Winter Workout Clothes
Last January, right in the middle of the coldest, snowiest winter in years, I decided to tackle running.
I’d been the wimpiest runner for years and years, struggling to hit even a mile.
My husband, who is a life-long runner, finally took pity on me and we spent the winter running together several mornings a week until I could run three miles without wanting to die.
Running outside made the winter SO much better for me – it made me feel like I wasn’t at the mercy of the elements and getting that fresh air and (sometimes) sunshine helped the winter feel much more manageable.
Of course, running outdoors in the winter requires some warm weather gear! Now that winter has rolled around again, I’m back to pulling out my winter workout clothes both for morning runs and for the mornings when we walk hills together.
Here is my go-to winter running gear:
winter running gear
WATERPROOF RUNNING SHOES
I bought these waterproof running shoes last year and they were SO GREAT all winter long when I was finally learning to run. I just pulled them back out a few weeks ago and they are just the best for winter running when it’s wet or slippery outside. (Bart has them too – in fact, his huge love for the men’s version was what inspired me to buy my own pair!). No wet toes if you run through a puddle and big thick treads for slick streets and icy patches.
THERMAL LEGGINGS
I have about five pairs of these thermal leggings in various colors and I wear them on every single run in the winter and every ski day.
THERMAL BASE TOP
This is the top that matches with my thermal leggings and I have multiple of these tops too. I especially love the higher neckline so cold wind isn’t blowing down my neck. Plus, the thumbholes can keep my hands warmer if needed.
PULLOVER
My parents bought me a pullover from this brand last year for my birthday and I wear it nearly daily in the winter – skiing, running, hiking, and any time I’m chilly. It has a perfect fit and is warm without being bulky. I wear it on 95% of my runs from fall to spring (and frankly, even in the summer when I was taking my girls to swim team early in the morning, I’d wear it until I was actually ready to workout).
JOGGERS
As soon as the weather really starts to turn cold and I’m running in 20 degree weather or colder, one pair of leggings isn’t going to cut it and I add a pair of joggers over the top of my leggings. That second layer makes all the difference!
LIGHT PUFFER JACKET
I have several puffer jackets in various weights and this Uniqulo one is my favorite one for winter running – it adds a nice layer of warmth but isn’t so warm that I get super hot and if I DO need to take it off, it doesn’t bother me to have it tied around my waist because it’s so lightweight. I’ve had it for about five years and I love it. Plus it comes in a bunch of colors!
TALL SOCKS
I always wear two pairs of socks when I run in the winter because I do NOT want cold toes. I wear a taller thinner pair of socks that I put on before I put my leggings on so I don’t have any ankle gap. Smartwool is my favorite brand (I wear them for skiing too!).
RUNNING SOCKS
My favorite workout socks are from Stance and I put these on over my Smartwool socks for more cushion and warmth as I run.
HAT
I’ve had this hat for years and its my go-to when I run.
GLOVES
It’s a fine line between freezing fingers and sweating hands when you run so I like a light pair of gloves. And I also like touch screen gloves so I can turn on my running tracker or adjust my audiobook without taking them off!
If I’m running with Bart, we chat for most of the run (or rather, he talks and I manage a word or two when I’m not concentrating on not dying). If I’m running on my own, I listen to an audiobook on my phone and use my beloved Raycon earbuds.
Any other question about my winter running gear? Happy to help!
if you liked this post about winter workout clothes, you might also like these other posts:
Photos by Heather Mildenstein
The links to the leggings and thermal top appear to be broken.
Fixed now!
What about your face. That’s what always gets me. My face freezes and it’s just miserable! Love to walk outside year round though so I’d love to fix this annoying problem!