The idea of running in the winter honestly never occurred to me until the year 2020. Running, in general, faded from my exercise routine when my fair-weather college jogs only ever seemed to bring me sore legs and a sense of defeat. But recently, the revelation of audio-guided runs teamed with a reliable athletic wardrobe has turned me into the type of person who Googles “what is a good 5K time” and “how to foam roll IT band.” I signed up for an April half marathon, knowing that my training would have to take place through New York’s chilliest months.
Before I started running regularly, it was hard to imagine what clothes would keep me the right temperature on an hour-long romp through the city. I needed to withstand the chill I would feel at the start of the run, and avoid overheating during it. Clearly cotton wouldn’t do the trick.
On my way to the Grand Canyon last fall, I was looking for a last-minute layer and happened upon a dark turquoise Patagonia top that stretched perfectly without feeling tight. Even better, it had a face-fitting hood that lowered into a weightless turtleneck. The clerk mentioned it was an innovative design—seamless 3D knit, in fact—made of a blend between merino wool and Patagonia’s proprietary recycled polyester material, Capilene. I wore it during the entire hike the next day—in the cold before sunrise with pants and a puffer, and with shorts as the day got hotter. After that temperature test, I figured it might serve me well in winter training—and I’ve worn it on every run since.
It’s easy to, because (at the risk of revealing myself to be a human who perspires) the specialized material stays smell-free for multiple weeks, even when I’m sweating in it on a regular basis. Turns out, I’m not the only one to wax enthusiastic about this item: Outdoor Gear Lab noted that it “has broken into a new realm of what’s possible in a base layer,” while Gear Patrol highlighted it as “quite possibly the best base layer.”
It’s not the only key to a good winter running outfit—I wear it with a vest so I have pockets, and a baseball cap to shield my face from the wind—but knowing that I have a reliable source of warmth and comfort has made getting out the door that much easier, whether it’s raining on the Manhattan Bridge, snowing in Brooklyn, or 8 p.m. at night near the office. Sure, with the hood up I might be more bank robber gone rock climbing than spandex-clad superhero, but it’s worth it: My woolly hooded base layer has served me better than any piece of workout gear I’ve ever owned.
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