Running jackets in winter: tips, tricks and four trend models

Fall and winter are complicated seasons for joggers. In October and November it is neither hot nor particularly cold. Wind and rain in the morning, t-shirt weather in the afternoon. Hat on, hat off. The unusual quirks of April weather also bring beads of sweat to runners’ foreheads in November. And often before training. Short or long? Two layers? Or maybe three? And what about the running jacket? Questions about questions.

It’s not that complicated to dress appropriately and comfortably when running in winter. But as is often the case in life, it’s about finding the happy medium. This article explains what role running jackets play in this, why breathable and windproof are (not entirely) mutually exclusive, which ones you should get out of the closet for the start of the important winter season and what will be popular on the running track in 2024/25.

Running jackets have two main functions. On the one hand, they are intended to protect the wearer. In winter before low temperatures, in spring more before drizzle or the last cool gusts of wind from the east. Running jackets should be comfortable. Even the highest water column and high-tech fibers that protect against cold are worthless if the jacket pinches under your armpits when you run or the zipper rubs on your neck and chin. It also causes frustration and a bad mood. The problem: How high the comfort factor of the new running jacket is usually only becomes apparent on the first easy run. When browsing online, always pay attention to information from the manufacturer, who often gives helpful tips on fit.

In contrast to normal everyday clothing, sportswear sometimes has to endure a lot. Not only do they have to defend themselves against wind, rain and cold. The functional fibers are also challenged from within. The great art of high-quality functional clothing is to transport sweat away to the outside in the form of water vapor – but at the same time ensure that the body does not cool down. So rain and cold air should stay outside. Permeable from the inside and windproof and waterproof from the outside. Insulate from the cold and dissipate heat at the same time. Sounds like a tricky undertaking. Can that succeed?

There are actually synthetic fibers that can achieve this feat. To do this, manufacturers combine different fiber types with each other. Up to certain limits, the processed fibers protect the body from cooling down and at the same time ensure that the body does not overheat by transporting excess heat and water vapor to the outside. A brilliant achievement. Especially in autumn, when the (running) weather gets a little crazy from time to time, such running jackets are worth their weight in gold. Running jackets that are also lined with light fleece only make sense in really icy temperatures.

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However, it is a matter of taste whether a running jacket has to be equipped with a hood. When the weather is right, a thin running cap will certainly protect your head more effectively. In the event of a shower, a hood can help in the short term.

In general, many amateur runners tend to dress too thickly when exercising outdoors. The following helps as a guide to running clothing that is appropriate for the temperature: Add three degrees to the current outside temperature and then decide what to wear in this weather. For example, assume it’s 13 degrees if the thermometer shows ten degrees. This may make you feel a little cold in the first few minutes – but it will prevent your body from overheating once it has reached its operating temperature. You should quickly discard the obvious idea of ​​taking off your running jacket during training. Typically, the layers you wear underneath are anything but insulating. The wind hits the sweaty body directly and heat regulation is lost.

Further tips on the topic Jogging outfit read here.

When temperatures are around ten degrees in spring, it’s best to use a thin functional shirt as a base layer. The running jacket you put on top should be windproof and breathable. Running jackets are more counterproductive when temperatures are above 15 degrees Celsius. Here the body hardly needs to be protected from the weather. Instead, it should be ensured that the sweat on the skin is absorbed and transported away by the functional fibers. As a rule, short (or thin, long) running shirts that fit directly to the body are the best solution in late summer. When the first autumn storms arrive, it’s better to grab one . If the temperatures fall below five degrees, a running jacket is mandatory.