What to Wear for Running in Cold Weather

Cold weather doesn’t mean that you have to banish yourself to the treadmill all winter long. Thanks to new technology in winter running clothes, runners no longer have to trudge through outdoor winter runs wearing lots of heavy and uncomfortable clothing.

Follow these tips to run safely and comfortably in the cold weather.

Head and Neck:

On cold days, you’ll lose a reported 10% of your heat from your head. That’s why it’s so important to keep it covered. You also want to protect your skin from the cold and wind, as well as prevent frostbite and chapped skin and lips.

Here’s what you’ll need for your head and neck.

Thermal hat:

A fleece or wool hat is perfect for keeping your head warm during winter runs. You can easily tuck it into your pants if you feel like you’re starting to overheat.

Neck gaiter or bandana:

Often worn by skiers, a neck gaiter can be extremely valuable on a frigid, windy day to protect your neck and face. You can pull it up over your mouth to warm the air you’re breathing in, which is especially helpful when you first start your run. Some runners wear a simple bandanna over their mouth for the same purpose.

Another alternative is a Buff, which is a seamless tube of microfiber fabric that can be worn in many ways, including as a balaclava.

Balaclava:

Also known as a ski mask, a balaclava is a type of headgear that covers your whole head, exposing only your face or part of it, and sometimes only your eyes. They’re usually made of fleece or wool and are only necessary if the temperature or wind chill is below 10 F.

Skin and lip protection:

Cold weather and wind can chap your lips and make exposed skin crack. Protect your lips with Chapstick or Vaseline. You should wear sunscreen as the winter sun and glare off of snow can give you sunburn.

You can also use Vaseline on your nose and cheeks (or anywhere else on your face) to prevent windburn and chapping.

Upper Body:

The key to winter running dressing, especially with your upper body, is layering. Not only do layers trap body heat, but they also allow sweat to move through the layers of clothing. Moisture is wicked away from your first layer to your outer layers where it can evaporate.

The layer closest to your body should be made from a synthetic wicking material, such as DryFit, Thinsulate, Thermax, CoolMax, polypropylene, or silk. This will wick the sweat away from your body, keeping you dry and warm.

posted Monday November 30th
by Colorado Runner