Running during the winter months in the UK is always a different experience. Whether it’s cool and crisp or rainy and miserable, you know that a lot of your outside runs will be in the dark.
Whether you run in the morning or the evening, staying visible and easy to spot as the weather worsens is key. Stay safe, put your mind at ease and make your training really count.
We’ve come up with a winter checklist that’ll keep you covered. From head to toe, if you get yourself a similar looking wardrobe to what we’ve put together, you’ll be good to go.
Jacket
Saucony Vitarun Jacket, £90 – saucony.com
There’s no point ignoring it – running in the rain and wind is miserable, especially when the temperature drops. So, it’s worth buying an outer-layer that’ll hold up to testing conditions.
The Saucony jacket above features a wind and waterproof Flexshell laminate throughout for good protection, as well as some handy reflective strips all over. What more could you want?
Hat
Odlo Windstopper Reflective Hat, £28 – odlo.com/uk
They’re not for everyone, but you can’t deny that running hats and beanies do the job when it comes to keeping you warm. And yes, you guessed it, they can be great at keeping you visible.
This Odlo hat is both windproof and reflective, and has a handy close-fitting design. It also includes a GORE panel on the forehead area for extra protection against unwanted headwind.
Gloves
Under Armour Threadbare Run Glove, £30 – wiggle.co.uk
Most runners wear gloves when the weather gets cold, so this is an easy way to add visibility to your winter running kit. Most gloves come with reflective elements as standard now, too.
The Under Armour pair shown ticks all the boxes – and is worth spending that bit extra on. They’re warm, reflective, water repellent, and can even be used with touchscreen devices.
Leggings
dhb Flashlight Run Tight, £40 – wiggle.co.uk
Like the running hat, leggings aren’t for everyone. They’re a great way to keep your muscles warm though, and most types feature reflective panels and designs in some capacity.
These dhb tights offer great compression, as well as subtle reflective elements that’ll do the job without looking to garish. They also feature back pocket, so work well without shorts.
Shoes
Saucony Kinvara 8, £115 – saucony.com
A lot of trainers these days come in bright colours, but brands also release reflective updates of their newest shoes in the winter to cater for those who run during the darker times of the day.
Saucony, for example, has just given a reflective paint job to their most popular 2017 shoes. This Kinvara 8 model above looks the part, and does the job when it comes to keeping you lit.
