There’s no need to sugarcoat it — running in the winter can be a challenge. The days are short, it’s cold, windy and often wet, and motivation levels can be hard to maintain as a result.
I run six or seven days a week throughout the year, and while especially icy conditions can sometimes force me onto a treadmill, I do nearly all of my running outside.
While the UK is thankfully not as cold as many places around the world during the winter, I do have to deal with freezing temperatures, wind and plenty of rain during my winter training, and I have amassed a lot of running gear to help me do so over the years.
I consider a lot of this gear essential to making my runs more enjoyable or even just bearable in the winter, so if you’re running through the colder months yourself, hopefully some of the below might help make that training a little bit more fun.
Mittens
Let’s start with maybe the most important item of all — mittens and gloves. I wear gloves when it’s chilly, mittens when it's really cold, and both when the temperature drops below freezing.
Mittens are warmer than gloves in general, and I often actually look for cycling gloves rather than running gloves, because they’re warmer. Gloves with some kind of windproof fabric are good, or even fully waterproof gloves if you want the highest level of protection.
Headband
I wear a cap for most of the year when running, but a thick headband to protect my ears is a must when it’s really cold. I was reminded of this when I forgot mine on a recent long run and had stinging ears for the whole 90 minutes. I prefer a headband to a beanie because the latter can get too hot on the run, in my experience.
Base layer
The best base layers can be expensive, but they are a key item of clothing for winter, helping to regulate your temperature so you stay warm without getting too clammy. Any base layer with an anti-odor fabric is welcome because you can use it for a few runs and hang it up to dry out.
Running vest
A running gilet might seem a luxury, but I use them all the time in the winter to keep my core warm without overheating. They’re perfect for using instead of a jacket for faster runs in cold conditions, in particular, and you can also use them as an extra windproof layer over a jacket when it’s freezing.
Running jacket
The best running jackets don’t come cheap, but they are the most important element of a winter wardrobe. I opt for a water-resistant jacket most of the time as they’re more breathable than waterproof ones and still keep light rain at bay. But many runners will need a full waterproof jacket for the winter.
Headphones with buttons
If you’re going to use headphones during winter, try to avoid ones with touch panel controls, which I find very tricky to use while wearing gloves or with wet fingers. Good old-fashioned physical buttons are a must, in my view.
Photochromic glasses
These probably do fall into the luxury camp, rather than being essentials, but as someone who wears glasses during runs, I really value photochromic lenses in the winter. These are clear when it's cloudy or dark, but quickly transition when the winter sun is shining.
In the UK, the weather changes rapidly and the sun sits low in the sky when it shines in winter, which can be blinding, so having glasses that change with the weather is very useful.
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