• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Snacking in Sneakers
  • Home
  • About + Contact
    • About
    • Contact
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Recipes
  • Running + Triathlon
    • Free Training Plans
    • Running
    • Triathlon
    • Race Reviews
    • Fitness Tips & Workouts
  • Wellness + Travel
    • Nutrition
    • Health + Wellness Tips
    • Travel
  • Shop
    • Journey to Healthy Eating: 28 Day Nutrition Challenge
    • Printable Fitness Planner
    • Triathlon Art – Set of 3 Digital Prints
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Chrissy
  • Recipe Box
  • Wellness + Travel
  • Fitness, Run & Tri
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Fitness, Run & Tri

    5 Essential Pieces of Winter Running Gear

    November 29, 2016 by Chrissy Carroll 20 Comments


    Disclosure:  This post about winter running gear is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Mizuno. All opinions are my own.

    I used to be one of those people that never understood why people would want to run in the cold.  {To be truthful, I used to be one of those people that never understood why others want to run at all, haha.}  But after about 8 years of consistently running and partaking in road races, I’ve come to enjoy the cooler weather runs.

    Don’t get me wrong, you probably won’t find me out there in the middle of a heavy snow storm with icicles on my eyelashes.  I’ll take the treadmill on those days.  But running on a crisp 30 degree day?  Heck yes. 

    While summer lends itself to scenic beach front views by foot, the colder months bring a winter wonderland of scenery.  Think lightly falling snowflakes coating the trees, glowing colorful Christmas lights in the early morning, and snowcapped mountains in the distance.  It’s quite majestic and totally worth layering up.

    And of course, there’s the benefit of not getting sweaty within 3 minutes of walking out the door, unlike hot summer runs.  {Don’t get me wrong, I love summer running too though.  I don’t discriminate based on the season. 😉 }

    If you’re worried about tackling the terrain while the mercury drops, my best tip is to invest in some good winter running gear.  It will keep you warm and comfortable.  Before you know it you won’t be thinking about the temperature, you’ll just be enjoying the fresh air and the sights.

    [Tweet “Embrace cold weather running with these 5 key pieces of winter gear! #BreathThermo”]

    Here are 5 essential pieces of warm winter running gear:

    These 5 pieces of winter running gear will help you to pound the pavement all winter long! Great tips for runners and triathletes who want to do more outdoor workouts during the cold weather.

    1. Base layer top

    This is probably one of the most important pieces of winter running gear you’ll want to own.  If you’re not familiar with it, a base layer is the first layer that you put on your upper body.  You want something that’s going to wick away sweat.  If that first layer holds onto sweat, the moisture will get cold in the chilly air and will result in you feeling frigid.

    Because of this, skip the cotton and go for synthetic fabrics that have moisture-wicking properties.  I had the chance to test out the Mizuno Breath Thermo Base Layer and I LOVE it.  According to Mizuno, the lightweight Breath Thermo technology converts moisture to heat so that you stay warm on your cold runs.  I don’t really know how all that works (shirt technology is not my specialty, haha!) but it did definitely keep me warm.  I was actually surprised how well it worked because it was so thin and lightweight that I wasn’t sure it would do the trick.  Definitely did though!  I wore it with a fleece over it and it was perfect for my snowy morning run.  And it was great because I didn’t feel like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man with lots of bulky layers on.

    These 5 pieces of winter running gear will help you to pound the pavement all winter long! Great tips for runners and triathletes who want to do more outdoor workouts during the cold weather.

    2. Running tights

    Winter running tights have a few key benefits.  They help wick moisture, which both keeps you warm and prevents chafing.  They also help to block the wind (no one wants to feel a cold breeze through their clothes).  And lastly, the fact that they’re tight adds a bit of compression to mix, which may help with circulation. 

    Up until now I’ve relied on basic tights which work pretty well in fall and winter, but I plan to grab an insulated/lined pair this year for the really cold winter days.

    3. Hat

    Growing up, my mom used to tell me to wear a hat, saying “don’t you know you lose most of your body heat through your head!”  While research has shown that statement is inaccurate – we actually only lose about 7-10% of heat through our heads, proportional to surface area (sorry, mom) – it certainly is prudent to cover the head with a hat on cold runs.  This helps you maintain as much warmth as possible to keep comfortable.  In addition, some scientists believe we may perceive the heat lost from the head and our extremities in a more sensitive way.  This could make us feel more cold when those areas are exposed.

    The right kind of hat for you will depend on the temperature, how sweaty your head gets, and how long your run is.  For shorter runs and for those of us that don’t get a super sweaty noggin, a standard inexpensive hat will do the trick.  For longer runs or for those of ya’ll that end up with a pretty sweaty head, you’ll want something that helps wick sweat to keep you warm.

    These 5 pieces of winter running gear will help you to pound the pavement all winter long! Great tips for runners and triathletes who want to do more outdoor workouts during the cold weather.

    4. Gloves

    Like I mentioned above, we may perceive feeling colder when losing heat through the extremities.   In addition, the extremities are the body parts most likely to suffer from frostbite on really cold days.  {Keep in mind, the temperatures need to drop pretty low and/or there needs to be significant wind for this to be a risk.  This article has a good frostbite risk chart.}

    These 5 pieces of winter running gear will help you to pound the pavement all winter long! Great tips for runners and triathletes who want to do more outdoor workouts during the cold weather.

    Keep your hands warm with a good pair of gloves.  Mizuno sent me a pair of their Breath Thermo gloves (same line as the top I mentioned above) and they were great.  I ran up in Vermont on a 30 degree morning and after an initial 5 minute period of feeling a little cold in the hands, it was like the heat retention kicked in and my hands were fine for the rest of the hour.  The best part of these gloves (in my opinion) was that they were multi-functional.  In addition to keeping hands warm, they had a small pocket to store a key.  They also had a touchpad on the forefinger which made it easy to adjust my music on my phone without taking my gloves off (something I have not been able to find in running gloves until this point!).

    5. Jacket

    It might be a good idea to stock up on two jackets for the winter.  First would be a warm insulating one like fleece that you can wear on fair weather days (but look for ones that are breathable so you don’t get too hot).  However, fleece or cotton will just soak up water if it rains.  So the second buy would be a wind-breaking and water-resistant jacket that will help to keep you warm and protect you from rain and snow on cold days.

    There ya have it.  Now get out there and be a winter warrior this season!

    Share with me:  Do you prefer warm weather or cold weather runs?  What’s your must-have piece of winter running gear?  {And don’t forget to check out some Mizuno winter running products while you’re thinking about it! 😉 }

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
    Chrissy Carroll
    Latest posts by Chrissy Carroll (see all)
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Ice Pops - June 22, 2025
    • Savory Sweetpotato Ricotta Breakfast Bowls - June 16, 2025
    • Peanut Butter Honey Cheerios Bars - June 13, 2025

    More Fitness, Run & Tri

    • A woman's feet next to two sets of heavy kettlebells.
      Should Runners Lift Heavy Weights or Light Weights?
    • A man doing a long run outside on a dirt path.
      Do You Really Need to Cap Your Long Run at 3 Hours?
    • A woman doing a forearm plank outside.
      Cross Training Tips for Runners (From a Coach)
    • A man looking down at his phone while out on a fall run.
      4 Best Ways to Carry Your Phone While Running – and the 3 Worst Options!
    141 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Let’s connect!

    Instagram
    Facebook
    Pinterest
    Twitter

    Looking for something?

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. GiGi Eats

      November 29, 2016 at 9:25 am

      Living in LA….. I guess I kind of “save money” in the respect that I don’t have to buy really warm work out gear – LOL! Considering the weather is typically always the same!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 30, 2016 at 8:26 pm

        Haha, very true. If you live in a temperate climate year round you probably can skip layers upon layers of winter gear!

        Reply
    2. Kalee

      November 29, 2016 at 12:15 pm

      I prefer warm-weather runs. My favorite time is the fall though when it’s warm but not “Tennessee hot”!! I just recently bought a pair of winter leggings, and I am in love with them. I love your outfit too – it looks warm, but it’s still form fitting! I hate it when I get too many thick layers going.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 30, 2016 at 8:27 pm

        Yes, definitely agree with you on the thick layers thing. I don’t want to feel bulky while I’m running; I like to have clothes that keep me warm but flow nicely with the movement.

        Reply
    3. Kara @ Byte Sized Nutrition

      November 29, 2016 at 3:15 pm

      I admit, I’m totally one of those people who will not run outside if it’s less than 50 degrees (I wish I was though!) You give me some hope though.. Maybe I just need the right gear to keep me warm. Definitely going to have to look into some of these products!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 30, 2016 at 8:27 pm

        I seriously never thought I would. The best thing I did was sign up for a winter warrior challenge – run outside every day in January. I didn’t want to quit so I stuck with it, and ever since then I’ve been way more comfortable running outside!

        Reply
    4. Melissa @ Mango About Town

      November 29, 2016 at 5:29 pm

      I would love to run more in the winter. I’m worried though about slippery sidewalks!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 30, 2016 at 8:28 pm

        Yes, that’s always a worry for me too! I try to run on cleared roads if they haven’t done a good job on the sidewalks. But I know you can also get those things to strap on to the bottom of your sneakers to give you traction in the snow. I haven’t tried them, but might be worth looking into!

        Reply
    5. abbey sharp

      November 29, 2016 at 10:19 pm

      I need the running tights and the gloves ASAP, perfect for this chilly toronto winter

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 30, 2016 at 8:28 pm

        Yes, definitely two essential pieces of gear as it gets chilly!

        Reply
    6. Ilka

      November 30, 2016 at 6:58 am

      This post makes me miss running through cold winter air! Looove all the gear you are showing in this post!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 30, 2016 at 8:31 pm

        Aw, thanks! No snowy days down in Florida?! 😉

        Reply
    7. Tara @ A Daily Dose of Fit

      November 30, 2016 at 2:29 pm

      Love running in the cold! Cute pants.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 30, 2016 at 8:31 pm

        Thanks Tara! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Kim Kremer

      December 9, 2016 at 1:16 pm

      I haven’t yet found my “nope – too cold – I’d rather run on a treadmill” temperature. I’m not that person in running shorts when it’s 30°F – too breezy for my liking – but I’m fine running in the cold & snow. (I live in a climate similar to a high desert, so it’s a dry cold. It sounds like a cliché, but having lived in the Tidewater area of Virginia during a two-week spell that never got about 20°F, dry cold is much easier on the body than damp cold.)

      I’m always a little skeptical of the claims of magical wicking fibers, but I’ve removed my shell jacket and found it fairly damp; I then realize I never felt any of that moisture, so the magical stuff works. (We average 8″ of precipitation a year. When we get rain, it’s usually light and fairly brief. Thus, there’s not much reason for me to invest in waterproof & breathable outerwear. My shell jacket is a too-large cycling jacket that’s barely water-resistant.)

      I’m like you, though: I love being outside, regardless of the weather. 105°F? Bring lots of water, and know where you can refill your bottles. 15°F? Perfect! The neighbor’s obnoxious Chihuahua has to be inside in this weather, so it can’t chase me.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        December 12, 2016 at 9:08 am

        Yes, I would waaaay rather be outside than stuck on the treadmill. A few years back I had to do a 12 miler on the treadmill and it was the longest run of my life, haha. I’ll take the hot or cold over that any day.

        Reply
    9. Retta

      December 28, 2016 at 6:33 pm

      Where did you take these pictures? It’s beautiful!!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        January 4, 2017 at 6:11 pm

        Thank you!! One of Terry’s cousin’s parents (? possibly messing up the relations here, lol – but someone related to his family) has a lake house in Vermont that we stayed at for Thanksgiving. It was so pretty!

        Reply
    10. Heidi

      January 5, 2017 at 6:51 am

      I love winter runs. I’d rather be chilly than hot. I’d add wool socks to the list of essentials. Cold toes can be painful, in upstate NY

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        January 10, 2017 at 6:30 am

        So true! I sometimes double up on socks but a good wool pair would probably be a nice investment!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Snacking in Sneakers! That's me, Chrissy, and I'm here to share all my favorite fitness, food, & wellness stories & tips. I'm a dietitian, personal trainer, runner, triathlon coach, foodie, not-so-extreme couponer, and all around fun lovin' gal.

    More about me →

    Latest

    • A woman's hand holding a chocolate peanut butter protein popsicle.
      Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Ice Pops
    • A spoon drizzling honey on ricotta in a sweetpotato breakfast bowl.
      Savory Sweetpotato Ricotta Breakfast Bowls
    • A woman's hand holding a peanut butter honey cheerio bar.
      Peanut Butter Honey Cheerios Bars
    • A cast iron skillet with peach blueberry crisp and a few scoops of ice cream.
      Healthy Peach Blueberry Crisp

    Let’s Connect!

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Snacking in Sneakers

    141 shares
    • 3

    Want to start running - and stick with it?

    Sign up for our email list to get a free Beginner Running Guide with helpful tips and 4 beginner-friendly training plans!

    Screenshots of several pages in a beginner running guide.

    Invalid email address
    Thanks for subscribing! Check your email in the next few minutes for your free guide.