What to wear running in winter: running clothes in layers
For winter running, dress in two to three thin layers and adjust them to the temperature and wind. The guide shows the layers in a table by temperature, insulated leggings and thermal bottoms, a jacket or gilet against the wind, a hat, gloves and reflective details in the dark.
Short answer: For winter running, dress in two to three thin layers: thermal underwear on the body, depending on the frost a thin sweatshirt, and a lightweight jacket or gilet against the wind on top. For your legs, long leggings are right; in frost, insulated leggings or thermal bottoms under softshell trousers. Wear a hat or headband on your head and gloves on your hands. At the start you should feel slightly cold, because once you get going you will warm up. In the dark look for reflective details and take a headtorch.
What to wear running in winter by temperature?
Within a few minutes of running you warm up and start to sweat, and a wet layer then chills you when you stop. So dress at the start so that you feel slightly cold. The table builds the layers from clothing that NORDBLANC offers. The temperatures in it are indicative recommendations on what to wear, not a property of the products.
| Temperature | Torso | Legs | Head and hands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 to 10 °C | lightweight long-sleeved thermal underwear, in wind a lightweight jacket or gilet | long leggings | headband, thin gloves |
| 0 to 5 °C | all-season thermal underwear, lightweight jacket or gilet against the wind | long leggings | headband or thin hat, thin gloves |
| -5 to 0 °C | all-season or winter thermal underwear, jacket against the wind, at a slow pace a thin powerfleece jacket | long or insulated leggings | hat, neckwarmer, gloves |
| -10 to -5 °C | winter thermal underwear, thin powerfleece jacket, jacket against the wind | insulated leggings, or thermal bottoms under softshell trousers | hat, neckwarmer, warmer gloves |
| below -10 °C | winter or merino thermal underwear, powerfleece jacket, jacket against the wind | thermal bottoms under softshell trousers | hat, neckwarmer, warmer gloves |
Wind chills more than the temperature alone. So in wind choose layers from the row with the lower temperature, at a brisk pace from the row with the higher one. The layers work just as on a hike, which is covered by the guide What to wear hiking. For running you simply choose thinner pieces, because you warm up more. You will find the whole selection in the collections clothes for running, women’s jogging clothing and men’s jogging clothing.
Which thermal underwear and sweatshirt to choose under a jacket?
Close-fitting thermal underwear that wicks away sweat belongs next to the body. All NORDBLANC thermal underwear ranges, that is lightweight, all-season, winter and merino, list running among the activities. The synthetic ranges share polyester with DRYFOR technical fibre. Merino wool stays warm even when damp, but dries more slowly than synthetics; choose it more for a gentler pace and cold days. Which thermal underwear for which temperature is covered by the guide How to choose a baselayer.
You need a middle layer only in frost. NORDBLANC powerfleece jackets are made of stretchy polyester with elastane, and all of them list running among the activities. How they differ from classic fleece is explained by the guide How to choose a fleece jacket. You will find the selection in the collection powerfleece jackets.
Which insulated leggings and trousers for winter running?
Around zero, long leggings are enough. Insulated leggings or another layer on the legs come into play only in frost and wind. Leggings with running among the activities are made of a stretchy material with DRYFOR technical fibre, and most have a Slim fit. For most of them, wind resistance is listed as Low, so in a sharp wind count on an additional layer on your legs. For winter you have three options:
- Insulated leggings. NORDBLANC has winter leggings with insulation in only a few models, all of them women’s. According to the product details, they are at the Waterproof level on the Waterproofness scale, with a water column of 10,000 mm and breathability of 10,000 g/m²/24 h. On NORDBLANC’s indicative warmth scale they are rated down to -10 °C; the level compares NORDBLANC models with one another and does not promise that you will not be cold at that temperature. Wind resistance is High on most of them. You will find them in the collection insulated leggings.
- Thermal bottoms. Thermal bottoms (thermal leggings) from the thermal underwear range come in women’s and men’s versions. Put them on under softshell or looser trousers, and then you do not need insulated leggings.
- Softshell trousers. Only some softshell trousers have running among the activities. All of these models also list cross-country skiing and have reflective details among the features, and most are made of SOFTSHIELD® 10000. When to take softshell trousers and how they differ is covered by the guide What to wear cross-country skiing. Women’s ones are in the collection women’s softshell trousers, men’s in the collection men’s softshell trousers.
Leggings in the NORDBLANC range are women’s only. So for winter running, men can turn to thermal bottoms and softshell trousers.
A jacket or a gilet against the wind for winter running?
The outer layer is mainly there to stop the wind; the heat is held by the layers under it. A gilet warms the torso and leaves the arms free, so it suits a brisk pace and mild frost. A jacket with sleeves is the surer choice at a slower pace and in harder frost. All NORDBLANC sports gilets list running among the activities. For jackets and gilets with running among the activities, wind resistance is given in the parameters on the product: for most it is Medium, and only some models have the High level.
The guide Lightweight sports jacket tells ultralight jackets, lightweight softshell and insulated jackets apart, including when a lightweight jacket is not enough. You will find the selection in the collections women’s lightweight sports jackets, men’s lightweight sports jackets, women’s sports gilets and men’s sports gilets.
Which running hat, gloves and socks should you choose in winter?
Ears and hands freeze first, but when running they warm up quickly, so thinner pieces than for a walk are enough. A thin hat or a headband that covers the ears belongs on your head, and in frost add a neckwarmer. Gloves should be thin and stretchy, warmer ones for hard frost. The materials of hats and gloves and the glove sizes are covered by the guide How to choose winter hats and gloves. You will find hats in the collections winter hats and winter headbands.
One pair of thin technical socks is enough for your feet; cotton ones soak up sweat and chill. Compression and merino socks are described by the guide Compression socks for sport and hiking.
How do you stay visible when running in the dark?
In winter people often run in the morning or evening in the dark. Reflective details reflect light, and not all clothing has them among its features:
- Jackets and gilets with running among the activities: most have reflective details among the features.
- Softshell trousers with running among the activities: all of them have them.
- Leggings: only some have reflective details.
- Thermal underwear and powerfleece jackets: reflective details are not among the features.
So choose reflective details on the outer layer, because a jacket covers what is under it. They do not replace light, though: take a headtorch in the dark. You can find out whether a model has reflective details in the Features section of the product page.
Women’s and men’s winter running clothes: how does the choice differ?
Women’s and men’s models are chosen by the same details; they differ in fit, sizes and range: leggings are women’s only. Women’s jackets and gilets with running among the activities come in sizes 34-44, men’s in S-XXXL, and men’s thermal underwear mostly from XS. The sizes a model comes in are shown on the product; measure yourself against the size charts. Running clothes should fit closely but must not constrict you or restrict your stride and arms. You can try them on in our stores.
How do you avoid sweating through and getting chilled when running in winter?
- Start into the wind. On the way back the wind is then at your back, when you are sweaty and the wind would chill you most.
- Ventilate with the zip. Unzip the neck zip when you start running, and zip it up when you stop and in wind.
- Do not wait outside. Being slightly cold at the start is fine; set off straight away and do not add a layer.
- Change straight after you finish. Sweaty layers chill quickly when you are still.
Frequently asked questions
How many layers are enough for winter running?
Two to three thin ones. Around zero, thermal underwear and a lightweight jacket or gilet against the wind are enough; in frost add a thin powerfleece jacket. More layers do not mean more warmth: if you sweat, the wet layer chills you. If you feel pleasantly warm at the start, you will soon be hot.
Are insulated leggings necessary for winter running?
Not always. Around zero, long leggings are enough; insulated ones make sense in frost and wind. NORDBLANC has only a few models of insulated leggings, which are women’s and waterproof, with a water column of 10,000 mm. Another route is thermal bottoms under softshell or looser trousers, which come in women’s and men’s versions.
What should I wear to run in rain and wet snow?
Look at the Waterproofness scale on the product. For jackets and gilets with running among the activities, the Light rain level, that is a short shower, is about as common as Waterproof; for some models the figure is missing. Lightweight softshells have a water column of 10,000 mm and cope with wet snow; if it is going to rain all day, reach for a jacket with a membrane. The guide Lightweight sports jacket describes when a lightweight jacket is not enough.
Can I wear cross-country skiing clothes for winter running?
Yes, the layering works the same way: thermal underwear, a thin sweatshirt and a jacket against the wind. Softshell trousers with running among the activities also list cross-country skiing, as do all powerfleece jackets. The more slowly you move and the more often you stand still, the more layers you need. A packing list is in the guide What to wear cross-country skiing.