Oh winter. Personally I love the snow but the darkness and extreme cold are another story. What’s a runner to do? We’re sharing our winter gear picks that keep us running all season long. This post contains affiliate links.
Here in the Chicago area, it’s almost a given that winter will be rough, not to mention long lasting. Snow? Check. Extreme cold? Check. Icy wind?? Double check. Wearing the right gear makes all the difference though. For more specific information on how to layer up for what temperatures, see my posts for colder and coldest weather. Also check out my Safety Tips for Winter Running. Here are some of my current favorites:
Thermal Tights. I love my Spandits. Compression in fun colors and patterns on the outside, toasty fleece on the inside. Remember SPANDITSLOVE saves you 10% off your order. Other brands I love include UA Cold Gear and Nike Pro.
Wind pants. If it’s mid-teens or colder I wear wind pants over my thermal tights. This minimizes ass freeze and also helps keep snow off my shoes.
Insulating Base Layer. My faves include crewnecks from Athleta and Nike and Under Armour’s Cold Gear turtleneck when more coverage is needed.
Half zip. This is one of my very favorite pieces of running gear. You just can’t beat the versatility. I wear it on its own on crisp fall days and its a perfect layering piece in winter. The In-Transit Half Zip from New Balance is my current favorite. I just love the super-soft fabric and all the thoughtful details.
Jacket. I feel like I shout this one out every single year, probably because I do. I almost choked when I laid out the almost $200 for my Sugoi Firewall but it was well worth it. I’ve been wearing it for years now. It’s that good. And purple. One can never go wrong with power purple.
Long, wicking Socks. Here where it gets really cold, it’s important to “mind the gap” between your shoes and tights. Trust me that tiny slice of exposed skin will freeze the heck off if you don’t keep it covered. I like to wear my Legend compression socks for this purpose. Click here to save $15 off Legend compression socks.
Trail Shoes. I love them for the extra traction they provide on snow and ice. They’re also more wind-resistant and water repellent than standard running shoes.
YakTrax. When it’s very snowy/icy and there’s no bare pavement in site, I reach for my Yaks. Better safe than sorry.
Hat, headband, balaclava. Depending on how cold it is, I’ll wear one or a combination of these.
Gloves. I tend to run on the hot side so it has to be <25 degrees for me to wear gloves. I’ve never worn more than one pair or used any warmers inside, but you may want to.
These from Aglove are my favorite
Sunglasses. When it’s super cold out my eyes tend to water. Sunglasses help prevent that plus alleviate snow glare.
How low do I go? People often ask how cold is too cold to run outside. That answer depends on the individual. When I have a goal race coming up, my rule of thumb is one mile outside for every degree fahrenheit. So if it’s 10 degrees out and I have a 20 miler on tap I’ll run 10 miles outside and finish the remaining 10 on the mill. Wind, ice and road conditions should also be taken into account.
What are your winter running essentials? How low do you go?
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I’ve never thought of wearing long socks under my running tights. That’s such a good idea.
It doesn’t get that cold here, minus 1 or 2 Celsius at most and that doesn’t last for long. but what it does get is wet and damp. I’m not sure what I’d prefer!
Great list! It doesn’t get quite as cold here, but I use alot of the same essentials. Ive never tried wind pants but I think those would be really helpful on some of the days where the windchill is really bad!
great tips as always! So much to think about when the temp drops! I love those thermal tights!
Yes, yes and yes!! I also wear long socks under or over my tights when it gets cold and sometimes layer socks. It gets cold here and these are some great tips. Maybe I’ll be inspired to actually run outside- I’m such a treadmill runner in the cold months.
YAY LEGEND Compression! The cold really isn’t all that bad if you set aside the ten minutes it takes to get ready. I’ve laid stuff out the night before, and you’d think it was a pile of laundry.:D
Let’s be honest: Florida runners and canadian runners don’t keep the entire running clothes industry going: WE do. Because we need all the things for all the seasons and all the temps.
You look so cute in those Spandits! Must not shop….
I do love my thermoball!
I’m a big Wimpy McWimp when it comes to running in the cold, but those tights are adorable!!! Great tips – this post does show me that if I invested in the right gear once I’m healed up, then maybe I’d venture out. 🙂
I’ve heard amazing things about Sugoi running jackets! And im with you on the windpants. I double layer too!
That pic in the purple and fun tights is a cover girl shot!
I’ve heard amazing things about Sugoi jackets. Fortunately for my bank account I settled on a slightly less expensive version. ?
I like your “one mile for each degree” rule of thumb, although I’ll tend to the treadmill if it’s cold & dark & icy, or if my mileage is more than the degrees out. My 10 miler in 8 degrees meant I did the whole thing indoors– mental toughness!
I love my North Face Thermoball (thank you, Wendy). And I absolutely love quarter & half zips — I am often zipping and unzipping and zipping again.
The lowest I’ve gone is probably around 8 or 9 degrees — but not if it’s windy. And sometimes not if I just don’t wanna. My goal race this spring isn’t going to be anywhere near that cold (NOLA), so I don’t feel the need to tough it out if I don’t have to.
Except for the long runs. I loathe doing a long run on the mill and will do most anything to avoid that!
I’ll have to look at these. My winter gear is lacking, but luckily I live in Boulder. The prices do hurt, but since I have some gear for years, I know it’s worth it.
I like your mind the gap reference haha And I tend to get outside when it’s cold but lately I’ve been hanging out with a friend and joining her in her building’s workout room. I don’t know if it’s technically allowed or not, but I’ve loved getting in a couple miles inside and now I’m spoiled. I’m not sure I can go back to the bitter cold and ice.
… this post is almost not fair! I love Winter running but my chances for any snow are very slim here in Palm Beach!!
Love the running gear in this post – my favorite is the purple headband you’re wearing in the second pic!! Pretty!
Have a great week and thanks for the link-up Marcia!!
I don’t have a treadmill or even live close to one so it’s do or die! I go as low as -20 Layered up right it’s totally doable. I did it three times this year already 🙂 Layers are the key and hand warmers in the mittens!
I am all about the layers! I discovered running in ski goggles this year when it is -20 and it helps my eyes stay warm. Hand warmers are also my friend.. I really loathe cold hands
Great tips and gear picks! I’ve never tried Spandits but they are super cute and I definitely need some tights with fleece on the lining! I’ve been thinking a lot about getting trail shoes for the winter but don’t know where to begin!
The older I get, the higher the temperature needs to be to get me outside. LOL! Some day treadmill runs don’t count, but I sure think they do! Not as fun though, at all! 30’s and 40’s I will get back outside usually!
I just realized why the mid 20s are typically my cut off point… I don’t have fleece lined tights!! That sounds amazingly cozy!
You are set! Having the right clothes really makes a difference. I try to look at the weather for the week and plan to lift on the two coldest days.
Love LOVE LOVE those purple Legend socks. I definitely need more of that brand. They’re so much more comfortable than others on the market.
I honestly don’t know what’s worse extreme cold or extreme heat! I don’t like cold by any means but I do think it might trump the extreme heat. At least people don’t usually die from running in the cold, unless you fall on the ice, yea then you might!
You bring up a good point. I often wonder what people think as cold. Someone from the deep south may think 40 degrees is freezing while others (myself included) think it’s just fine for running. Not ideal, but tolerable and probably makes for a pretty comfortable run. But WOW, you are a beast for even running in 10 degrees. It’s very RARE that we see those temps here during the day (perhaps overnight when it is really cold though). I suspect a lot of your coldness come from being so close to the lake,no? I’d say my limit is about 20 degrees. I’m not a morning runner though so thankfully by the time I get out and run it is warmer than that.
I do like that half zip!
Thanks for the link up!
Great tips. So when it is minus temps does someone in a sunny state have to run miles for us or can we just subtract them from the total? #askingforafriend
Lord have mercy, I just couldn’t deal with that kind of cold. Our winter gear lately has been tank tops and shorts ?
Ok. Those tights are adorable! Makes me *almost* wish i lived where there weather was a bit colder. Um. Nope. Just kidding. LOL.
I love the UA cold gear. I grab them every time I see them on sale!
Wow… that is a lot of gear!
You know what my runfession to this would be:
I moved from the Midwest to escape the winter running.