Running Gear Guide: Keep Training Through the Worst of Winter

I’m not going to lie. Bitterly cold temperatures and windchills, not to mention snow and ice, have made it tough to get out for my scheduled runs recently.

Don’t get me wrong. Winter training in New York City is always hard and this isn’t my first rodeo, but I don’t remember it being this cold when I trained for the Boston Marathon last winter. 

Regardless, the TCS London Marathon is about two months away and my training for it is about to kick into high gear. Having friends to run with a couple times a week has been key in making sure I stick to my training plan and so has the right winter gear.

This weather has given me plenty of opportunities to put some of the latest winter running gear through some of the toughest conditions a runner could experience. That in itself is pretty nerve-racking. You can’t tell by looks how much warmth a base layer, pair of tights or hoodie is going to provide. More than once I headed out on a run and found that I had worn too much or too little.

At the same time, winter running gear can get pretty pricey. I don’t mind paying for performance (within reason) but there’s nothing worse than shelling out big bucks for something that turns out to be just OK.

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’d find socks in my Christmas 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.

When temperatures drop below freezing, I reach for my pair of Smartwool Cold-Weather Run crew or Compression Over the Calf socks. When it comes to keeping your feet warm and dry without adding a lot of bulk, you just can’t beat wool.

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

For more reasonable running conditions, I’m all about Feetures. Priced at about $18 a pair, 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.

For great shoes, leave it to the professionals 

I have tried on countless running shoes from some of the top brands and I still don’t know what will be on my feet as I race the streets of London on April 27. I’m in the market for something new that’s springy and responsive, but still gives me the support I need for a long race. Like Goldilocks, I’m looking for a pair that’s just right.

I could tell you what shoes I ran the TCS New York City Marathon in (Saucony’s Endorphin Pro 4) or what some of 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 differently 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. Well-fitting shoes can make the difference between having happy feet at the end of a race or one of those dreaded black toenails.

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. In 2023, 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 of shoes you love.

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

I was happy with my last pair of marathon sneakers, but 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 and have earned a permanent spot in my post-race bag.

After the marathon, they gave my swollen feet the room they needed to breathe, while the little nodes of the relatively firm footbed massaged them as I walked the eight blocks to the New York City subway. The shoes slipped on and off easily, and thankfully they 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. 

Light bright

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 those cracks in the sidewalk and all those unfortunately 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 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 the sound of an approaching car or another threat, you can use the speaker to listen to your tunes while 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

I grew up in Michigan, so it takes a lot for me to get cold. I ran the New York City Marathon in my team singlet and a trusty pair of compression shorts from Flipbelt, even though it was 38 degrees outside when I started the race. 

But a lot has changed since then. My shorts are packed away for the time being, but I’ve been getting a lot of use out of my Flipbelt thermal leggings ($65), including during a recent 10K race where temperatures stayed in the teens. 

Flipbelt made its name by producing stretchy running belts designed to hold everything you might need for a long run. Its shorts and leggings build in that same storage. They offer enough space to hold your phone, keys, water flask and all the fuel and snacks you need to get through a long race. The thermal version adds warmth and coziness without a lot of weight.

But with windchills in the single digits and gusts reaching 45 mph this past weekend, I took the opportunity to try out a pair of 2XU’s Ignition Shield Compression Tights. At a $120, these are a little pricier than I’d like and they’re not cozy. They’re built for performance and the worst of weather.

The water-resistant material they’re made of is deceptively thin and has a plastic, garbage bag-like feel, but when the wind blew hard my legs didn’t feel it. And about a half mile into my run, my legs were warm. Like a lot of performance bottoms, they don’t offer a lot in the way of storage, but they do have a handy back, zip pocket that fit my standard-sized iPhone without a problem and kept it from bouncing around.

When it comes to tops, go with thinner layers that allow freedom of movement and allow you to zip and unzip to let out and trap heat as needed. I was initially a little skeptical of the Summit Series FUTUREFLEECE Full-Zip Hoodie ($170) because it is so thin, with just a thin layer of fleece on the inside. But paired with one of the company’s base layers, it kept me warm on a handful of runs when temperatures dipped below 20 degrees. The material is easy to move in and I like its stretchy hood that stays up when I run and keeps my neck warm.

Winter hats and gaiters are another must have for when the wind blows. My current favorites come from Turtle Fur. This merino wool cap ($58) is super light and stays on when I run, and it keeps my cold-prone ears toasty, while the Superfine Merino Tube ($48), is soft, lightweight and stays up over my face when I need it to.

Shades for every budget

Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean it isn’t bright outside. I’ve recently become a fan of the reflective, wraparound style of shades, despite the fact that they kind of make me look like a Stormtrooper.

If you’re on a budget, Tifosi Optics makes a variety of running sunglasses that range between $25 and $80. I particularly like the Vogel SL model ($40), which features wraparound reflective lenses and comes in a variety of colors.  

For people looking to go upscale and look very cool doing it, the Adidas Dunamis ($210) are a similar style but feature crystal-clear, reflective, wraparound 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 may find them a little big.

Other great gear

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 14-ounce 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 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 stolen it for her own runs.

Gels, chews and other kinds of running fuel are also worthwhile. I’m a fan of Skratch Labs energy chews. They taste less like chemicals and more like gummy bears. 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.