Running Gear: Cold Gear - very new to running

Hi all,

I'm in New York and I have been running for about 3 months now.  Sadly, the cold weather has arrived and I really want to stay outdoors as long as I can!  I am looking for advice on what to wear to be comfortable in the 30-45 degree range.   I was just at a sporting goods store and saw some $60 Nike (cold) pants and tops, and some $50 UnderArmor (cold gear). It seems like a lot to pay ($100-120 for a top and bottom set) but if that's the price, let me know.  Maybe I can find a deal onilne.  Is it unrealistic to think that will keep me warm???  Brrrr.

Thanks!

Red

I agree with crw4096 on the ear protection.  Two days ago I made the mistake of running without ear protection or gloves in 30F weather with wind chill bringing it down to feel like 24F. I was wearing shorts and a Nike long sleeve shirt made for cold weather running, you'd be surprised at how thin cold weather clothing can be. :)  I had forgot to bring my hat and gloves, so I tucked my hands into my shirt but ran without a hat.  Where my hands were exposed froze at first but soon warmed up, the rest of my body was fine since I have a tendency to overheat.  My ears were a different story, by the end of my run my inner ear was hurting and I'm still feeling the affects two days later.

I would say head gear is number one, even if it's just a headband to cover your ears.  As far as tops and bottoms do you need the latest and greatest?  I find that target and other cheaper brands work just as well as the pricer stuff.  As someone mentioned earlier right at the beginning of the season and at the end of the season is when sports stores are trying to clear out their merchandise and you can get some nice clothing at those times... hence I have my long sleeve nike running shirt. :)

Before you go buy the expensive stuff experiment and find what works for you.  Throw on an old long sleeve shirt, shorts, and anything else you'd like to experiment with then go for a short run(15 - 20 mins), and see how it feels.  If your serious about cold weather running, I would recommend investing in running tights, they'll keep you warmer than any pants ever will.  Just remember to throw a pair of shorts over the top. :)  Happy Running  

Wow, this is some great information. I am a new runner as well and had the same question. Thank you for posting this question and helping me out.

I think there has been a lot of good advice posted here.  I tend to run in tights, both top and bottom as it gets cooler.  With gloves, I tend to start with them when it is below freezing but I often take them off because I find that my hands get too hot if I don't.  I also read something about the human body using the palms of the hands as temperature "vents" for the body... whatever the case, I find myself more comfortable after about 5-10 minutes of running with no gloves on.  

I think the important thing to add is that you should stay away from cotton when choosing cooler weather running gear.  This includes gloves but especially socks as the cotton will trap moisture near the skin and get fingers and toes quite cold.

wow that was the question in my mind ofr last so many days. I am in toronto and I can see snow coming my way. I run early in the morning when it is still dark and I am sure snow does not get cleared that early in the morning. someone mentioned no need to buy winter running shoes. Can anyone has any more ideas on that?

I have joggers which can get soaked if they get under snow.  

I wear the Nike cold top only when it is 20 and below.  It is WAY too warm.

 For the 30 degree range, it's tights a long sleeve synthetic shirt and a warmer synthetic one over that.....if the wind is howling, I put on my light rain gear just over the first long sleeve shirt.  Hat and gloves; tights complete it. 

Look on sierratrading post for terramar boys extra warm long underwear bottoms at 12.00 a pop.  they are the best REALLY warm running tights I have found.  I usually wear a woman's small or sm/medium.  In fact, these "tights" are so warm I only break them out when it is 25 and below....from Vermont....

the Yak tracks are hard to run in.  I found another kind that have little grommets on the bottom, instead of the "springs," but even those make it so your feet don't touch the ground.  The BEST shoes I found are called ice bugs.  They are worth every penny and you can usually find them on sale.  I can't say enough about these shoes for slippery surfaces. 

Another newby here approaching my first winter and want to keep the momentum through the season like a mailman (you know "no matter rain nor snow....).

 Anyway, regarding socks.  No cotton, huh?  what's the consensus and where do you get them reasonably priced???

Thanks for the insight!

Three indispensible pieces of winter gear for me are Gore-Tex socks, Running Briefs and a one-piece Union Suit.

The socks create a little "micro-climate" of warmth inside your shoes, much like perspiration is released from inside your gore-tex jacket while it repels rain/snow and blocks wind.  Wore them every day in rain or cold for five years  of cycle commuting.

Running briefs protect against wind burn in your most vulnerable places(!), and are a good base layer.

I often wear a polypropylne Union Suit as an outer layer over windshorts,  bike shorts and a short sleeve technical shirt.  With a light jacket, it provides enough warmth and flexibility for all but the bitterest cold.  Avoid cotton long underwear.

Great thread!

Yesterday was upper 30's or so (wind was blowing...so toss in a little wind chill) when I ran. Long sleeve shirt, shorts, and a hat. If I had taken gloves, would have had to take them off. Somewhere around 35 I'll have to start wearing tights....so I'm in the market for some running tights very soon. I think hats/ear warmers are good to start wearing anytime under 40 degrees....hats are small items and can go on or off during the run as needed to keep your temperature regulated.

People have asked about what socks they should wear for winter running that are warm, non-cotton, and cheap.  My answer... wool socks.  Wool is still the best at wicking away moisture and will keep you warm better than anything.  I have some modern high-tech running socks but when it gets really cold I turn to my woolies and go with those every time.  They are the cheapest, best solution that you can also use when you do other things outdoors in the winter as well.

As to what to wear over top of those socks in the winter, I know Yaktraks have a following but I also had a friend that used to run marathons who lived in Winnipeg, Canada and she used to screw short screws into the soles of her shoes so that she would effectively run on the heads of the screws for winter running.  This way she could run on sheer ice and still have excellent traction.  (She hated doing it--apparently, it is a monotonous job to do--but she knew how good the results were.)

I found a great running jacket at Kohls for $20 on sale.  I wear that with a Starter cold weather top I found at Walmart for $15 and a wicking shirt underneath.  For bottoms- again walmart/Fleet Farm long underwear- look for wicking style with active rating, a pair of Starter tights from Walmart- $10 and a great pair of Starter pants from Walmart that are ankle tight( hate the regular wind pants) but "loose" throughout the rest for $15.  I'm in Wisconsin- ran on Friday when it was 13 degrees w/o windchill and found it perfect.

 Oh hat- found the Underarmour style of headcovering is tight at face making it tough to breathe. I use a fleece baclava that is loose around the mouth and love it.

Thanks everyone else for other tips- new runner and don't want to stop the training.

overdress - you can always take layers off but can't add them once you're running.

 layers top and bottom - several thin layers of wicking fabric (like Nike Dri-Fit) with a wind/rain/snowproof jacket.

 synthetic socks (1 layer!) - cotton causes friction and blisters and bulky causes sweaty and wet = cold!

gloves - brooks makes nice running gloves with little magnets in them so you never lose them from each other.

hat - something with wicking ability to keep your head from being wet and sweaty.  cold head = bad

it's that easy.  happy trails!

Great info.

If anyone is interested in screw shoes here is a good link.

http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=14917

I did it to a pair of 400+ miles semi-retired shoes...it's not too bad if you have a power screwdriver. Looking forward to trying them out.

Ben