What to wear

[Agelesslass]

Hi Guys, what to wear when running baffles me. It’s cold so I put a long sleeve top on then a short sleeved top or a vest on. . Running gloves at the ready. Then half way through a run I’m too hot. When it’s raining, a lightweight jacket goes on top of the above, then sweating a lot. How do other runners on here dress, cope with cold, rain etc? What’s the best wY to dress to be comfortable? Advice please.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

I’m a very ‘hot’ runner Agelesslass, and I was in a quandary yesterday morning for our 3 degree parkrun.

I ended up wearing long leggings and a very thin long sleeved top. I walked up to the park with a thin windproof running jacket and my big down Northface one, and took them off just before we ran.

Didn’t need gloves or a hat (although loads did), and I was the perfect temperature whilst running. Was quick to put the jackets on after though.

I haven’t done a wet and cold run yet though ...... 🤔

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

If you’re stretching yourself at all, you won’t be cold once you get going. So I wouldn’t normally wear more than long leggings and a thin long-sleeved top myself, plus a woolly hat covering my solar panel🎅. For rain, I’d add a thin breathable waterproof and revert to shorts. Important to have warm stuff for afterwards though.

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Thankyou UpTheStanley

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thankyou cheekychipmunks

[AnnieW55]

Trial and error! 😀 Dress as if 10 degrees warmer.

Last winter/spring I was in capris all the time apart from a couple of times when I went into full tights.

My gloves are usually just thin liners which go in and out of pockets/bra as and when necessary. In deepest cold weather they stay on longer and I use thicker ones. I have a buff for my neck/face. Some use a hat but I generally don’t as I have thick hair. Peaked caps are for rain or snow.

Layering is key so you can take anything off and tie around your waist. Jackets are better when it’s cold and windy to cut the chill factor.

[Hidden in reply to AnnieW55]

Peaked caps also for low winter sun. It was dazzling yesterday and at eye level!

[Hidden]

Somebody possibly @davelinks posted a really good guide as to what to wear in different temperatures

I’m on my phone and the @ thing doesn’t seem to work but you could ask Dave

I ran yesterday in leggings a skin and t shirt. It was cold at first but fine when I was warmed up. However I am at the age where my thermostat is a a bit dodgy.

If it’s raining, I usually just get wet. The shower after my run is exquisite!

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou helenwheels will look at the link

[Hidden]

i really feel the cold but warm up when running. My gear the last two days (it was 1 degree yesterday) has been long leggings, long sleeved thin running top, thin windproof but breathable running jacket (the breathable bit is essential if you don't want to sweat) with a buff round my neck and thin running gloves. Yesterday I did 7k and took nothing off. today I did 2.25k and took the buff and gloves off after ten minutes, but it was 5 degrees today. They say to add 15 degrees on to the temperature when running, so layers are the way to go, Gloves and scarf/hat/buff etc can be stowed in pockets and a thin jacket can be tied round your waist if you really get hot. even in sub zero temperatures last winter, I didn't really wear more than this.

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much Flick3, will get a thin jacket and a buff

[UpTheStanley Graduate10]

Oops, replied to Cheeky by mistake 🙄

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Hi UTS! 👋 👋 😅

[Jay66UK Graduate10]

I read somewhere about dressing for 10 degs warmer but that still leaves me a bit confused. Short answer: it’s hard to get right and you need flexible kit.

I have a thin long sleeve top that is quite perforated and is great when it’s not really cold but is very windy. I have a thicker one for when the temperature has dropped some more. I could wear both together in extreme weather (or not run...)

Yesterday it was 1 deg, “feels like” -1. I wore the thicker top with a very light running jacket for an 8k. I was overheating by 3k and took the jacket off and carried it balled up in my hand (didn’t think to tie it round my waist!).

I also wear a buff. On slightly cool days, around the neck to keep the chill off until I warm up and then wrapped around a wrist as a sweatband. On colder days I wear it as a thick headband (stops the wind slap on the forehead) or as a skull cap (open top tucked in, pulled over the ears and back of neck if cold). As you warm up you can transition from skull cap to headband and let out some heat, which is what I did yesterday.

I now always run in gloves - I have some nice, thin Under Armour ones with soft patches on the thumb and top of the forefinger to mop sweat etc - and I find I get cold hands early in a run. These get stashed in a pocket if I heat up too much.

Finally I have regular shorts, vented mesh shorts, thin tights and thicker long tracksuit-style pants to choose from. Yesterday I ran in the tights and I think they helped me overheat. But I would’ve been too cold in shorts 🤷‍♂️

I’m not sure how much this will help other than to share that I find it hard too and to point you towards some of my tips that still don’t always work!

There is lots of very reasonably priced, good kit out there - Aldi often have running or exercise gear; TCA brand on Amazon is really well made and great value. Just beware buying too much of your current size because you will probably shrink!

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to Jay66UK]

Thanks very much for all this information Jay66UK, I am complying a lust of what to buy.

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10 in reply to Agelesslass]

Me too, complying with a lust to buy running gear 😁

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Layers seem to work best but I did find yesterday that my hands were cold throughout the run so gloves are going to be the next purchase 🧤

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Yes gloves are a must for me too

[Jundal]

Clothes. Even if it's just a bikini. Please, have some modesty. 😂

[Sqkr]

Everyone is very different with their running temperature, preferences and tolerance, so we will all have different answers! It's a case of trial and error I'm afraid, no quick easy answers as usual 😆

Personally I am slight, but relish the prickle of cold. I'd far rather be a bit chilly at the start and settle to my perfect temperature than feel stuffy and over hot whilst running. I hate having things flapping round me too, so no layers to come off. I now know the temperature I like, and simply dress that way to start with. For me that means tights, lightweight tshirt at first chill then a thermal top when the temps get nearer 0, lightweight vented wicking zip up jacket over the top (Lululemon Define luon jackets are a total weakness, they're perfect for me but stupidly expensive. I keep buying them though 🙄). Always a Buff over my ears for any weather,but a merino one for the coldest bits of the winter. I have reynauds but don't wear gloves to run, if it's really icy I'll wrap buffs round my wrists but I've only resorted to that a couple of times. Rain doesn't change my outfit. That's it, nothing special, but it's what works for me.

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to Sqkr]

Thanks Sqkr, will look into your suggestions

[Deals1 Graduate10]

So far I've just been in capris and t-shirt or long sleeve top . Tend to heat up once I start running. I have bought some other kit,but not worn yet. Will be trial and error I guess!!

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to Deals1]

Thankyou so much for your reply Deals1

[Hidden]

I feel the cold and sometimes wear a fleece but I do get too hot on a long run. I think I cracked it today apart from the gloves that became too hot in the end. Long leggings, a small vest, a t-shirt and a lightweight jacket. Keeping the jacket zipped up meant I didn’t feel the cold wind. Trial and error I guess !

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou paulanoo

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

It is a difficult one. I've found a light long sleeved top and a wind-cheater on top, that packs in to a tiny parcel with elastic so you can put it round your wrist is working in the newly arrived cold weather. I dread being too hot while running, and I dread being too cold when stopped. Luckily I just bought a car with heated seats because when I was stuck in a traffic jam for ages after a run recently I would have been freezing without that luxury!

I also highly recommend fluorescent PINK running gear. It's a happy colour.

[Agelesslass Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

I have pink shoes and s pink jacket, so I’m happy. Thanks BaddieThePirate