Running through winter - what kit do I need?

[blastfurnace]

I’ve been running regularly since spring but now it getting cold my kit isn’t fit for purpose.

i’m good for long leggings but it’s upper body that is the issue - I either seem to be too cold or boiling.

I’m running in the dark a lot and worried about only having dark coloured clothing.

I’ve also been in the habit of going for a run directly after dropping DC at school which is a slow 1 mile walk - I don’t know how I can keep warm for the walk but then go running afterwards (unless I take rucksack with me for my coat)

I'd try and keep your hands warm - your upper body won't be too bad. I just wear a long sleeved top with a t shirt on top if it's cold but dry, and a waterproof if it's really cold and raining but no t shirt. If it's above 9C and raining I don't bother with the waterproof as you just sweat. Then if I warm up I stuff my gloves down my bra.
For the walk, I hate carrying stuff so I'd suck it up and be cold, or get him to ride a bike to school so you can at least jog along (this is my preference for drop off anyway!).

Buy a headband that covers your ears, running gloves, and maybe a gilet to pop over a long sleeved running top - I always get too hot in a jacket.

make sure you are visible - lots of reflective bits.

The best tip I've been given is "dress for the 2nd mile". Yes, you'll be cold when you set out, but you soon get warm.

For most winter runs I wear long or 3/4 leggings, a long sleeve running top, gloves and when it's very cold a hat or headband for my ears.

In the very coldest weather, I put a tshirt under the long sleev top.

Remember high viz or lights if running in the dark.

I have a running gilet from Decathlon, I'm good with that over a long sleeved top mostly, I have heavy weight winter running tops that are warmer.

Usually I start with gloves, neck warmer and a headband then take them off as I warm up, easy to stuff in a pocket.

I have a reflective chest strap, that and a reflective cap is a good start to be more visible. You need proper lights if you'll be on the road though.

Medium cold - say 4C or so I wear a single long sleeved fitted top.
Colder and I'll either put a t.shirt over the top, or even colder a thermal layer underneath the long top. I have a Proviz reflective top and reflective spotty tights for night running (as well as a head torch).
Gloves and/or a top with thumb holes.
Buff around my neck (easy to remove and wrap around my wrist if I get too warm).

How much time do you have after school drop off? If you have time I'd jog home wearing or carrying the coat (treat it as a warm up), dump the coat and then run. A slow walk in just your run kit will leave you pretty cold and miserable.

The key with running in the cold is to be warm when you start running.

My top kit is a Pete Bland Sports bumbag. The classic size can fit jacket, trousers, foil blanket, buff, gloves, compass, whistle, and phone. The bantam size is a bit smaller.
A good bumbag means you can take off layers and carry them. And no annoying phone bouncing in a jacket pocket problem.

I struggle with finding decent gloves. Mine are either too warm and I get sweaty, and then I struggle to put them back on - I keep having to take them off to blow my nose. Or my fingers/thumb get cold. I try mittens, but they are more awkward to do things like try to get tissues out etc so definitely have to take them off, and they are harder to fit in pockets afterwards. I get Raynaud's syndrome easily on my fingertips.

Otherwise, I wear long leggings, a long sleeved top, and a gilet that has zip off arms so that if I'm going a long way and get hot, I could take the arms off and stuff them in the pockets. I do often end up with a little backpack though, especially as I like to run to a cafe, and then walk back after breakfast, so I either need warmer things for walking back in the winter, or a change of clothes as I've sweated too much in the summer. So a little running backpack helps with that, although it does make me sweatier.

I have arm bands that have lights on for when it's dark ,and sometimes a reflective gilet, or a long sleeved top that has reflective bits on - Proviz is good for that kind of thing.

a merino wool base layer - they keep you warm but you don't tend to overheat

Like others have said, my ears and hands get very cold so gloves and either a hat or headband so I can cover my ears. Anything extra I overheat!

Another one for gilet
& long sleeve top with thumb holes

So, gloves.

I buy the "magic" gloves from Ebay or Amazon. You get 3 pairs for c. £5. Always the same, so if you drop one (which you will) you have another. Theyre an acrylic fabric so dry quickly and stretchy so they fit properly.

For me "proper" running gloves are thin, expensive for something so easily lost, and dont fit properly.

Don't tell anyone, but I wipe my nose on my gloves then they go in the wash with the rest of my kit when I get home. Another benefit of having several cheap pairs.

Does merino wool get wet and stay wet (like cotton) or does it dry like a technical fabric?

Gloves!

And yes for the walk, wear something like a down jacket that scrunches up small, and take a little running backpack or waist pack (personally I can’t get on with waist packs because they bounce, but some people like them).

Somewhere in the middle I would say. Depends on how wet you are talking about. They are fine with sweat, not so fine with a downpour (whereas a running top will dry off quite quickly)

I do find them very itchy when I’m hot though!

I overheat on runs, so for me a short sleeved t shirt plus some running sleeves that I can take off once I’ve warmed up are perfect (I tie them round my waist belt or stuff in pocket).

Similarly I don’t want to wear a whole hat so some sort of ear warmer works better for me, and for my hands I prefer fingerless gloves with mittens so I can use my fingers but they don’t get freezing.

I got some light up/reflective ankle strips in Aldi which are great for visibility, just Velcro them on. Or in daytime just buy a brightly coloured top.

Yes I sometimes end up wiping my nose on them too, but it's not really enough when I drip so so so much! Plus I need the tissues or a hanky for my pouring face (even in the winter).

I have the magic gloves but I find they still get very sweaty and damp, which makes them hard to get back on, and then cold on the way home. I could bring two pairs, but storage isn't easy - plus everything in pockets tend to get sweaty too just from being near my body (i'm really attractive when running...)

Plus I need the tissues or a hanky for my pouring face (even in the winter). That's what your shirt's for 🤣

Yikes! What sort of running are you doing that might require a foil blanket and whistle?!

Or gloves or Buff!

Lots of winter trail runs will require you to have that equipment in order for you to enter.

Fell runs and ultras maybe, not trail runs.

Yes. I don't think OP needs to think about taking foil blankets and a whistle, but I understand PP was singing the praises of the bum bag.

I can't find my post from a similar thread but basically my layering system builds up as:
Bottoms - shorts/skort - cropped leggings - long leggings - thermal long leggings
Tops - vest - tshirt - long sleeved tshirt - thermal base layer
waterproof jacket often worn in the winter to keep the wind off and as an extra layer even if it's not raining
Buff around neck and/or ears
Gloves
Arm warmer sleeves can be useful in autumn/spring when it's chillier but you know you'll warm up in the first couple of miles.
I think you need to experiment with what works for you and it's worth making a note of what you wore in what temperature and how you felt because what works for one person doesn't work for another. I have friends who can run in shorts and t-shirt all year round and will happily stand around chatting at the end of a run without putting more layers on! Other people will run in a bobble hat in winter whereas I'd have steam coming out of my ears if I did that!

I live in a village. It sounds extreme, but outside the village a busted ankle is a mountain rescue job because the only places to run are on estate tracks and up the hills. It is possible to do 10km in a loop of the village, but I don't like tarmac, and even in the village most people run in the woods.
Also, I'm an orienteer and former slow hill runner so I'm just used to carrying kit.

It sounds fab. I am also village based, but no mountains! I do run around the fields and a bust ankle would be a pain, but I'd be able to drag myself to help or I'd see someone before too long.

Likewise, a run around the village gets very tedious and I rarely do it, maybe a loop to make a run up to a full mile or if I'm feeling particularly springy or want to see if the mobile chippy van has arrived.