In much of the country, the “-ber” months see a reduction in daylight, warm temperatures, and a runner’s motivation. Let’s admit: It’s hard to drag yourself out of bed when it’s pitch black outside and your breath crystalizes the instant it escapes your lips. Or, if we do gear up for a run, we often hit a treadmill at the gym, so as to avoid any wintry slop outside.
But with the right attitude and tools, you can make it through. Being equipped with the proper winter running gear—like the selections below—that fends off all but the worst Mother Nature delivers will help bring back the joy of playing outside.
Best Winter Running Gear
The Expert: I’ve been a dedicated runner for more than two decades and love to bundle up like a ninja and launch myself out for a few miles on the coldest days. My picks here include the long-lasting gear items that have seen me through years of happy winter running in the Midwest and Northeast in single-digit temperatures.
What to Look for in Running Gear
Gloves Before Sleeves Before Pants
As the temperature begins to slide, you’ll see runners sweating buckets beneath windbreakers and running pants. Resist the temptation to bundle up because, as soon as you’re moving, you’ll quickly overheat. If you’re unaware how to dress given the conditions, you can always turn to our What to Wear tool. And take our advice: The first thing you should reach for is a pair of thin gloves to wear with shorts and a T-shirt since fingers often get chilly first. As winds pick up and the temperature dips even lower, swap the tee for a long-sleeve shirt, then progress to pants and a jacket when conditions worsen.
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Layering Is Wise
Smart runners know to dress in layers. A thin jacket can be tied around your waist easily if you find yourself too warm. Beneath that, look for a synthetic base layer that will wick sweat away from your skin or wear a half-zip top that you can use like a window—open it to dump heat quickly so you don’t get too clammy.
Keep Extremities Cozy
You can apply the same concept to your hands. As the temperature gets too low for lightweight gloves, slip a mitten over top to boost your warmth and comfort. Modern materials even allow you to operate your smartphone or watch without taking your hands out of the mittens.
What about your head? If it’s cold, you’ll be cold. Unless you’re bald, you might find a hat to be too warm on any days when it’s not cold enough to snow. In that case, consider pulling on a headband or Buff, which you can use to shield your dome from the cold wind relentlessly pounding your forehead.
[Related: The Best Winter Running Shoes]
How We Tested Winter Running Gear
I curated this roundup in collaboration with Runner’s World’s Runner-in-Chief, Jeff Dengate, one of the industry’s leading experts. Dengate tests hundreds of new running shoes and gear items every year and has access to Runner’s World test data—a pool of feedback from dozens of thoughtful local runners willing to test-run new gear. Each item here has been approved by our editors and team of testers based on its warmth, price, comfort, and style.
DOUBLE-LAYERED WOOL HAT
Smartwool Merino 250 Beanie
Smartwool Merino 250 Beanie
Smartwool Merino 250 Beanie
Pros
- Soft and cozy
- Double-layered
- Lightweight
Cons
- Runs on the small side
This is the go-to head warmer for the brave soul who runs in all conditions, including snow, sleet, and ice (which we don’t recommend). Smartwool’s 100 percent merino is double-layered for extra warmth, but it also breathes, wicks moisture, and resists the odors that some man-made materials never shake, even after repeated washing. Plus it’s super soft. Roll the cuff up for a stylish touch or down low over your ears on the frostiest days. A few outliers complain that the weave on this year’s model is thinner than in the past, but most runners back it as their favorite.
NO-SLIP HEADBAND
Trailheads Headband
Pros
- Stays in place
- Reflective accents
- Ponytail hole
Cons
- One size (115cm) fits most might not include your head
You don’t need a ponytail to rock this winter band—it’s wide and stretchy enough to stay in place, no matter your hairstyle—but if you do have your hair pulled back in a pony, then a subtle, four-inch escape hatch in the poly-spandex fabric will keep it neat and out of your way while you focus on your mileage. But the biggest highlight here isn’t the band’s hair accommodation, it’s the fact that the fabric feels so good against your ears. Soft and cozy—and snug without feeling tight enough to give you a pressure headache—the headband is the ideal layer to keep your head warm while also wicking sweat and venting excess heat. It’s also lightweight enough to wear under a helmet on bike rides, and includes little reflective dots to keep you more visible in low-light conditions.
WIND AND RAIN PROTECTION
Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Training Gloves
Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Training Gloves
Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Training Gloves
Pros
- Windproof panel
- Cozy
Cons
- Not as touchscreen-compatible as claimed
Smartwool’s thin merino liners are great for chilly fall and early winter runs, but when the weather really turns ugly, you might want something thicker with more protection from wind and rain. These merino gloves, available in five sizes, are just as lightweight and wooly-soft as the liners, but they retain more warmth so your fingers won’t go numb when the freezing rain starts. A windproof panel on the back of the hand and fingers provides a bonus shield against the elements. When we tested winter running gloves in a freezer, the Smartwool Sport Fleece blew most running models out of the water in terms of holding onto heat—and performed even better in real-life testing out on the road. Just save the photo-taking for the end of your run—Smartwool claims these gloves are touchscreen-compatible, but our unlocked iPhones beg to differ.
[Related: 12 Great Running Gloves You’re Sure to Love]
GOOSE DOWN RUNNING VEST
lululemon Down For It All Vest
Lululemon Down For It All Vest
Pros
- Goose down keeps your core warm
- Side pockets
Cons
- Expensive
The Down For It All is made of a water- and wind-resistant material that insulates you when direct sunlight and precipitation are fickle. lululemon’s vest runs small and its fit is quite snug, which is a plus if you want to store your phone and keys in its deep side pockets. Our tester did just that and experienced no bounce on her runs—one of which was in 25-degree weather with snow flurries. “Even with a light long-sleeve underneath, it kept me warm and toasty,” she said. This is because of the goose down in the vest’s interior. It comes in seven colors, including dark adobe, night driver, and lavender dusk.
STINK-FREE BASE LAYER
Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer
Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer
Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer
Pros
- Shirt doesn't trap odor
- Soft and cozy
Cons
- Pricey
Test editor Amanda Furrer wore the Brighton Base Layer for a full week to test Tracksmith’s claim of the merino material being “almost completely impervious to odor.” It was an easy week packing her duffel in the morning, but her workouts were far from lazy. “In upper 30- to mid-50-degree temps, I did 6- to 10-mile runs,” she said. “I was surprised at how warm I felt when the weather app read ‘feels like 28’ and appreciated how my pits and back didn’t become saturated with sweat when the humidity was at 76 percent.” The shirt didn’t stink up her duffel or compel coworkers to pinch their noses when she returned from a lunch run. The shirt also feels pajama-soft because its construction is seamless for chafe-free runs.
[Related: The Best Shirts for Runners]
MOISTURE-WICKING AND WARM
Brooks Momentum Thermal Tights
Brooks Momentum Thermal Tights
Brooks Momentum Thermal Tights
Pros
- Side pockets
- Good wicking
Cons
- Could use some reflective accents
These 28-inch-inseam tights are woven with another of Brooks’s proprietary fabrics, this one with slightly more polyester than in the company's Carbonite glove blend. Material differences aside, it wicks away moisture and locks in warmth so you won’t freeze. Both the men’s and women’s tights have side pockets with ample room for storage. Testers liked how comfy the tights were but wished there was more reflective detail. For a more visible option, we recommend Brooks’s Carbonite Tights ($130).
[Related: Best Running Leggings]
MOST VERSATILE PIECE OF GEAR
Buff DryFlx
Buff Dryflx Multifunctional Headwear
Pros
- Easy to customize warmth depending on how you wear it
- Inexpensive
- Dries quickly
Cons
Whether you wear it like a headband, a face mask, a neck gaiter, or nearly any other imaginable way you can wrap it around your head, a Buff is one of the most versatile pieces of gear you can own. The 360-degree reflectivity on this one keeps you visible on pre-dawn jogs. And if you get hot, it’s super easy to pull off and wrap around a wrist.
RECHARGEABLE HEADLAMP
Black Diamond Sprint 225
Black Diamond Sprint 225
Black Diamond Sprint 225
Pros
- You can change the brightness settings by swiping past a sensor
- Good value
Cons
- Battery doesn’t last long on highest setting
As fall fades into winter, you’ll likely do more and more of your mileage before the sun comes up. Having a dependable headlamp is crucial for seeing—and being seen—on those dawn patrol runs. The USB-chargeable Sprint 225 is a Runner’s World pick due to its blend of comfort, performance, and features at a more-than-fair price. The headlamp is held securely in place by a comfortable, narrow band, and is so sleek and lightweight that it doesn’t bounce or shift around while you’re running. Changing the brightness is easy to do without removing your gloves or fumbling with tiny buttons—just swipe your hand up or down past the lamp’s sensors to cycle between six settings. Our tester found that the brightest, 225-lumen setting doesn’t last for the brand’s suggested “two hours on high” claim, but the medium intensity provides more than enough light for three hours before needing to be recharged.
BEST FOR TRACTION IN SNOW AND ICE
Saucony Peregrine 11ST
Saucony Peregrine 11ST
Pros
- Toothy lugs are excellent in the snow
- Upper sheds snow and slush
- Easy-to-secure lace cord
Cons
- Not good for running on dry pavement
The standard Peregrine has always been an excellent shoe for trail running due to its wide platform, stellar traction, and smooth ride—plus a Pwrrun+ midsole that strikes a nice balance between supportive cushioning and low-profile ground connection. This ST model, short for “soft terrain,” shares all those traits and adds a sloppy-weather-friendly component that includes an outsole with longer lugs for biting into snow and ice, and wider gaps between those 1.5mm lugs for shedding mud and slush. A rock plate at the front of the shoe shields your foot as it bites down into crunchy ice, while overlays on the durable, abrasion-resistant upper prevent cold water from seeping in. Gloved or numb fingers will have no trouble tightening the shoes or removing them—the 11ST has an easy-to-cinch bungee cord in place of laces. Our testers loved this shoe. Said one: “The Peregrine was exceptional across the board—wonderfully responsive and capable across deep mud and loose gravel to snow, with an amazing fit that needed none of my usual lacing tricks.”
INSULATED HANDHELD HYDRATION
Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Water Bottle
Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Water Bottle
Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Water Bottle
Pros
- Insulated
- Doesn’t leak
- Lots of storage
Cons
- Starts to get heavy if you actually use the storage
When it’s cold out and you’re not sweating as much, it’s easy to overlook your hydration needs. But don’t be fooled—you still need to take in plenty of fluids on the run, particularly if you’re training for longer distances. It's easy to maintain a grip on the SpeedDraw even over gloves—there's an adjustable strap that can be tightened down over your hand with a thumbhole to hold it firmly in place without having to clench your fist. The 18-ounce flexible plastic bottle fits comfortably and ergonomically into your hands and has a double-wall insulated lining to delay your water from freezing (or keep it colder for longer in the summer). An added zipper storage compartment is roomy enough to hold most phones.
LIGHT-ADJUSTING SUNGLASSES
Smith Reverb Sunglasses
Smith Reverb Sunglasses
Pros
- Comes with an extra Photochromic lens
- Adapt to light and dark conditions
- Lightweight
Cons
- Some might prefer a less sporty-looking style
While “sunglasses” might not be the first gear item to come to mind on cold, overcast days, UV rays are present year-round and can cause permanent damage to your eyes. Smith knows how to make a good pair of winter sunglasses—the brand got its start making skiing and snowboarding eyewear. These Reverb frames are excellent for their featherweight (27 grams) wraparound protection, which shields your eyes from bitter wind chill and sun damage. The brand’s photochromic “clear to grey” lenses both block light reflected off snow and adjust automatically to match the lighting conditions.
OUR CHOICE FOR GEAR OF THE YEAR
Swiftwick Pursuit Four Ultralight Socks
Swiftwick Pursuit Four Ultralight Trail Socks
Swiftwick Pursuit Four Ultralight Trail Socks
Pros
- Lightweight merino warmth
- Dry quickly
- Available in multiple heights
Cons
We gave these socks a 2020 Gear of the Year award for their comfort, warmth, and nigh four-season versatility—and still stand by the decision more than two years later. Made of a lightweight merino wool, the socks feel soft, dry, and luxurious against your feet in all but an endless deluge. They keep your toes warm without overcrowding your running shoes, and don’t become sweaty and stifling on balmier days. They also come in four height options, from the no-show Zeros to the calf-high Sevens, so you can choose a pair that fits your winter needs.
Expert Caitlin Giddings Shares Ways To Warm Up to Winter Running. Read Her Tips on Shoes to Wear and When to Hit the Treadmill Instead!
RW: Do I need special shoes for running in the winter?
CG: From a temperature standpoint, no—you’ll be fine if you wear (and even double-layer, on the coldest days) the right winter socks. But if you’re doing a lot of your running on ice or snow, you'll want lugged-outsole trail shoes, or shoes with a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane on the upper to prevent slush from seeping in. Here are our favorite shoes for winter running.
RW: When is it too cold to run?
CG: We’d love to say “Never, if you have the right gear on!” But the American College of Sports Medicine says you shouldn’t exercise outdoors if the wind chill is below -18 degrees Fahrenheit. Just be warned that temperatures far above that low threshold can still be dangerous—we recommend using caution any time you run in below freezing temperatures, particularly if you have any medical conditions that could be exacerbated by the cold air. If your body isn’t starting to warm up after a mile or so, consider taking your workout to the treadmill.
RW: How should I dress for winter running so that I don’t overheat?
CG: Our “one weird trick” for deciding what to wear to run is just to add 20 degrees (10, if you get cold easily) to the temperature outside and dress for that. So if the forecast predicts a 50-degree run, wear what you would for a casual 70-degree day outside.
*Editors Note: Jeff Dengate, Runner-in-Chief of Runner's World, and the Runner's World Editors, also contributed to this article.
