What do you wear to run in the winter?

[GoodbyeRubyTuesday]

I'm building up to starting Couch to 5k. I am just walking at the moment but I should be ready to start running in a few weeks.

I'm not planning to go over the top and buy lots before I've started but I really feel the cold at the moment so I don't want to make myself ill or miserable, and end up giving up just because I haven't got the proper kit.

So I was just wondering, what do you wear to run in the winter?

I wear a long sleeve thermal top.

Depends how cold it is! It gets down to -30 here but my DH still goes running!

I've been running in 'winter' gear since the temperature dipped below 20 - I will just have to layer up once it's actually winter? long sleeved merino tops, I like the ones with zips so you can ventilate once warmed up

my main thing is a buff to cover my ears, it turns into a sweat band round my wrist after a while, gloves or at the very least long sleeves with a thumb hole. Can cope with most things if my hands and ears are warm enough, but it's the combination of wind and rain I hate and I'm going to lurk here until someone links to a truly waterproof running jacket that doesn't turn into a bin liner of sweat after a few miles

Wow moose that is cold! I meant anything below about 10

sweetheart is that just a normal thermal top or is it a special running one?

mitchy hadn't even thought about my ears, eek, buff sounds good. If my ears get too cold I often throw up when I get back in the warm

Thick running tights, gloves, ear band, vest top, t shirt and running jacket. I like to layer :)

I've got some fleecy cycling leggings for when it's below 0. Windproof coat, gloves & hat.

Thank you both :) do you wear shorts over running tights or not? Layering sounds good. I'm not planning to run for too long, max 30 mins, so I'm hoping I might be able to get away without buying a jacket to start with as there are so many and it seems so complicated!

I wear running tights - not thermal as I get too hot. Either knee length or ankle length depending on temperature and what is clean.

Tops I wear either cap sleeve or if really cold I might wear a long sleeve one - usually they are rolled up within 10 mins though. Again - tend to get hot!

If it is really cold - think about sero degrees then I might wear some gloves and/or a beanie. However usually I have to take them off half way around so then have to carry them.

TBH I like running in the cold winter better than spring, autumn or summer. I'm not keen on warm weather running.

Ok, first bit of advice, dress as if it is ten degrees C warmer when you are running. Generally as a rule of thumb that works for me and I usually feel the cold very badly.

Winter running tights form Karrimor are what I wear, with a sports bra, a vest running top and then a long sleeved winter running top on top of that. I wear thin gloves and a buff to cover my ears, and a wolly hat on top of that if it is very cold.

Last night I wore my running tights, my long sleeved top and the buff over my ears and I was fine. It is not cold enough to run in gloves and hat yet.

Last winter during the coldest days (when the snow had frozen onto the ground) I wore a pair of leggings under my running tights (just normal leggings) and that also really helped.

I don't think wearing shorts over the tights would make you any warmer really.

Main thing for me is to keep my ears warm, I always run with them covered unless it is very hot.

I got a really good winter long sleeved running toip in Lidl last week for £9.99. It is really good, very close to my body (like a wetsuit) so will keep me well insulated.

Also make sure you have proper running socks, not just thin cotton normal socks. Makes a difference.

If you are only running for thirty minutes you won't need a jacket, even if it is pouring with rain if you are running fast enough you will be warm and the rain won't matter. The few times I wore a running jacket in the rain I just got so hot in it and it wasn't breathable so all my sweat stayed on my body, making me so wet I might as well have got wet form the rain. I also got quite cold on my skin while also being very hot internally. It was not a nice feeling.

Get thee to Aldi and see if try have any of the cycling or running stuff they have done recently left. Apart from padded shorts, I tend to use running and cycling stuff fairly interchangeably. Merino wool socks are a very good investment, as are merino wool tops (google Howies and Embers, not cheap but brilliant). I run in a high vis Aldi running jacket, very cheap and 6 years old. I recently replaced it with a new one that was
£20 and is one of the best breathable, waterproof jackets I have ever had ( I have had many, usually over £100+). I find long tights too hot even in winter. A decent running bra and well fitted shoes are essential, get professionally fitted for both.

Tbh I'd say a jacket was essential on winter as a windbreak even if you don't mind getting wet. Wind chill can be awful. And it's a good way of making yourself bright. Check out Wiggle and the 'rock bottom' bit of Cotswold Outdoor online, and Go Outdoors and Sports Direct ( if you have no objection to them) for well priced kit. But get shoes fitted by a proper running shop and be prepared to spend time as well as money.

Fab, thank you all. Sounds like I will need to see how I feel as lots of variation. The shorts over tights was more of a style concern than warmth!

I'm going to the local running shop to get my trainers fitted and already have several good bras so I think I might just wear what I've got (t shirt and capris) as it's not that cold yet. If my arms or legs get too cold I can easily get longer sleeves or tights.

I can't easily get to an Aldi unfortunately :(

I hate wearing gloves so I'm hoping to get away with just wearing long sleeves, when it gets colder and will start off with a headband or buff rather than a hat as my head tends to overheat easily!

Anyway, thank you all very much :)

Thanks for the tip on Sports Direct, I've just pre-ordered this Karrimor X lite running jacket with removable sleeves it's not available until next month but given how warm I am at the moment I'm hoping I can last until then!

I'm always cold - I wear at least 2 more layers than DH at home etc.

I wear running leggings, a hat, gloves and on top I usually have a very light running jacket that's slightly windproof with a vest/t-shirt/long sleeved top underneath, depending on how cold it is. I often need gloves well before I need a long sleeved top. In the autumn/spring I wear leggings and a long sleeved running top.

Is there any such thing as a waterproof running jacket? I have a windcheater but 2 weeks ago got soaked through. I bought an expensive Nike jacket which was apparently waterproof other than the breathing panels. Wore it today but had to stop after about 4k because I was wet through e.g. my bra was soaked. The wetness wasn't sweat because the inside was wettest around the arms (not my pits).

Am taking the Nike back as not fit for purpose.

You really need to find what works for you.

The thing to do when it's cold outside is not to think "oooo I'll get warm when I run" and start out cold. Best to start warm, do a jog to warm up, then go back to the house and dump a layer if need be.

As someone else said, Sports Direct is great for reasonably priced running stuff.

You'll struggle to find a waterproof jacket, but shower proof ones should be enough in our climate and for the distance you're doing at the moment.

Gloves are good and easy to shove in a jacket or gillet pocket if you get warm, or you can get long sleeved tops with thumb holes in the sleeves so you can tuck your hands in. Hat or ear/head band thingy.

If it's raining you'll be much more comfortable in fitted clothes. Damp flapping clothes are not good.

Remember to make sure you are visible if you're running in the dark. Loads of tops have high-viz stuff on them.

Don't spend a fortune though, not for 5K. Once you've done your 5K and signed up for a Spring 10K treat yourself to some lovely capris and new top.

Good luck.

Anyway, I wear tights, longer socks (I'm tall and tights leave a gap), a long sleeved top with maybe another over the top if it's really cold, gloves (sometimes), jacket (rarely).

I think I wore a hat once last winter.

A jacket is great for putting your hat and gloves in. (and tissues for me because cold air makes my nose run). On a long run, if I warm up enough I can undo it or tie it around my waist.

I like H&M sportswear.

If its raining really hard I think you just have to accept that you're going to get wet. Proper waterproofs aren't breathable enough for running, so you either get wet from the outside or the inside.

I have a dayglo hat for visibility and reflective strips on my jacket, but you really can't have too much high-vis.

I don't mind being wet while I'm running, one of my longest runs recently was in very heavy rain and I kept thinking 'weird how nice this feels' but it was later, even after I'd eaten and showered and changed, I couldn't get warm and ended up doing the horses layered up in ski stuff and it was about 18C if I was a proper grandma I'd say I caught a chill?

so would like a truly water proof jacket but I think they are £200+

water proof AND breathable, I think there are some that promise a good level of water resistance while still keeping you dry on the inside of them

Reading this thread with interest. Does anyone have any recommendations for a running jacket? I've looked online and quite like the look of the H&M one and the Ronhill Vizion Windlite but was surprised by the lack of hoods on either. I get the impression that these jackets are more about protecting from the wind than rain? Incidentally I did a run in the rain this week and wore tights and a long sleeved top but borrowed a baseball cap off DH at his suggestion. I probably looked a fright but it made my run very comfortable as it stopped the rain lashing in my face. I will definitely wear it again. Last winter I survived without a running jacket - just wore a zip up "gym" jacket over a long sleeved top and sometimes vest too with thermal running gloves and a hat. I didn't have any running tights at that time so wore ordinary opaque tights under my running bottoms.

I love my orange Saucony one but only because it is orange, it's no good in rain but it keeps the wind out and anyone within a few miles can definitely see me charging around like a giant carotenotic bull

I'd rather be hot and wet than cold and wet! And it makes me think of Clare Balding getting down to jockey weight in her autobiog.

Might January sales be a good place for a decent jacket?

My running jacket is just a very lightweight polyester Adidas one. It doesn't keep me dry, but I've run in the snow wearing it (with a couple of layers underneath, plus hideous yellow high-vis beanie hat & gloves) and I got wet, but my body didn't get cold at all. The only parts of me that get cold when I'm running are my nose, feet and hands.