winter running jacket?

I like the looks of the jacket you linked but I would want to know how thick and breathable it actually is before spending that much. My guess is that it would be fine in the 20's or colder. From a value standpoint you could probably get just as good results from cheaper stuff and layering as needed.

I agree with the layering comments above. When it really gets cold, I would say that the most important thing is just that your skin be covered with something and if it's windy or snowing for the outer layer to break the wind and/or shed snow. But after a mile or two, I think the problem is more getting rid of the excess heat and moisture so that you don't get soaked with sweat. It's best to be able to have a range of how much you are covered, not just really warm vs. freezing.

You can also check companies that make gear for hiking/trail running, such as Arc'teryx, Mountain Hardwear, Salomon, Marmot. It's not cheap, but it tends to be very good, and if you're willing to look around you can find some very good sales on the merchandise. For optimum warmth, consider a hoody, either synthetic or merino wool (Icebreaker, Ibex, I/O Bio, Patagonia). Covering not only your head, but also the back of your neck, keeps you toasty. Sleeves with thumbholes/wrist gaiters also help a lot by keeping your wrists warm. Happy cold weather running, everyone!

^do you have any specific recommendation? id really like a nice jacket with a hood and thumbholes.

what do you guys who are saying the jacket is only needed for wind recommend wearing underneath? what constitutes a good base layer? any recommendations for that?

OK, for 30-45 I will wear a tech shirt for a base layer and then the Sugoi wind shirt http://revelsports.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?catalogid=1266

Craft makes very good gear, both jackets and under layers, in a variety of styles for different conditions and different preferences. I'd personally rather be a bit on the cold side, but dry, as others have mentioned.

For me, having a decent pair of gloves or mittens is more important than the jacket. I hate having numb fingers and hands.

Are you kidding me-at 40 I'm in shorts and a long sleeve T-shirt. Man up-you must be in Florida or something.

ranbarts2 wrote:

... My face needs better protection and have an inverted nike head gear that can cover the face but would like to get something more updated as the one I own if OK but it 10 y/o technology.

It's a ski mask-not a Microsoft Product.

These go out of production frequently so may not be available. You'll have to spend time researching. Can simply google them to see if any on sale. ebay is also worth a look.

Worth noting that I'm pretty old and slow now and I get cold easily. I used to run wearing much less than I do now, so I understand the comments of those who don't have to gear up much for a run, no matter what the temperature.

Mountain Hardwear Effusion Power Jacket--windblocking front and "breathable" stretchy back with thumbholes and fold-down mittens. Best hand coverage I've seen in a garment, at least in my 2-year old version.

Mountain Hardwear Effusion Hoody -- more rain resistant with same material front and back. Has a hood and thumbholes. Both of these will keep you pretty warm--most likely too warm for most of the swifties here.

I/O Bio made a thin wool half-zip hoody with thumbholes but I don't think it's in production now. Can't think of the name.

Arc'teyx Phase AR (half-zip) Hoody is a new product that is great. Thin but warm, with a nice hood. No thumbholes.

Ibex Indie (half-zip) Hoody has thumbholes.

Icebreaker -- I've got non-hooded ones with thumbholes and hooded ones without. You'd just have to check the specs to see if you can find both.

Patagonia makes or made a wool (or mostly wool, part poly) (half-zip) hoody with thumbloops that cover a bit of your hand.

REI made a poly fleece (half-zip) hoody with a nice, clinging hood, thumbholes, and folddown mittens. Can't remember the name and I'm not sure if they make it anymore, but it's nice.

Mountain Hardwear Better Butter Hoody had a nice hood and thumbholes. Not sure if it's in production in exactly this style anymore. Mighty Power Hoody is to be avoided.

Salomon Swift Hoody is very nice but only for hiking or very cold (or slow-moving) conditions because it's so thick. Nice hood. Extra snap at neck. Thumbholes and fold-down (snapping!) mittens. Slit in left sleeve for viewing watch. Great rear multi-compartment pocket.

Salomon version of MH Effusion (wind-blocking front, stretchy back) is very nice (Salomon names so many things X-something that I can't keep them straight) but doesn't have hood or thumbholes. Ditto for Arc'teryx Trino.

Mountain Hardwear Chocklite (make sure it's Chock-lite) half-zip pullover is pretty light and thin but blocks wind and has a decent hood. Lightest of the bunch that I've mentioned. MH gear fits a little trimmer than most, as does Salomon.

You can tell that I a) like looking at jackets, and b) get cold easily these days--along with running much slower. There are plenty of other choices out there. Have fun looking!

Standard Bearer wrote:

For almost the same price you can get the very cool, Nike reflective jacket they wore at the Olympics. That will get you out the door on a nasty day.

That Nike Olympic Jacket retails for $600. Do your research.

running jacket wrote:

ok can you guys give me good base layers then? what if i buy a warm base layer and then get a wind resistant jacket labeled for 30-45 degrees? is that a better combo then just looking for a jacket that is labeled below 30 degrees? (i do most of my buying from runningwarehouse)

I really hate being cold when its 5-20 degrees the most. 30 is tolerable.

Jackets are too warm for me because they don't vent well and I my top soaks with sweat underneath.

I prefer:

Sporthill top with windproof front and venting side panels. The several that I have are older and were about $100 each. But I can wear it solo down to about 15F. Colder than that and I just throw an ultrathin smartwool layer on underneath.

or

Craft zero windstopper top. Then throw whatever on over it for looks. The top itself is too warm for me if its much above 20F. They make a ss version which would probably be great for 20-30F (underneath a thin ls layer).

30F is actually pretty warm. By late spring, if its sunny, 30F is a shorts day.

Here's what you do OP, you're gonna buy a decent windbreaker, then underneath, you will wear a synthetic moisture wicking layer as a base, then a long sleeve cotton or thermal tee depending on how cold it is. Top it off with a hat, gloves, a neck warmer that you can pull up over your face if necessary, and a sock in your shorts to protect your johnson from wind (and to impress passersby).

Old Gregg wrote:

Here's what you do OP, you're gonna buy a decent windbreaker, then underneath, you will wear a synthetic moisture wicking layer as a base, then a long sleeve cotton or thermal tee depending on how cold it is. Top it off with a hat, gloves, a neck warmer that you can pull up over your face if necessary, and a sock in your shorts to protect your johnson from wind (and to impress passersby).

Ha! I like the sock idea. Once I had to stop halfway through a run and scrounge some sheets of newspaper for extra insulation. I'm sure people have some good stories on this topic. After that I took an old-fashioned jockstrap and would wear it over running briefs for a extra layer under my running pants. That's all that jock was good for. After a long layoff I had bought one because that's what we used to wear (I'm dating myself), but it was like spiky chain mail and I only used it once by itself. How did we used to wear those things?

while we're on the topic of winter running clothes, anybody know a good pair of tights that will keep legs warm from like 0-10 degrees Farenheit?

Or at that temperature do I have to double layer running pants? I'd prefer to wear one pair of good tights as long as they are warm. My biggest pet peeve is running with cold lower body.

Nike olympic jacket has msrp of $450 and does not sell for that much.