Running Gear Guide: Bundle Up It's Getting Cold Outside

With the year’s big races now in the rearview mirror and temperatures starting to drop, it may be tempting to just curl up with some hot cocoa and enjoy some Netflix. But for many runners, training never stops no matter how cold it gets.

As for me, I’m coming off a tough finish of the TCS New York City Marathon. I took some time off, but I’m back at it. I’ve got my team’s annual turkey trot on Thanksgiving along with a half marathon later this weekend. It’s going to be cold, so I’m digging out my favorite woolies.

Whether you’re gearing up for your first turkey trot or starting to plan for one of the spring Abbott World Major Marathons, we’ve got some great ideas for gear that will keep you warm and cozy as winter draws closer.

On top of that, the holidays are on their way, too. If you need to play Santa for a favorite runner in your life, we’ve also got plenty of suggestions for perfect gifts.  

Here’s a look at some of my favorite winter and other top running gear. 

Runners love socks

When I was a kid, I used to groan when I would find socks in my stocking. Now I get excited.

Runners don’t cut corners when it comes to socks. They can make the difference between finishing a race happy and limping to the end with bloody feet.

That’s why there’s always more than one pair of Feetures exchanged at my running team’s annual gift swap. Priced at about $18 each, Feetures’ colorful and long-lasting socks are my go-to for training and racing. Specifically, the “Elite” versions of the socks offer targeted compression that helps protect and support your feet as you run without feeling too heavy.

But with temperatures expected to be in the high 20s for the start of this weekend’s half marathon, I’ll be reaching for my pair of Smartwool Cold-Weather Run crew socks. When it comes to keeping your feet warm and dry without adding a lot of bulk, you just can’t beat wool.

At $24, they’re worth the money. Like Smartwool’s other products I’ve used, they’ve managed to survive several runs through the wash without shrinking as wool socks can be prone to do.

For great shoes, leave it to the professionals 

I could tell you what shoes I ran the TCS New York City Marathon in (Saucony’s Endorphin Pro 4) or what my favorite daily trainers are (New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14), but it doesn’t really matter.

The truth is, the best shoe for you is going to depend on you, your feet and your needs. A size 9 in one brand may fit completely different than in another. Shoes that your best friend, or even a world-class marathoner, thinks are amazing may feel torturous for you to walk in.

If you’re shopping for yourself, head to your local running store and get some expert advice. The fitting technology used by many stores has come a long way. Last year, I got an up-close look at the system used by Fleet Feet, a national chain of running stores. It uses artificial intelligence to compare a 3D scan of your feet to those of millions of other customers, along with the store’s inventory. Combine that tech with suggestions from a store employee and you’re bound to walk away with a pair you love.

For this reason, shoes make a very bad holiday gift, but I’ve got a better idea.

While I was happy with my marathon sneakers, I couldn’t get them off fast enough after I crossed the finish line. Once I did, I slipped on a pair of Kane recovery shoes. Yes, they look a lot like Crocs, and at $80 a pair they’re a lot more expensive, but I think they’re well worth the money.

My swollen feet had the room they needed to breathe, while the little nodes of the relatively firm footbed massaged them as I walked the eight long blocks to the subway. The shoes slip on and off easily and thankfully didn’t rub raw marks on my feet through the journey home.

The shoes are available in a variety of fun colors and patterns, including licensed versions for alumni and fans of two dozen colleges and universities. Each pair also comes with a handy carabiner that you can use to clip them to the outside of a bag.  

Holiday lights

Whether you run in the morning or the evening, it’s dark outside this time of year. Lights and reflective gear are a must, both to make sure cars see you and that you see all of those cracks in the sidewalk and ill-placed piles of dog poop.  

I’ve got a few sets of lights, but my favorite remains the Tracer2 light-up vest from Noxgear. Its rechargeable LED lights flash in a rainbow of fun colors. They can be seen a quarter mile away and last up to 20 hours on a single charge.

At $51, it’s not cheap, and I’d recommend adding on the optional Tracer Lamp ($32) that clips on the front. It’s super bright and can be aimed down to help you spot cracks in the sidewalk and to avoid blinding fellow runners who might try to look directly at you.

The vest, which includes reflective straps, fits me perfectly and doesn’t slide around like a less expensive version I used previously that was made by another company. 

My teammates would be upset if I didn’t mention Noxgear’s 39G wearable Bluetooth speaker ($56). It kicks out a surprising amount of sound for its size. Instead of using headphones or earbuds that could block out the sound of an approaching car or another threat, you can use the speaker to listen to your tunes while also staying aware of what’s going on around you.

Reflective clothing can also help drivers see you. If you’re in the market for a winter running coat, think about getting one with reflective elements. Feetures, mentioned above, also has new reflective crew socks. They offer the same cushioning and performance as the company’s other models but are designed to show up in a car’s headlights. 

Fashionable and functional

As someone who grew up in Michigan, it takes a lot for me to get cold. I ran this year’s New York City marathon in my team singlet and a trusty pair of compression shorts from Flipbelt, despite the fact that it was 38 degrees outside when I started the race. That said, I finally pulled out my pair of Flipbelt Air Mid-Weight Leggings ($45) this past week.

Flipbelt made its name by producing stretchy running belts designed to hold everything you might need for a long run. But I’ve had problems in the past with them stretching out and riding down in the middle of a race.

The shorts and leggings solve that problem by building that same storage into compression bottoms that stay in place. They both offer enough storage to hold your phone, keys, water flask and all the fuel and snacks you need to get through a long race.

I found the leggings a little tough to pull on, but once you get them in place they don’t move and provide catsuit-like support, even if you load their pockets down. Flipbelt also makes a thermal version of the leggings and I’m looking forward to trying those out soon, too.

Whether it’s to shade my face from the sun or keep my ears warm, I almost always wear a hat when I run. Usually it’s a baseball cap, but when the mercury drops I’ll reach for one of my fleecier options.

Sprints, known for its wacky designs, makes my favorite ultra-light and super-comfortable baseball-style hats. They’ve got some cool, new winter options that I’m looking forward to trying out.

And Smartwool, which I’ve already mentioned, knows a few things about dressing for winter. They collaborated with shoemaker Altra to create a collection of winter running clothes complete with a matching pair of smartwool-lined Altra shoes.

The women’s collection comes in a beautiful eggplant, black and charcoal color combination and includes a long-sleeve top, vest and half-zip pullover among other items. They launched earlier this year as a REI exclusive, but now you can find it on Smartwool’s website.

Shoes weren’t available to test, and the clothes are meant for serious winter weather, so I’ve only tested those briefly. But the layers gave me the range of motion I needed to run without adding a lot of bulk. I’m sure I’ll be using them a lot more in a month or two, whether it be for running or sledding with my kids.

Shades for every budget

Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean that it isn’t bright outside. Good shades are still a must. Goodr’s line of active sunglasses ($25) remain the best budget option. They block harmful UVA and UVB rays, don’t slip down your nose when it gets sweaty and come in a slew of fun colors and frames. But they don’t last forever, particularly if you buy the ones with mirrored lenses, which scratch easily.

I recently tried a couple pairs from Tifosi. At about $35, they cost a little bit more but so far seem a bit more durable. While not heavy, they feel sturdy. My teenage daughter instantly fell in love with my pair of the Sanctum model, and I’ve yet to get them back, but she hasn’t broken them either. I’ve been wearing the Swank model.

For those looking to go upscale and look very cool doing it, the Adidas DUNAMIS ($210) features crystal-clear, reflective, wrap-around lenses that are light as a feather and will make you feel like a professional athlete. Just a heads up that they’re meant for larger faces. If you’re a small person like me, you make find them a little big.

Other great gifts

Runners need to stay hydrated even when it’s cold outside, and every runner would be happy to receive a great water bottle.

My favorite right now is Nathan’s ExoShot 2.0 Handheld 14oz bottle. It’s a soft flask that’s held in a fabric case. There’s an adjustable strap that goes around your hand, so you don’t really have to cling on to it while you run. It’s easy to squeeze and drink from.

Best of all, it doesn’t leak, and you can throw it in the dishwasher. I’d use this bottle a lot more if my daughter hadn’t also stolen it for her own runs.

Gels, chews and other kinds of running fuel can make great stocking stuffers. I’m a fan of Skratch Labs energy chews. They taste less like chemicals and more like gummy bears. And some of my favorite products come from Untapped, a maple syrup company based in, you guessed it, Vermont. Its coffee-spiked maple syrup athletic fuel gives me the zip I need without including chemicals I can’t pronounce.

When I reach for a traditional gel it’s generally a Maurten. While other brands offer a Baskin-Robbins-like variety of flavors, Maurten comes in just one, which doesn’t really taste like anything but isn’t super sweet. It takes some getting used to, but I’ve found it to be easy on the tummy.