HOW TO LAYER FOR WINTER RUNNING
Dressing for winter running is part science experiment, part choose-your-own-adventure. The goal is simple: stay warm without turning yourself into a human sauna. That sweet spot is all about layering, managing heat, moisture, and wind so your body can do what it does best: generate warmth through movement.
Base Layer
Start with a good baselayer, the unsung hero of cold-weather comfort. Look for something thin, breathable, and moisture-wicking, synthetic or merino both work well. This is the layer that pulls sweat off your skin, which matters because moisture conducts heat away from your body 25 times faster than air. Cold and wet is a much more dangerous combo than simply cold.
I love the
Outrun Mockneck because it nails that sweet spot between fitted and functional. The semi-fitted cut layers cleanly under a shell but is just as easy to wear on its own. Thoughtful details, thumbholes with a locker loop to keep sleeves anchored on cold days, and a subtle mock neck for a touch of extra coverage, make it a true winter workhorse. And thanks to its wool blend, it wicks sweat efficiently, so you can still nail a workout even when the temps are stubbornly low.
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Midlayer
On top of that, add a midlayer for insulation. Think lightweight fleece, a thermal long sleeve, or a thin puffy if temps are truly frigid. This is your warmth engine, its job is to trap warm air close to your body. Runners tend to overdress here, especially on roads where the terrain is smoother and you heat up faster, so err on the lighter side. A good rule of thumb: you should feel slightly cold when you start. If you’re cozy standing in your driveway, you’re overdressed.
My go-to is the
Cocoon 2.0. The breathable, perforated gaiter built into the hood makes this midlayer a true cold-weather powerhouse, giving you face coverage without the foggy-glasses misery of a separate buff. It’s fleece-lined for extra warmth and excellent sweat-wicking, and the DWR finish adds a layer of protection against flurries, mist, and all the weird in-between winter precipitation. On especially frigid days, it slides easily under a shell, but the reflective details also make it a smart outer layer when you’re running in low light.
Outer Layers
Your outer layer protects you from the environment: wind, snow, sleet, or that mystery precipitation that feels like frozen dishwater. A wind-resistant shell often goes further than a bulky insulated jacket, especially on runs where you’ll be generating plenty of heat. On trails with long descents or exposed ridgelines, windproofing matters even more; on the road, you may get away with something lighter unless it’s particularly gusty.
For the truly bitter days, I reach for the
Warm Up n’ Go, a wind- and water-resistant outer layer made from recycled plastic bottles and coffee grounds. It brings serious insulation without feeling bulky, and it’s breathable enough that you can still throw down a workout instead of slogging. The tailored fit keeps it looking sportier than a traditional puffy, and the insulation is placed strategically: more warmth where you need it across the front, and less where you don’t (looking at you, underarms and back). This is the kind of jacket that makes your winter gym membership feel almost unnecessary.
For days when you don’t need full insulation but still want a little extra protection from the elements, the
Swish 2.0 is probably my most-used piece of running gear. Wind- and water-resistant and made from recycled coffee grounds, it shines on those in-between days and in unpredictable conditions. I’ve found that tossing it on over a baselayer is more than enough for the majority of winter runs, light, reliable, and easy to forget you’re wearing until you realize how much warmer you feel.
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Bottom Layer
Your legs deserve the same attention as your torso, especially when temps dip and windchill becomes a character-building exercise. A good winter bottom layer should balance insulation with mobility, warm enough to keep your muscles firing smoothly, but breathable enough that you’re not stewing in your own sweat. Look for tights with a soft, brushed interior to trap heat, plus wind- or water-resistant panels for those days when the weather can’t make up its mind. Unlike your upper body, your legs generate a ton of heat once you’re moving, so you don’t need as much bulk, just strategic warmth and protection in the right places. If your quads and glutes stay warm, everything else feels easier.
I reach for the
Defroster Speed Tights when the forecast turns frosty. They strike that ideal winter-running balance: a soft, fleecy interior that keeps your legs warm, paired with a water-resistant finish that actually holds up when the rain turns slushy. The fit is sleek and supportive without feeling restrictive, and the mid-rise waist stays put whether you’re climbing, sprinting, or dodging black ice. Thoughtful pocket placement, two side stash pockets that easily fit a phone, and a reflective back zip for keys or nutrition, means you can get through most runs without needing a vest.
Accessories
Don’t forget your extremities; body heat can be lost through the head and hands. A warm beanie, a pair of convertible mittens, and wool socks can turn a miserable run into a good one. And if conditions are wet or slushy, consider a light gaiter to keep the melt from creeping in.
Finally, remember that winter running is dynamic. The weather changes, you heat up, the wind shifts. Make your layers adjustable, zippers, vents, sleeves you can push up, and gloves you can stash in a pocket. The more you can adapt on the go, the longer and more comfortably you’ll stay out there.
For cold days, I love the
Low Light Tech Gloves. They’re thick enough to keep your hands genuinely warm on those especially biting mornings, but still nimble thanks to tech-friendly fingertips that let you operate your phone without freezing your thumbs off. The reflective detailing keeps you visible during those pre-dawn or post-sunset miles when staying seen matters just as much as staying warm.
When it’s a little less chilly, the
EZ Gloves are perfect for high-output runs. They’re incredibly soft, easy to stash in a pocket once you warm up, and they’ve got touchscreen pads on the thumb and index finger so you can still cue up a playlist or check your route without exposing your hands to the cold.
Low Light Tech Gloves.
Zoë Rom is a science journalist, ultrarunner, and co-host and producer of Your Diet Sucks podcast. Her reporting focuses on the intersection of sports science, nutrition, and the environment, with bylines in The New York Times, Outside, High Country News, and UltraSignup. On the trails, she’s an accomplished ultrarunner with podium finishes at Run Rabbit Run 100, UTMB Puerto Vallarta, and Leadville, and was named Run Spirited’s “Most Inspiring Trail Runner of the Year.” Whether she’s interviewing experts about performance fueling or pushing through the late miles of a mountain hundred, Zoë brings the same curiosity, clarity, and commitment to evidence that defines her work across every discipline.