well, i’m in michigan…it’s like 20 degrees farhenheit or the high…and like 10 degrees farhenheit for the lows…
what sort of clothing do i need to run outside? i have ZERO clue! i’ve NEVER run in cold weather before cuz i’m too wussy! by now i’m being forced to in a training group. what kind of socks? how about bottoms…do i just wear any old long sleeve tights? any pants over that? do i need underwear to keep my junk warm? how about top…baselayer. then what? hat, skull cap, balaclava? what type of glove? what about my neck? can i just use my regular old running shoe? will my feet get wet and freeze?
I don’t have the money, nor do I frequent winter running to justify fancy winter running clothing. So, speaking from someone who sometimes* runs in the winter (Toronto), I usually just wear 2 pairs of socks, sweats (bottom of sweats tucked into socks) and a couple shirts and a hooded sweater.
The key is layering. Either 2 or 3 layers. Most days, a long sleeve undershirt with a jacket is enough. On really cold days, you’ll want 2 undershirts (though one shortsleeve and one long sleeve works for me, you might want two longsleeves).
As for material, you’ll want something wicking. The fact is, most “tech” shirts are fine. Coolmax, DriFit etc. You can get such shirts at most sporting goods/running/cycling stores. I prefer the Craft brand underlayers - in my experience they are the best – but there are many others (UnderArmor, Nike, Reebok, etc).
You will want some sort of running jacket. Ideal is water resistant but not water proof. The problem with water proof is that even the most breathable models eventually accumulate sweat inside and you are wet anyway. Wind resistant is also very helpful. A hood is not ncessary
Balaclava is not necessary except for the very coldest days. A hat, however is very necessary on most any cold day. Most people wear something like a skull cap. I prefer a baseball cap with a wrap to cover my ears. You definitely want to cover your ears. The nice thing about a baseball cap is that if you are running at night, you can dip the brim down to block the headlights of oncoming cars so you can see the road. But again, do not neglect something to cover your ears.
Prefer mitten to gloves. Or wear mittens on top of gloves. Your fingers can stay warmer longer if they stay together, not apart as gloves have them.
Stay away from cotton if you can. Yes you can get away with it but go for technical materials instead. Even in your socks. I preer the "WrightSock long models - the ones that go 1/3 way up your calf. Some people like SmartWool. Just no cotton. You’ll regret it if you wear cotton.
For pants, you’ll want something made specifically for running. Again these are easy to find. You can find racks of them at any Sports Authority. Tights are OK but long pants are better at keeping the wind out. For the very coldest days, pants over tights if you must.
Echoing a lot of what JoeO says. I trained in Cleveland and Minnesota for years, so the temps you mention were common. A longsleve wicking shirt under a nylon jacket (Gortex is great if you have the cash). Nylon track pants over tights. I use 180s earmuffs; never liked hats, but that’s a personal preference. Good wicking socks in the same shoes you normally use. Wicking gloves (polypro or similar) with a mitten shell over them (you can take these off after 10min when you warm up). A bandanna or neck gator to cover your neck/chin. A “blinkie light” so cars can see you despite the early sunsets. You can pick most of this stuff up (except for the gloves/mittens) at Target if you’re on a budget. Craft makes great stuff if you have the $$. I swear by my Wright Socks.
I’m in Ohio, and pretty much all my runs (about 75 miles) for the last 4 to 5 weeks have been 25F or lower (as low as 6F).
My base layers are “Paradox” branded pants and long sleeve jersey that I got from Costco for $35 per set. My outer layers are “Adidas” brand pants and long sleeve shirt also from Costco, and I think they were $40 for the set.
I use my regular shoes (Brooks Glycerin) and a set of wool socks from Costco. $10 for set of 4.
The rest is a $10 set of gloves and $4 toboggan from Walmart.
All in all, pretty cheap and effective. Aside from the shoes, none of my clothing was expensive or bought at a specialty shop (though the clothes are fitness clothes, meaning they are more form fitting and not made of cotton).
I use that getup for temps around 18F up to about 40F. Except at the very lowest end of that scale, the toboggan usually comes off after 15 minutes of running.
For colder than 18F, I add a pair of Army issued leather gloves over the walmart gloves, and I put on my knee and arm warmers that I bought for cycling. That has taken me as low as a 6F ambient temperature.
For cycling in weather this cold, I wear all of the above plus a long sleeve jacket with hood, and I use chemical hand and foot warmers in my shoes and gloves. I’ve ridden down to 18F like that, but that’s about as far as I’m willing to go. When you’re riding 20mph or more in 18F weather, just about no clothing is good enough.
The previous posts have a lot of good info. Here’s something I’ll add.
Don’t try to make your summer running gear do double duty. I find X-country ski clothing is the best stuff for winter running. Light, warm, durable.
Start a little cold and you’ll end up the right temperature.
The wind is your enemy not the cold or snow.
I live in Wisconsin and have run on some pretty cold days (below zero F).
On warmer days (15 degress F plus) I wear a technical shirt for the first layer and a Patagonia Capilene zip neck shirt as the second layer (fleece would work for a cheaper option). On my legs I wear some thermal running tights and regular underwear. If the wind is blowing you may need an extra layer of long underwear for the junk (if they freeze - its painful when they thaw out). For socks, I just use some cold weather running socks or regular tube socks (old school). For my ears, I wear a running headband. Standard running gloves for the hands.
On very cold days (below 10 F) I add a running jacket (breathable is best), long underwear, and a balaclava to cover my face. I’ve never really needed mittens, but a thicker pair of gloves may be needed.
The only real problem I’ve had is junk freeze. Adding long underwear has solved that problem.
Glasses. Tinted for day, of course. Clear for night. My eyes tear up easily in wind and cold weather. Additionally, I like the clear lenses at night as eye protection for when I’m running along and headlights are directly in my face, little light on the sidewalk, and there is that one or a couple tree branches that hang down looking to whip you in the eye.
Hat
Gloves–lightweight, otheriwse your hands will roast. (I like liner gloves)
Pair of tights or lightweight sporthills
Socks if you’re used to wearing them–your everyday socks are fine.
Long sleeve shirt.
Jacket.
If you’re really worried about your junk, throw a pair of undies or compression shorts on under your tights, or running shorts under the sporthills.
Oddly enough, they are only hot while running–all other times, I am a freeze baby. My feet turn white regardless, so I don’t even bother worrying about socks
Sports Balm “hot” embrocation for speed work where tights are an issue, also good for the lower back/knees when its really cold.
Brooks makes the perfect running mitten. It has two layers and a great soft thumb area for wiping your face
Sport hill makes cross country ski stuff (as mentioned earlier). The pants are really nice for 20F and below.
We had a couple of windy sub zero days here and I tried spreading Vaseline on the face to prevent wind burn, it worked really well.
Smart wool or Pearl Izumi both make nice wool socks
Use your cycling arm/leg warmers and tri shorts as a first layer, then put the tights over them.
Agree the cycling stuff does very well for running, just not the bibs!
Yak tracks are great if the trail is icy, more for recovery type stuff. I tried to do a 10 mile tempo run once and kept pulling out
A little treadmill action won’t kill you either :)…
I cycled only last winter and did running only this winter. Running is about 100X more comfortable (plus you are out there for 2.5 hours max vs. 5-6 for cycling!!).
I use yak tracks also - as you said they work very well in snow and ice.
However, I will be using them much more sparingly (maybe not at all) in the future. I’ve used them a couple times per week in the past. On Saturday, I began to feel a pain on the side of my foot - a pain I’ve never felt before. I cannot say for certain what caused it, but I suspect the yak tracks.
I rested the foot a couple days and then ran sparingly on the tradmill - and so far the pain has subsided.
Again, I’m not sure if its the yaktrax, but so far the pain is gone when not using them.
You’ve probably gotten great answers already but I didn’t read the whole thread. Here’s my input as an ex-Minnesotan who NEVER missed a day of running.
At those temps you will probably be fine with one insulating layer covered by a windproof layer.
What I typically did was pull on some long underwear (lycra tights are not warm enough) both top and bottom then put on the nylon windstop outer layer. When it was 10 degrees and/or I was feeling cold I would put a cotton sweatshirt on over my first layer on top, but still use the windstop layer as the 3rd layer.
I would wear a hat that covered my ears and somewhat thin MITTENS (not gloves). My mittens were windproof by the way…some wooly things won’t work because wind will blow through.
On the feet, just cotton gym socks and running shoes…when running my feet never really got cold.
You can wear a full face mask or balaclava at whatever temperature finds you uncomfortable in the face…a turtleneck gives you the option of deciding once you are out…you can just pull it up over your lower face if you want.
