once your run is in full swing or support you from the time your run is done until you can get back inside and warm back up. not every run is gonna be in iceland, in fact, probably 99% of your winter mileage are likely not going to be in the environment they were marketed to you from. but if your only goal is to stay warm, just wear your puffer jacket and have a miserable run. i’ve seen a lot of tiktoks and reels this season with a lot of language around “all you need” and while that may work for them, i wanted to put together a list of what i have been doing for years now. the list for me is simple. as winter running for me is about being comfortable and feeling lean in apparel, never bundled.. i tried to put together something easy to reference to help guide you. any questions, just ask! ok.. here it is.
Jackets:
minted new york lightweight cold weather performance jacket - one run in this thing and you’ll see why it’s at the top of my list. i wore this jacket recently at the track and within two laps had to drop it.
UVU ultralight windbreaker - i’m not sure if it’s the material, the venting or the fact it feels like they took a post marathon cape and turned it in to a jacket but if you’re goal is to be seen while running in the cold and the dark at the same time, this will be yours.
Beatyou ultralightweight windbreaker - for transparency sake, this brand recently reached out and offered me the chance to try some of their collection and at the top of my list was this royal blue jacket, and i think its been a perfect addition to the jacket rotation. i recently wore this with just a long sleeve baselayer and a cut off tee. felt nothing from the outside.
subi technical jacket mole - never worn this one but spoke with this brand recently and from the looks of their first collection, i can see they are up to something special. their styling makes me feel like this jacket is aligned with some personal favorites so maybe it’s worth checking out.
Bottoms:
Wolaco Distance full tight - this for the most part of early winter here in washington dc has been my go to pair for running in the cold. for the past few winters, ive only been in half tights but as i think about longevity of winter training i am leaning back towards full length tights. and these have been the stand out for sure.
UVU - ok, while this is a “winter” running playlist of sorts, i want you to understand, some days you don’t need full leg tights. some days are going to be warmer than others, so don’t get rid of your half tights just yet.. because a problem you can run in to is overheating.. i like these as they are longer(ish) and a little thicker.. not the best for pocket space for gels but thats why we buy vests, right?
nike - the link here will take you to a larger list of nike apparel but one thing to keep in mind is nike also has a trail line and while you may not be in the trails, you may face tougher conditions, so think about an alternate tight for something a little tougher in the weather department.
District Vision - i bought a pair of these on sale a couple years ago and they’ve recently popped back in to my rotation. my only “thing” with them is they are a little long for me but i think thats a me thing and probably something you need not worry about. a great addition to any rotation.
Base layers:
UVU L/S training top or UVU L/S running top - these are new items to the UVU library but two heavy hitters in my rotation already. The training top will feel like your class UA baselayer so if budget is in mind, go with that direction. I spent almost all last winter in the UA editions. I just opted this year to shop in less places so i went for the UVU ones. The running top… i dont even know where to begin but for those days you only need maybe a lightweight l/s and a jacket, this should be top of your list.
tracksmith brighton base layer - for as much as i have moaned about the lack of excitement from tracksmith in the last couple year for me, one thing i will always give credit to is how good their baselayer is.. this thing for me started with the first ever NOAH collaboration. (photo from 2019) and i still own it and i still use it. its such a fantastic piece but one i do think they need to lean in to a little more. it should be always in stock and it should have more than the historic color options it’s had.
Noah Long sleeve pocket tee - hear me out ok.. again.. i want to foot stomp, some days are not always the coldest and some runs are not 20 miles long and some miles are followed by a coffee with the crew so.. you may want to invest in something that you can run in and also just wear.. don’t always think your running apparel needs to only be “made for running” dudes have been running in cotton for decades so invest in a good cotton piece. and your search should just end here. i’ve been wearing this tee for about 4 years now and i still love it.
Extras:
Gloves - these from nike. or these from Arc’ or these from tracksmith - a note about gloves.. the hands can tend to be the first thing to go and throw you off focus.. make sure you find a pair that works for you without compromise.
Socks - these from sweetfreet or these from uvu or these from near earth - a note about socks, i tend to like a little bit of a “thicker” but not THICK sock during the winter. all of these lean that way and have never given me any issues. if you struggle with colder feet, try a thinner base layer sock with a thicker sock over it. but do keep in mind, your shoes will adjust fitting.
Beanies - just find something that works for you. a lot of them are the same. be pragmatic.
Glasses - these from Research or these from District Vision or these from Furore - a note about sunglasses - i lean for something on the lighter lens color as well so that i can wear a pair on grey rainy days to keep my eyes out of the wind and rain but also give me the chance to see.
At the end of the day, you have to be comfortable. nothing i say or suggest will do any good if you’re not comfortable. dress for what you feel best in. think about the fact that you will eventually warm up. don’t let the weather keep you from your goals and last but least, don’t skip a workout because of the weather because come race day there is not skipping or rain delays. just go. you’ll be alright.
thanks for reading. x.
carl.