morning all,
was wondering if anyone had any advice / recommendations on what a guy could wear during the winter for running outdoors?
this will be my first winter period I have ran ever so unsure what to wear that will keep me warm but not boiling / suffocating.
🍏 Excellent question which was well answered by Oldfloss in this post!
healthunlocked.com/couchto5......
Maybe some of you guys out there may like to add some advice.. AlMorr drl212
Thanks Annieapple regarding what I wear for winter running, first of all I check what the temperature is, depending how cold the weather I'll wear several light jumpers, NOT one thick jumper, I like to wear shorts but if it's really cold then I will wear light joggers, these jumpers are long sleeved but I sometimes pull the sleeves up if I start to get warm, the coldest temperature I have ran was - 6C/21F at a parkrun in 2019, that day I did wear one light and one thicker jumper and slightly warmer jogging trousers, I always in cold weather wear a warm bonnet on my head, I have several including one which also covers my ears when running or walking.
🍏Thanks AlMorr
I started in February. then and today my problem is over heating not cold. However the first 5 minutes or so I can imagine the shock of an icy outdoors and then running might be a bit much. I start off walking in long sleeves which I slip off when I get going and I now have special hat and buff in preparation of cold waether.
Shoes as per the linked thread, are my concern. It's been mostly dry but I sometime have to hop over or skirt around puddles, I expect they'll spread and can imagine my trail getting quite wet and more muddy as winter marches on.
🍏Thanks moopo
yes stuffed trainers with newspaper to dry out or a second pair … some waterproof ones around now too I believe.
No running shoes are truly waterproof.
You need appropriate socks, possibly layered. Synthetic close to the skin and either wool or synthetic outer.
Wool mix socks tend to not last as long as synthetics.
Don't even think of any socks containing cotton. They get very cold when wet.
With appropriate socks your feet will stay warmer even when wet due to the wetsuit effect.
🍏Totally agree about the socks!
I wear a long sleeved t-shirt, and a sleeveless fleece with hoody on top. I also have a hooded long-sleeved T that I can wear with a sleeveless fleece.
I do have two different fleeces, one thicker one thinner.
I do have thin and thick gloves, scarf, woolly hat if necessary. I have a few leggings of different thickness, so can adjust according to temperature. But I don’t have lined leggings or a running jacket. I’d rather get wet than too hot.
I don’t need anything else and this serves me for 70% of the year.
However, I live in Cheshire, where the climate is relatively temperate.
I think my biggest concern is not having to spend an absolute fortune on a lot of new stuff for winter, I tend to sweat quite a lot especially when running so will need at least 2-3 sets of everything so that I always have enough for the week
🍏 Good idea J4rra thanks for responding & raising the question
I probably should have mentioned the concern on the main question 😂
🍏😊 It helps others who want to know but don’t have time to engage. We appreciate interaction from the community that is encouraging to others. Tx
Yes, I think my tops are old tops, not ones bought for running or designed for running.
Leggings are another matter, as I can’t resist a colourful, side pocket leggings on sale. 😂😂
look in charity shops , always activewear in there and some good brands generally 👍👍
I got some excellent long sleeve running tops from Lidl for about £8. I also got a running jacket (not waterproof) for £10.The only problem is they only appear when the middle of Lidl decides it's time, and you have to be quick as supplies are limited, I tried 3 different Lidls to get one in my size🙄 So I bought 3 😁 . I got running vests from Amazon (their own) .
Layers are key, and dress for about 10° warmer.
Hat, gloves. Some winter leggings are a good idea, they are possibly your biggest expense, but I generally don't get mine out unless it's 2° or lower.
I've been getting lots of email for Black Friday sales. Might want to check Runners World.
🍏Tx CBDB
In winter when it's chilly I find M&S thermal long sleeved t shirts are great for running, very comfortable and don't get sweaty. Obviously with layers on top depending on how cold 
🍏Now there’s an idea! 💡 xx
Are you in the UK or Ireland? The answers will be a little different based on where you are.
The reason for me asking is that the cold in the British Isles is a damp cold unless the weather has been below freezing for a few days. Most of the advice out there is for the dry cold that they routinely get in North America.
For me, shorts down to about 6°C but thicker long sleeved tops appear when it's below 12°C.
Layers are the key: a clingy base layer next to the skin to wick sweat away and an outer layer for insulation. The outer layer gets thicker the colder it is, becoming two layers when it's really cold.
Gloves help too, as does a hat.
Running leggings are a mixed benefit for guys. If you have hairy legs you might find wearing them colder than not wearing them. However, they can be of benefit when it's wet.
When it's really cold, running trousers are a good idea.
And don't forget about socks. You can layer them up too if necessary.
Because of the damp cold in the UK/Ireland you might need to layer up at higher temperatures than in countries with dry cold.
The trick is to feel just a slight chill when you step out the door but OK when you've warmed up. That means you'll be sweating when kitting up indoors but chilly when you initially get outdoors.
Another factor is acclimatisation. You'll feel colder at the same temperature in Autumn than you will in Spring.
I'm in NE England so it does get a bit windy and cold at times.
I mentioned in another reply but my biggest concern mostly is that I typically sweat a lot while running, so it may be a case of me having to purchase 2-3 base layers and putting something on top to keep me warm which obviously breaks the bank.
I might try to get some long sleeve tops and see how I get on with that
I'm hotter rather than cold when I run too but winter's coming so lets see but I was perfectly happy in shorts and Ts in February when I started. I have a few pairs of Ts on rotation but as I wear a lot of Tshirts there's no shortage of them. I can't afford special runners kit. No wickable under layers, nor special socks - just the next pair out the drawer. As I said I've got a hat and scarf ready and tried a long sleeved pullover from the wardrobe.
Perhaps I should make a Christmas list of what comes out of this thread.
But I'm happy to get out and have never really been that bothered by cold wet weather.
"I can't afford special runners kit."
As per my reply elsewhere, I rate Lidl and Decathlon. Wear it, wash it, wear it, wash it, and so on, year after year.
Not sure of UK prices, as I'm in France, but I got two pairs of Lidl running socks this week for €2.49. My most recent running tee-shirt came from Lidl's bargain bin, €1,99 reduce from something like €5,99.
If I want brand names - I really like Nike trail shorts, for example - I buy on Vinted. I'm fortunate that if I chose to, I could afford to pay full retail price for running clothes, but I'd rather spend my money in other ways!
I wouldn't strictly say I can't afford it, I just want to ensure I am making the best choice for what money I have budgeted for it, thanks for the advice and suggestions, I will check decathlon, sports direct and lidl
Hey, it's absolutely none of my business what you or anyone else can or can't afford J4rra and I entirely agree about getting value for money. I was simply trying to be mindful of what moopo said about affordability.
Context: a few years ago I recommended Lidl on here and someone thought fit to have a go at me for it, lecturing me on how they'd been brought up to buy quality because it would last.
I can recommend Decathlon's stuff if you have one of their superstores near you. Their kit is well made and (if you register) they'll replace without question anything that wears out or breaks within a year of it being purchased.
I still regularly wear some tops I bought three years ago. The colour has faded from many washings but there's several years' wear still left in them.
Beware! You will spend more than you intended.
Yeh I am using decathalon stuff at the moment and found it has served me really well.
I'm going to get a few bits and pieces from there and sports direct to get me covered for winter, I have been given some really good ideas of what to get.
I just wanted to make sure I made the right choices instead of wasting money buying things that I wouldn't end up using that much
🍏Thanks for raising some interesting points. So true I have run in Canada -16 and felt colder here in the NE
64 year old female here. The cold where I live in mid-mountain France tends to be dry, and as I detest getting overheated I'd happily do all my running in single figure temperatures, positive or negative. A non-running friend tells me to wrap up warm and it's absolutely the last thing I want to do! nowster has given excellent advice - layers are the way to go.
You don't have to spend a fortune. I find Lidl do very good running clothes in "technical" wicking fabric, and can also recommend Decathlon.
I second the kit from Decathlon, haven't bought any from Lidl but I'm sure it works if Cmoi says so
It isn't necessary to spend a fortune on gear, with the big brands you are definitely paying for the name. I've got Decathlon running gear I've had for years, still in good shape, still comfortable, still does the job it's built for whether that's keeping me warm or cold.
Paying a little bit more for a fabric that keeps you warm (or in summer cool) and dry is a great investment, and at Decathlon (Sports Direct too to a certain extent) you won't be paying much more than 'ordinary' clothes. You're more likely to keep running if you're comfortable.
By the way J4rra , if you go running when it's cold and get really sweaty it's a good idea to strip off your sweaty clothes as soon as you can (obviously once you're home 
) otherwise you can get too cold and that isn't good for you.
Agreed on the sweaty clothes in the cold. I've made the mistake of doing a run of a set distance and then having 25 minutes of walking back home afterwards.
The body will continue to be warm for about 10-15 minutes after activities like running but will cool down rapidly afterwards. I got a bit chilled during the second half of that walk home.
Nowadays, with experience and a lot more kilometres under my legs, I'd continue running just to keep myself warm.
When it's below freezing my Lidl softshell leggings are my favourite, despite minimal pockets. Bought maybe 3 years ago for something like €10.99. I like their tops and socks too - two pairs for €2,49 this week.
Thanks, yeh most of my gear is from decathlon and sports direct currently, I may have to go back and get some long sleeved stuff and maybe try 2 thin layers when it gets really cold.
Not sure I am comfortable with the idea of wearing leggings but I might get 1 pair and put shorts over and see how I do 😂😂😂
🍏👌🥰
thanks everyone for the suggestions and advice, think I have enough now to make some purchases to get me through the winter 💪
I noticed you say you sweat a lot, which makes me wonder to what extent you feel the cold?
I also sweat a lot and I've ended up wearing light summer gear all year round as I don't feel the cold.
I would suggest not buying a lot of gear to begin with - try running in a long sleeved top and see how long it takes until you wish you were running in short sleeves? I've bought long sleeved tops and I rarely wear them, because even @ -6 once I've covered a km or two I wish I had more bare skin to lose heat.
Good morning, I don't feel the cold that much to be honest although I did feel it in my hands on my last run so I took my gloves with me but I ended up taking them off after 5-10 mins. It was around 9degrees at the time.
I think I'm going to buy a couple of long sleeve tops and see how I get on
I'm the same, I love the cold. Running in the heat is what does me in. I wear shorts and a t-shirt during winter and have some light gloves for when its particularly cold. I still end up a hot, sweaty mess but its much more bearable than during summer
I wear shorts and t-short almost all the time - the very beginning of the run can be a little bracing. I have some cheap thermal leggings that come out when it gets really cold - but these are for my bike ride to work (I often run when I get to work) - for me the most important thing is to have something to put on when I've cooled down.
I’m probably the odd one here, however I sweat like a pig even in winter. Do pigs actually sweat? 🤔
When the temperature drops to around 7 degrees, I’ll switch to a long sleeve-t and running tights. From around 4 degrees I use the same tights and a fleece lined running top. I’ve used this down to -7 degrees, when it’s getting really cool I’ll add gloves and a hat although these usually come off pretty quickly.
Also consider a good head/chest light if there’s a chance you’ll be out in twilight/darkness.
Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to get a couple of long sleeve tops and see how I get on
Solidarity in sweating here! Even in the depths of winter I’m usually just in a long sleeved t shirt, possible a very thin jacket if it’s ultra windy. Potentially a short sleeved t shirt over the top on heavy rain. My winter stuff all has big pockets so I can do the same as you and lose the gloves/hat within the first five minutes!
My best buy was a super cheap fluoro jacket with zipped pockets (karrimor via sports direct on sale for £5). That is impossible to miss on grey days, usually tied around my waist! If you run with any risk of not being seen by cars, it’s really worth investing in some kit to minimise the chance of that. Proviz are great and have great sales. I also love my head torch!
Hi, I’ve recently just bought some ‘cycling’ pull on sleeves. I’m freezing at the start of a run but warm up quickly, I wore them last night and they were easy to take off when I was warm enough and tie round my wrist. I usually wear shorts up until nov/Dec but wore dry wick leggings last night as the temp was 7 degrees. Felt comfortable throughout the run.
Winter
I wear underarmour tights and compression to gloves and hat to keep me warm
67 yr old female in Scotland. The most I’ve usually worn is a very thin wicking t shirt plus a long sleeved running top from M&S. one very cold day I put a thin fleece on top. I’ve got very thin gloves that are warm from the Reynauld’s society shop and a thin buff which can be a scarf or hat. Both of these are small so can be shoved in a pocket if I warm up. If wet and cold, a very thin Rab running jacket. Can’t cope with being too hot and sweaty!
I agree with Rabbit561. Best items I ever aquired for winter running are 1. merino wool glove liners. Note these are very thin and light. I think they are designed to line the inside of heavy duty winter gloves, but when worn by themselves they are great for runners. Perfect in cold wind, cold rain, fog, temperatures around -5 to +5 °C.
2. merino head buff. Covers the ears and forehead, but leaves the top of the head uncovered, so you don't get too hot. But if it's really freezing, then the buff can be expanded to cover top of head.
Both items worth their weight in gold. They give me confidence to get out and run in almost any winter conditions. They dry quickly too.
BTW, do you do parkruns? I notice their clothes brand Contra have a 50% sale on at the moment.
Brilliant re: Contra - thank you! 😊
Advice on clothing 
Clothing? 
Is anyone else anxious about winter?
Weather appropriate clothing
Winter Fashion
