Just us or has it suddenly turned really cold? Check out Lisa Buckingham’s pick of the best women’s running kit to keep you snug, dry and stylish through autumn and winter…
Toasty, toasty, toasty. It can be worn alone and its soft, fleecey lining feels lovely next to the skin. It wicks away sweat while keeping you snug, and has lovely touches for winter running, such as thumb loops and reflective logos.
2. Merrell All Out Terra Trail; £100; merrell.co.uk
No wild winter weather or tough terrain is going to stop you going for a run if you have these shoes. You can pound through mud, snow and water – the nifty built-in sock liner stops debris getting in, the grip on the soles is unbeatable and rubber protection around the edge of the shoes stops you damaging your feet on rocks. Oh, and they’re reflective for nighttime running. Great for women who run off the beaten track.
3. Asics Gel Noosa Tri 10, £79.95 (RRP £114.99); sportsshoes.com
If you’d prefer a road running shoe, these are great for autumn/winter. Designed for triathlon, they are easy to slip on and lightweight, but have an outsole designed to grip on wet surfaces and they’re reflective for low-light running. The gel cushioning makes for a lovely ride.
4. Saucony Sonic Reflex Jacket; £100; saucony.co.uk
This ticks all the boxes for a lightweight running jacket – wind- and water-resistant, snug collar and mesh panels under the arms for breathability, but the real joy of it is the 360˚ reflectivity. In daylight, its reflective pattern is a subtle grey, but once you shine a light on it in the dark, you light up like a mobile Christmas tree.
5. Odlo Gliss AOP Running Tights, £60; odlo.com/uk/en-gb
If you haven’t heard of Odlo, feel grateful that I’ve now alerted you to this fabulous Norwegian brand. These running tights have reflective detailing, look great, feel comfortable and ward off the cold.
6. Reebok Running Gloves, £19.99; reebokfitness.info
Available from mid-November as part of the new Reebok running accessories range, these gloves do the job. They’re highly reflective, have grips all over the fingers and palm for holding onto your water bottle, and you can use a touchscreen with the index finger and thumb. They’re thin, so ideal for winter racing when you don’t want to wear thicker, fleecy gloves.
7. Bridgedale Duo Lite Hat; £20; bridgedale.com
A great hat for seeing off the ice-cream headache of running in cold wind, but thin enough not to overheat your head. It’s made from drirelease fabric, which dries extremely quickly, and it’s reversible so you can choose blue or grey.
8. Helly Hansen Aspire XC Warm Jacket; £160; hellyhansen.com
Helly Hansen is the brand of the mountains, so they know their stuff when it comes to freezing temperatures. This cold-weather training jacket is for when the temperature really drops, it’s raining sideways and a thin jacket isn’t enough. It’s ventilated, waterproof, windproof and warm, with a stretchy design that makes it easy to run in. The groovy retro detailing under the arms and on the back will make you stand out from the crowd (it also comes in a plainer blue and white).
9. StyleEasy Wonderbands; £3.50; asda.com
Made of smooth silicone that doesn’t pull on your hair, these hairbands are waterproof, so they also don’t lose their grip on your hair in the rain or when you’re sweating. Simple but effective.
10. North Ridge Merino Convect LS Top, £34.99; gooutdoors.co.uk
This flattering base layer is made from 100% Merino wool, making it feel super-soft next to your skin. Wear it under a running jacket when the weather is cold – it both insulates you and wicks away sweat, so you’ll be dry and comfy.
11. Proviz Reflect360 Rucksack; £69.99; provizsports.com
I can’t tell you how brightly Proviz kit shines in the dark – it’s almost blinding and has to be seen to be believed. This rucksack is perfect if you’re a run commuter, and have to run to or from work in the dark. The hip and waist straps keep it close, the padding adds comfort and it’s big enough to fit your work clothes in. I guarantee that someone will stop you to ask where you got it from.
12. Adidas Beyond The Run Climaheat Hoodie; £75; adidas.co.uk
From the newly released Climaheat range, which is designed to keep athlete’s (that’s you) warm in cold training conditions. The Climaheat technology mimics the hollow fibres of fur to keep you warm but dry when you sweat. To be worn over a thin baselayer, this hoodie has all the features you’d want from a winter running layer – reflective tape, thumb holes, fist mitts that cover the entire hand – but it’s also stylish and low-key enough to go straight from your run to coffee with a friend.
13. Boom Bra; £55; boomboomathletica.com
It wasn’t raining when I tested this stylish bra, so I ran it under water and went for a run in it to replicate a rain-soaked run. It stood up to my test – it felt soft and comfortable, didn’t chafe and dried quickly. It will only support up to a C cup, though, so not ideal for bigger chests.
14. Albedo 100 Reflective Spray; £12.99 or 17.99; halfords.com
A fine metallic spray paint that enables you to make your existing kit hi-viz. It’s invisible during the day, but glows under headlights. You can spray your running clothes, shoes or backpack. The temporary version lasts for a week and the permanent version stays on. Great for cyclists, too, as you can spray your bike.
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Lisa Buckingham is a health and fitness journalist for national newspapers and magazines. Follow her on Twitter at @lisabuckingham1
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