What to wear when temperatures drop?

[Lablove]

UK North of England runner, so not artic temps,, but I really feel the cold especially at the start of a run. I currently wear a lightweight adidas running jacket, long sleeve top and full leggings. (Still cold!!😁) any advice ?

[GailXrunning]

Gloves and buff are game changers, and can be easily adapted (altering how you wear them) as you warm. +Head/ear cover (hat or headband).

PS Do you warm up before heading out? I do, but MrGX doesn’t and complains of feeling cold despite wearing several (yes, several) layers.

[Lablove 60minGraduate in reply to GailXrunning]

Hi yes I do some dynamic stretches etc before I start then brisk walk for a bit before starting to jog. Thanks for advice.

[Mormor1 Graduate10]

I wear the same but with 2 pairs of socks and 2 pairs of gloves. The jacket usually comes off after 10" but not if the temperature is below 5. I also use those disposable hand warmers inside my gloves.

[nowster Graduate10]

Dress for how you'll feel 10 minutes into the run. That will usually mean that when you first get outside you will feel a bit of a chill.

The secret is layers. A thin "clingy" layer next to the skin to remove moisture from the surface. Then a warmer midlayer. And on the outside a close knit barrier layer against wind.

Avoid cotton: it gets cold when wet. Some say wool is good as a midlayer, but I don't have any in that material (yet). Synthetic "technical" materials are best: they tend to stay warm when wet (until you stop).

Cover the extremities: gloves and hat. A buff on the neck completes the set.

You won't need as much coverage on the legs. Leggings should be fine down to freezing. Jogging trousers below that.

Consider the wind chill, both from the wind and from your own movement.

If you have a longer cool down walk, you might need to add an extra layer for that to stop you getting chilled.

[Woollyweaver Graduate10]

Buff for ears, light gloves, long sleeved merino top + light windproof layer, merino socks and thermal running tights if temperature below 5degrees. If it's very cold I will add a merino vest.

[Yesletsgo Ambassador Graduate10]

For my coldest run I wore a Thinsulate hat, long sleeved Nike running shirt, Decathlon running top, wind and waterproof lightweight jacket, silk scarf, thermal knee socks, running leggings and hand knitted mittens. Conditions were snowy, -10C and dry. I did a 5km run and wasn't cold, unless you count that my thighs, the only bit with a single layer, were totally numb when I got home! I literally couldn't feel anything. Extremities were fine though. Next time I'd wear some trackies as well. When I wore the same outfit at -3C or above I was fine, no numbness 😁

[Lablove 60minGraduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thanks, definitely not that cold yet.

[Hidden]

For cold weather I wear long thighs with a thin fleeced running shirt with long sleeves, a cap and gloves. But for freezing weather, I wear thin fleeced tights from Decathlon with the same shirt as for cold weather, but sometimes with a body warmer over it.

[Lablove 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, good advice.

[Fionamags Graduate10]

I uaually wear something similar to you and just expect to be a bit chilly on the warm up walk. But when it is freezing/below zero I would add more layers a bit like Nowster. Long sleeved base layer, short sleeve cycling top over it, Running jacket for warmth and v lightweight cycling jacket. The latter usually comes off and gets tied around my waist at some point. Also a beanie and buff and thermal walking/running socks. The beauty of the cycling jacket is that i can bung the hat in the back pocket if I start cooking! Its a bit tricky to get it right but I'd rather end a run with a jacket tied round my waist than be cold. But I know some folk just hate that.

[Lablove 60minGraduate in reply to Fionamags]

Thanks, like you I don’t like to be cold. Thanks for the tips.