Running Gear Guide: Pack Your Gear It’s getting cold outside

With the big races of the year in the rearview mirror and temperatures starting to drop, it can be tempting to just curl up with some hot chocolate and enjoy some Netflix. But for many runners, the training never stops, no matter how cold it gets.

As for me, I’m coming off a tough finish at the TCS New York City Marathon. I’ve been away for a while, but I’m back. I have my team’s annual turkey trot on Thanksgiving, along with a half marathon later this weekend. It’s getting cold, so I’m going to pick out my favorite wool sweaters.

Whether you’re getting ready for your first turkey trot or making plans for one of the Abbott World Major Marathons in the spring, we’ve got some great ideas for gear that will keep you warm and cozy as winter approaches.

Moreover, the holidays are also just around the corner. If you want to play Santa for a favorite runner in your life, we also have plenty of suggestions for perfect gifts.

Here’s a look at some of my favorite winter and other top running gear.

Runners love socks

When I was a kid, I always groaned when I found socks in my stocking. Now I’m getting excited.

Runners don’t skimp on socks. They can make the difference between ending a race happy or limping to the end with bleeding feet.

That’s why there’s always more than one pair of feet exchanged during my running team’s annual gift exchange. Feetures’ colorful and durable socks, priced at about $18 each, are my favorite for training and racing. In particular the “Elite” versions of the socks provide targeted compression that helps protect and support your feet as you run without feeling too heavy.

But with temperatures expected to be above 20 degrees at the start of this weekend’s half marathon, I’ll be reaching out for my pair Smartwool run for cold weather crew socks. When it comes to keeping your feet warm and dry without adding a lot of bulk, you simply can’t beat wool.

At $24 they are worth the money. Like the other Smartwool products I’ve used, they managed to survive several washes without shrinking, as wool socks often do.

For great shoes, leave it to the professionals

I could tell you which shoes I ran the TCS New York City Marathon in (Endorphin Pro 4 from Saucony) or what my favorite daily trainers are (New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14), but that doesn’t really matter.

The truth is that the best shoe for you depends on you, your feet and your needs. A size 9 from one brand can fit very differently than from another. Shoes that your best friend, or even a world-class marathoner, thinks are great can be torture for you to walk in.

If you’re shopping for yourself, head to your local running store and get expert advice. The fitting technology used in many stores has come a long way. Last year I took a closer look at the system at Fleet Feet, a national chain of running stores. It uses artificial intelligence to compare a 3D scan of your feet with those of millions of other customers, along with the store’s inventory. Combine that technology with suggestions from a store associate and you’re guaranteed to walk away with a pair you’ll love.

For this reason, shoes make a really bad holiday gift, but I have a better idea.

Although I was happy with my marathon sneakers, I couldn’t take them off fast enough after I crossed the finish line. Once I did, I put a few on Kane recovery shoes. Yes, they look a lot like Crocs, and at $80 a pair they are a lot more expensive, but I think they are well worth the money.

My swollen feet were given the room they needed to breathe, the small nodes of the relatively firm footbed massaging them as I walked the eight long blocks to the subway. The shoes went on and off easily and thankfully didn’t leave any rough marks on my feet on the journey home.

The shoes are available in a variety of fun colors and patterns, including licensed versions for alumni and fans of twenty colleges and universities. Each pair also comes with a handy carabiner that allows you to attach them to the outside of a bag.

Holiday lights

Whether you run in the morning or evening, it is dark outside this time of year. Lighting and reflective gear are a must, both to ensure that cars see you and that you see all those cracks in the sidewalk and poorly placed piles of dog poop.

I have a few sets of lights, but my favorite remains the Tracer2 luminous vest from Noxgear. The rechargeable LED lights flash in a rainbow of fun colors. They are visible up to a quarter of a mile away and last up to 20 hours on a single charge.

At $51 it’s not cheap, and I’d recommend adding the optional option Tracer lamp ($32) that snaps into place at the front. It’s super bright and can be pointed downwards, so you can spot cracks in the sidewalk and avoid blinding fellow runners who are trying to look straight at you.

The vest, which includes reflective bands, fits me perfectly and doesn’t slide around like a cheaper version I used before that was made by another company.

My teammates would be angry if I didn’t tell them Noxgear’s 39G portable Bluetooth speaker ($56). It produces a surprising amount of sound for its size. Instead of using headphones or earbuds that can block out the sound of an approaching car or other threat, you can use the speaker to listen to your music while staying aware of what’s going on around you.

Reflective clothing can also help drivers see you. If you’re looking for a winter running jacket, consider getting one with reflective elements. Feetures, mentioned above, has that too new reflective crew socks. They offer the same cushioning and performance as the company’s other models, but are designed to stand out in a car’s headlights.

Fashionable and functional

As someone who grew up in Michigan, it takes me a long time to get cold. I ran the New York City Marathon this year in my team singlet and a trusty pair compression shorts from Flipbelteven though it was 38 degrees outside when I started the race. With that said, I finally pulled out my pair Flipbelt Air mid-weight leggings ($45) last week.

Flipbelt has made a name for itself by producing stretchy running belts designed to hold everything you need for a long run. But I’ve had issues in the past where they would stretch out and ride down in the middle of a race.

The shorts and leggings solve that problem by building the same storage space into compression shorts that stay in place. They both offer plenty of storage space for your phone, keys, water bottle and all the fuel and snacks you need to get through a long race.

I found the leggings a little tricky to put on, but once you get them in place they don’t move and provide support like a catsuit even if you fill the pockets full. Flipbelt also makes one thermal version of the leggings and I’m looking forward to trying that out soon too.

Whether it’s to protect my face from the sun or to keep my ears warm, I almost always wear a hat when I run. Usually it’s a baseball cap, but when the temperatures drop I reach for one of my more fleece options.

Sprints, known for its crazy designsmakes my favorite ultra-light and super comfortable baseball-style hats. They have a few cool, new winter options which I’m looking forward to trying out.

And Smartwool, who I’ve already mentioned, knows a thing or two about winter clothing. They teamed up with shoemaker Altra to create a collection of winter running apparel, complete with a matching pair of smartwool-lined Altra shoes.

The women’s collection comes in a beautiful color combination of eggplant, black and anthracite and includes a long-sleeved top, a cardigan and a half-zip sweater. They launched earlier this year as a Excluding REIbut now you can find it on Smartwool’s website.

Shoes were not available for testing and the clothing is intended for heavy winter weather, so I only tested them briefly. But the layers gave me the range of motion I needed to run without adding much bulk. I’m sure I’ll be using them a lot more in a month or two, whether it’s running or sledding with my kids.

Sun protection for every budget

Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean it’s not bright outside. Good shades are still a must. Goodr’s line of active sunglasses ($25) remains the best budget option. They block harmful UVA and UVB rays, won’t slide down your nose when you sweat and are available in a whole range of fun colors and frames. But they don’t last forever, especially if you buy ones with mirror lenses, which scratch easily.

I recently tried a few pairs from Tifosi. At around $35 they cost a little more, but so far they seem a little more durable. Although they are not heavy, they feel sturdy. My teenage daughter immediately fell in love with my pair Shrine model, and I have yet to get them back, but she didn’t break them either. I wear the Swan model.

For those who are looking for luxury and want to look very cool, the Adidas DUNAMIS ($210) features crystal clear, reflective, wrap-around lenses that are as light as a feather and make you feel like a professional athlete. Just a warning: they are intended for larger faces. If you’re a small person like me, you make sure they’re a little big.

Other great gifts

Runners need to stay hydrated even when it’s cold outside, and every runner would love to receive a great water bottle.

My favorite at the moment is Nathan’s ExoShot 2.0 Handheld 14oz bottle. It is a soft bottle that comes in a fabric cover. There is an adjustable strap that goes around your hand so you don’t really have to hold it while running. It is easy to squeeze and drink.

Best of all, it doesn’t leak and you can throw it in the dishwasher. I would use this bottle a lot more if my daughter hadn’t also stolen it for her own runs.

Gels, chews and other types of running fuel can make great stocking stuffers. I’m a fan of it Energy chews from Skratch Labs. They taste less like chemicals and more like gummy bears. And some of my favorite products come from Unuseda maple syrup company based in, you guessed it, Vermont. Are coffee-infused maple syrup, athletic fuel gives me the zip I need, without chemicals I can’t pronounce.

When I reach for a traditional gel, it’s generally a Maurten. While other brands offer a Baskin-Robbins-like variety of flavors, Maurten comes in just one, which doesn’t really taste like anything but isn’t super sweet. It takes some getting used to, but I have noticed that it is pleasant for the stomach.