warm/dry running gear

connie_c

Its getting colder and I have only been running since april/may time. All my running gear is shorts and t-shirts.

What would be recommended for the coming months. A rain jacket is a must i suppose. Any suggestions, what not to buy etc. Leggings ? Are shorts ok in cold rain or temps below 10 degrees? Should i get something like this canterbury top

http://www.canterburyofnz.com/default.asp?catID=91&pdID=1588&pdtID=&p=1

and would that be too warm under a rain jacket?

Any advice would be great. I dont mind rain but dont wanna be running cold and i dont want to spend money on stuff i wont use.

Cheers

How Strange

I ran all last year wearing a combination of the following:
leggings (essential IMO), running t-shirt, hi-viz running specific jacket (breatheable but not waterproof), gloves, ear headband thing and of course runners and socks.

IMO, an ordinary rain jacket will make you sweat and any running specific ones are too expensive for me. Also, despite what you may think about Irish weather there were very few days over the last couple of winters where it lashed rain so much that I couldn't run.

You'll be suprised how quickly you warm up even on a freezing cold day so wear layers that you can take off as you go but start out with lots on as it's important to keep your core area warm initially.

Peckham

Just to show the myriad of opinions on this, I'd take the opposite view to How Strange.

I don't think leggings are essential (but are nice to have on the very coldest days), but would consider a waterproof top to be a must. Would agree though that you need to spend money on a waterproof top as the cheap ones are awful.

For most winter days here, a long sleeve running top and shorts is sufficient. On the wet and windy days (like yesterday evening!), a waterproof top with short sleeve top underneath is better.

connie_c

Thanks for the replys, yesterday evening actually inspired this thread. Looks like ill go with a long sleeve top and a rain jacket to start with. The running specific ones do seem expensive but its my birthday in 3 weeks. I may drop some hints.

Is runways the best place in dublin for this stuff? Elverys and Lifestyle seem fairly poor for running gear.

Peckham

connie_c wrote: »

Is runways the best place in dublin for this stuff? Elverys and Lifestyle seem fairly poor for running gear.

Runways, Elverys and Arnotts all reasonabl in my experience. However, if you are confident on your sizing*, then ordering from the Internet is even better (Wiggle and Start Fitness are popular ones on this forum).

*Note that sizing differs quite significantly between different manufacturers - e.g. I'm a small for Asics gear, but a medium for Nike gear.

daymobrew

You could consider a gilet.
They are designed for cycling but I use mine for running too (on far right, in black and red). It is very light. It is windproof on the front and this provides a reasonable bit of rain protection too.

TFBubendorfer

I hate running in jackets of any kind - I feel like I'm cooking in my own steam.

Therefore I gave up on them a couple of years ago. A few simple long-sleeved shirts did me all winter (like, and including, the Dublin marathon finisher shirt). Running tights are nice when it's cold. I don't use mine a lot, but I'd recommend getting them anyway.

The only thing I consider a must are gloves.

TFBubendorfer

Oh, I forgot, the other vital winter gear is a high-viz thing. I have a mesh top that weigh basically nothing and I don't even notice wearing it, but it sure could save me from an accident in the dark.

hunnymonster

unless you're going to be taking walking breaks, out for a really long time or taking the bus home I wouldn't bother with a rain jacket. Get wet and change into something warm as soon as you stop running.

If it is very cold, I generally wear a helly hanson top. It's a very light long sleeved top that looks something like the canterbury one you posted. I wear shorts year round. I have a couple of really light jackets as well. They're not rain proof but they take the edge off the wind chill.

Hat and gloves are also considerations but I find myself too warm after 5 mintues so end up carrying them. Visability, as previously mentioned, is important.

A buff might be useful to some people.

Blueskye

I wear leggings all through winter and love them. Although still wearing my shorts and hope to for another month or so. And then I usually wear a long sleeved tech top, gloves and a hat. I have a helly hanson long-sleeved top I find good too. I usually don't bother with a raincoat, last winter it actually didn't rain that heavily in the evenings I was out running. But now and again I will throw it on. It's a bit of trial and error to find what works for you. Some people don't seem to feel the cold at all.

messed_up

connie_c wrote: »

Its getting colder and I have only been running since april/may time. All my running gear is shorts and t-shirts.

What would be recommended for the coming months. A rain jacket is a must i suppose. Any suggestions, what not to buy etc. Leggings ? Are shorts ok in cold rain or temps below 10 degrees? Should i get something like this canterbury top

http://www.canterburyofnz.com/default.asp?catID=91&pdID=1588&pdtID=&p=1

and would that be too warm under a rain jacket?

Any advice would be great. I dont mind rain but dont wanna be running cold and i dont want to spend money on stuff i wont use.

Cheers

I have a couple of Under Armour shirts like the Canterbury one in the link and find them great. Rarely need more than a tee shirt or long sleeved top over it to keep out the cold. Gloves and leggings are a good investment too - Aldi and Lidl do specials on them around the start of October. They are not the best in the world but they do the trick nicely and you should get a winter's running out of them.

shels4ever

hunnymonster wrote: »

unless you're going to be taking walking breaks, out for a really long time or taking the bus home I wouldn't bother with a rain jacket. .

Yep I cant run with a rain jacket, just used my hivis top last winter kept my core warm and dry enough, did get the odd strange look when i was running in hivis during the day in the park.....

Sub430

shels4ever wrote: »

hivis

quick google.. Ah Hi Vis

scottreynolds

Peckham wrote: »

Runways, Elverys and Arnotts all reasonabl in my experience.

Snow and Rock in Dundrum have a pretty good sale on at the moment. There's loads or North Face or Salomon jackets, longs, t-shirts, hats etc available. I can say this since I've got everything I need now.

RacoonQueen

I wear the same stuff all year round. Three quarter length nike capri's and a t-shirt. Have a few 'windproof' ronhill jackets which are really light which I use if it's very cold and a couple of those Canterbury tops aswell but I've rarely worn anything other than a t-shirt. You could always try the leg and arm warmers cyclists wear then roll them down when you warm up.

shels4ever

Sub430 wrote: »

quick google.. Ah Hi Vis

haha thats what I siad

thirstywork

Underarmour are doing some really nice stuff.just be carefull when choosing canterbury an unerarmour stuff as they do hot and cold gear.
In my experience you will get better value in irish wetaher out of cold gear.
Underarmour v Canterbury
Underarmour is a 4 way stretch material(you could pull the fabric from one end of the room to the other)which means its tight but moves with the body.It also has microfibril material which helps cool the body and doesnt make the material stink like other fabrics.

Im not a fan of full length tights unless its snowing:D

oes anyone use recovery or compression tights?

connie_c

All the replies are appreciated. Gives me a much better idea. Im thinking now a wind sheeter type top (maybe one of the gilets,they look nice and cheap)and a few long sleeve technical tops. I tried on some of stuff in arnotts tonight but didnt buy. Probably will tomorrow.

Thanks again.

hunnymonster

thirstywork wrote: »

oes anyone use recovery or compression tights?

I'll wear them after long brick sessions when I'm Ironman training. When training hard, I'll take any help available to help recover faster.

How Strange

thirstywork wrote: »

oes anyone use recovery or compression tights?

I started wearing them this year after my lsr's and I've found my legs recover much quicker.

How Strange

connie_c wrote: »

All the replies are appreciated. Gives me a much better idea. Im thinking now a wind sheeter type top (maybe one of the gilets,they look nice and cheap)and a few long sleeve technical tops. I tried on some of stuff in arnotts tonight but didnt buy. Probably will tomorrow.
Thanks again.

If you're going to Arnotts then go to Runways on Parnell St too and take a look at their stock. IMO, I find Arnotts selection ok for tops and shorts but not for the more running specific stuff - gilets, hiviz jackets, socks.

shanagarry

I prefer to be a bit cold leaving the house so that I'm a nice temperature when I am on the go.

If I’m toasty going out I end up too hot when I’m running and I don’t like to strip off lairs when I’m already a bit damp.

I do like my tights, once it’s dark enough not to be seen too well – they’re not the most flattering!