For Dry Cold:
I always thought that the sort of expensive cold weather running gear sold at sporting good stores was a money-making thing that was really not all that. I finally decided to try out dressing the recommended Winter Way and found out that the clothing really does work very well.
Wick-away clothing next to the skin keeps you from having wet clothes hanging on you. It is made of polyester instead of cotton. I just checked three of my cold weather gear shirts and found that one is 100% polyester and two are 95% polyester.
Several layers and ear protection are also a must.
In the coldest weather I wear:
- Same exercise bra/panties as in summer.
- Two pairs of ankle-length stretch leggings. Mine are Danskin.
- Cold weather gear shirt. I got several on Spring Clearance so instead of $50-80 per shirt (or more) I got each of them for $45 or less. They are not cheap, but they are worth it.
- Two pairs of sweat pants that have elastic around the ankles - I have cheapy 100% cotton from Walmart and can probably find them in wick-away fabric if I want to spend the money, but cotton sweats have been OK as long as I have the leggings underneath. The did not have the elastic around the ankles; I added that. Two pairs is probably overkill, but I hate to get started in the cold.
- Two zip-up sweat shirt jackets - The bottom layer is thin wick-away polyester and the top is thicker, either polyester or cotton. The cotton has been fine.
- Gloves
- Ear Muff/Ear Band/Ear Head Band - You can find really good ones made for outdoor sports.
- Eye protection - Cold wind in the eyes is very annoying. I wear regular glasses, but non-glasses people could use sunglasses, ski goggles, etc.
- Tube socks scrunched down around the ankles with the elastic of the sweat pants pulled over them.
I ran for years in the cold before I finally tried out the good shirts and the multiple layers with skin-tight on the bottom layer. I turned into a fair weather runner in my late 40s because I copped an attitude that I could no longer face the beginning of a run in the cold. I finally learned how to dress well for the outdoor cold exercise this past spring when I signed up for an outdoor boot camp. The coldest days, when I went for two pairs of sweat pants, were 31 degrees F. This winter if it gets down in the 20s, I might have to add a winter hat. My hands have been cold, but nothing else.
Two pairs of sweat pants make me feel like I am in diapers or something at first, but this feeling goes away after I get moving. I doubt many people ever wear two pairs of sweat pants, and plenty only wear winter leggings (I don't know where they get them. It is probably Ski clothing.) It is not typical to warm-dress the bottom half the way I do; I am the odd woman out on this.