Buy Your Winter Running Gear In The Summer

You will need more winter running gear than for any other season. This is because at this time of year you will need to wear reflective clothing and will be layering clothes for warmth. You may also add breathable gloves and a hat.
When running outside in winter the key is to choose clothing where you may feel a little bit chilly at the start of your run, say for the first ten minutes or so, then feel just right; not too warm or too cold. You will soon get used to the ‘feel’ of the weather and will instinctively know just what to wear outside in order to remain comfortable throughout your run.
Even when running in mild winter weather you will also have to be prepared for rain at some point. A good way to prevent getting wet is to either wear or take along on your run a breathable and very lightweight shower proof jacket that folds up small so that you can fix it to your wrist with a velcrose strap. Montane make these very jackets but look for them out of season to get a bargain as they can be expensive.

Shower proof heavier weight winter jackets may be slightly cheaper than their lighter weight counterparts, as there has been little effort to make them in lightweight material and some may not be made from breathable fabric. These jackets are very useful in very cold weather and heavier rainfalls.
Underneath your chosen winter running jacket you will probably want to layer both long-sleeved clothing with short sleeved summer tops to keep you warm. These should be made from moisture wicking fabric (which virtually everything is now), to prevent feeling cold through sweating.
In a relatively mild winter you may actually never need to wear a jacket. There are plenty of heavier weight, but breathable, moisture wicking long-sleeved tops with a little zip at the neck to prevent draughts that you can layer with lighter weight long-sleeve tops and short-sleeve tops underneath. The advantage of these tops is that even though they are warmer they are still lightweight to wear and as they are moisture wicking they repel water, so still keep you dry in a shower.

You may want to purchase a couple of these tops so you always have one to wear while the other is in the wash. Long-sleeve tops that are especially made for layering can be bought to wear underneath a heavier weight top or, on their own, depending on the weather. You may wish to buy a few of these tops in a variety of weights. All running gear for winter should be bought in reflective material for high visibility in the dark.
Trousers or tights don’t usually come in luminous material like tops but usually all winter running clothing; including trousers have some form of reflective material included in its design. Running trousers will usually have reflective material down the legs and maybe at the hips and pockets. You will need to buy trousers that will keep you warm but will also wick away sweat at the same time. There are many different types to choose from and most contain Lycra or Spandex to support motion.
Many runners prefer to wear tights in the winter as they fit to the figure and are extremely comfortable with no cumbersome extra material to slow you down. Some wear capri tights that come down to the knees, but most wear full length running tights. There is no need to feel conspicuous wearing very tight tights, as no one will be able to see you in the dark!  Tights are actually very liberating when running as it feels like you are not wearing anything on your legs!

There is a huge range of winter running gear, which includes extra accessories with which to remain visible in the dark. There are various luminous bands with flashing lights to wear around your arms, headlights, luminous reflective tabards to wear over clothing and many more ingenious items to help you to be seen. If you cannot find what you want in your specialist running shop try a cycling shop or generic sports shop.
To some extent your trainers will incorporate reflective material too, depending on the make. When running in the winter you will probably at some point purchase some specially made winter running socks. These are very clever socks that are totally breathable and prevent blisters. Many have asymmetrical left and right socks with contour padding and support. They reduce friction, and therefore alleviate skin irritation and are extremely durable. Most are made from dri-release wool and Lycra to provide cold weather comfort, warmth without the itch, are non-clammy or sticky and added FreshGuard eliminates odour!  Look for socks made by Hilly, available in all sizes.