There’s No Bad Weather, Only Bad Gear
Looking out the window with your morning coffee, nice and warm in your house, you can make out through the dark that the roads are still icy from the storm last week and the digital thermometer you have on the wall is telling you that it’s 3℉ out there. No wonder the birds aren't out yet. No life should be out in this. Maybe you should just head to the gym to run on the treadmill instead. Ugh, but the treadmill is always so boring that you can barely eek out 6 miles and today is your long run and your schedule has 10-12 on it. Then again, your ears were so cold on your short run a couple days ago that they were aching on the inside and even though you wore your puffy coat and your core was warm, it was too warm, and sweating underneath it made you chilled for what seemed like hours afterward.
Sound familiar?
We get it. It stinks to be miserable when you head out to do the thing that you love, that usually brings joy and balance to your life. But the alternative is either the indoor hamster wheel or giving it up altogether. Winter running is misery no matter how you look at it. But does it have to be!?
There’s a quote from Alfred Wainwright who wrote, “There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing” in his 1973 book Coast to Coast. Turns out he’s right! We won’t deny that it takes a certain mindset and drive to get out when the weather is poor but we are also here to tell you that if you invest in some of the right gear, once you do step out there, it’s not so bad. Really!
Running requires us to be uncomfortable sometimes- many times. Running in the winter adds another layer of adversity but isn’t that part of why you love running? Embrace the adventure of it and know that everytime you step out in bad weather, your tolerance for being uncomfortable is getting a workout too.
We happen to have some favorite gear for this time of year that will keep you warm while wicking away sweat, keep you hydrated and keep you from slipping and sliding on patches of ice and snow.
WARNING: This gear will not protect you from extreme cold or prolonged exposure to wet, cold conditions.
Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Bottle
Why we love it: it keeps your water from getting too cold and therefore, cooling your core temp too much.
If you’re using a hydration bladder instead of bottles, be sure to sip often to avoid ice build up in the straw!
Why we love it: this vest is weather resistant and keeps your core warm while allowing for temperature regulation.
Why we love it: it’s lightweight, easily packable and blocks the chilling effect of a blustery wind or light rain/snow.
Layer on top of the Patagonia Nano Puff Vest for colder days.
Why we love it: wicks moisture away to keep you dry and warm and best of all, it doesn’t stink!
For a slightly lighter weight but still amazing layer, try the Women's Merino Sphere II Long Sleeve T-Shirt by Icebreaker
Why we love it: its lightweight merino wool is perfect for layering.
Why we love them: their crew height will keep you from having a gap of exposed skin at the ankle,
and like all our other favorite wool products, they wick away moisture to keep you warm and dry.
Why we love them: the added warmth of these tights are perfect for the coldest of days and they still have storage pockets for cards and keys.
For those days when you need more than just long tights.
Why we love them: Run confidently in the ice and snow with no slippage.
Use their MICROspikes for trails or more epic conditions.
Why we love them: the outer mitten cover is great for wind protection,
and you can easily de-mitten and use your fingers for tying shoes, using your phone or opening a gel.
Why we love it: This is a versatile and easy to pack piece.
Make it a hat, ear cover or face cover. Just leave this in your running vest at all times. Trust us.
Why we love them: to be honest, we usually use our regular Lone Peaks but these are great for very wet conditions.
Who’s ready to get out in the ice and snow and blustering wind and run?! We knew all your runners would be game;-)
Just a few more tips for getting out there:
Start just a bit on the chilly side because you’ll warm up quickly once you get moving and avoid carrying extra layers.
You may find as long as your hands and ears or head are covered you’ll be comfortable. For really cold days we love the entire list above.
Avoid being too warm and therefore sweating too much. Sweat is how we cool down and you want to avoid getting chilled. If you couldn’t tell, we love wool because of its amazing ability to wick away sweat.
If your feet are very prone to cold, double up on your wool socks.
Make sure to consume plenty of calories, keeping yourself warm is hard work for your body.
Have any tips or gear you love for running in the winter? Share them with us in the comments!