Question:Which leads me to my question.Last winter, I ran in layers of clothing
topped with a lined shell jacket.it was very warm but time consuming
to get dressed in all those layers?
Answer:
It's starting to get cold and my warm bed keeps calling me not to get up
and go running. I run usually around 5 a.m. and its easy to listen to
the bed urging me to stay in and enjoy the warmth.
I have looking at running tights and wondered what name brands offer the
best protection against the elements. I live in Bethesda, Maryland the
the winters are not that bad. The morings are usually below 30 degree F
and sometimes it rains but very little snow. Last year was a bad winter
around here with almost two months of deep ice and snow (Jan and Fed).
I have been looking at two particular name brands and would appreciate
the group's wisdom. Perma FIT by Nike and winter running gear made by
Pearl Izumi. The Nike tights are $69 and the Perma FIT jackets are $95.
The Pearl Izumi jackets and running tights are both $69 each.
Any suggestions or observations?
Running is a cheap sport, right? Well, not when you buy winter running
clothes.
You need three layers, and you need space-age (read: expensive)
fabrics--no cotton or wool. The Nov Runner's World has a decent article;
best of all is it's what to wear when chart.
I'm very happy with my stuff: Lifa polypropylene underwear (but you do
have to keep it _clean_; otherwise it can stink); Hind DryLete middle
layer (great stuff; I feel like a superhero in it); and (may favourite,
and the most expensive part) a Hind WindKiller jacket. I bike as well and
this stuff is all adaptable to biking. All in all, this cost about C$500;
the jacket was half that.
I started wearing Hind DryLite last winter and loved it from the start.
(There are two styles, one has a smooth lining, the other a fleece style
lining for those of you where it is really cold. Smooth is adequate
here.) I just picked up another pair. If you go for seconds and
discounts, you can save a lot. I just picked up a top and bottom at our
local Hind Outlet Store. The first quality retail is $145. I got seconds
with very minor flaws, at an additional 25% off sale, for $52.50. The
additional jacket is not needed here.
Last winter I bought Hind Polycore tops and loose tights ("European cut").
$60-$75 each, I think. Revolutionized my winter running. I ran with a
single layer down to 16 degrees F (no wind). YMMV. The polypropylene tops
did such a good job of wicking and insulating, I could see frost on my
shoulders after a couple miles. I'll use the tops below 35 degrees and
switch from Lycra to Polycore bottoms below 30. I also added a thin Pearl
Izumi jacket ($50) as wind breaker a couple of times.
Running outside in the winter cold was FUN with the right clothing.
Multiple layers make me feel like an abominable snowman. The fewer layers
the better.
Stick with warm-when-wet fabrics (e.g., polypro, wool) for all layers
and you'll do OK. Avoid cotton even for inner layers. That wringing
wet feeling ruins everything (and gets cold).
On pretty cold days (0 to 25 degrees F) I use Pearl Izumi Thermafleece tights.
They seem to work pretty well. I will also use any "expedition weight polypro'
tights on similar days. On warmer days lycra tights work just fine.
I also have a Pearl Izumi Attack jacket that I use as an outer shell. It
also seems to work pretty well. It does a great job of cutting the wind.
One nice feature is that you can fold the jacket into a "built-in" fanny pack.
FYI I use Duofold double layer Thermastat turtlenecks as a base layer. These
work really well. They are warm, wick moisture very well, and feel comfortable
next to your skin. Their one major drawback is they SMELL after your run.
Running outside in the winter is very fun! I prefer winter running over
late fall and early spring. Durring these times it is difficult to be
comfortable
on your run. You either end up freezing durring the first mile mile or burn up
durring the rest of your run... When its really COLD you leave warm and stay
that way, as long as you use the right clothing (read no cotton).
