FAQs - Cold Weather Dressing Tips for Youth

How to Dress for Cold Weather Running

Cold weather doesn’t mean you have to stay inside or think about only running on a treadmill at your local gym or on an indoor track at your school. Because of new technology in winter running clothes, gone are the days when being outside meant the wearing of heavy uncomfortable clothing.  Whether you are a skier, snowboarder or runner, there is lighter weight and fashionable clothing that will protect you from Minnesota’s sometimes bitter winter weather and help you continue to enjoy your outdoor pursuits.

Head and Neck

On cold days, you will lose almost 40% of your heat from your head, so it is important to keep it covered. You also want to protect your skin from the elements and prevent potential frostbite and chapping. Try these protective items:

Hat: A fleece or wool hat is perfect for keeping young heads warm during winter runs.

Neck Warmer: Often worn by skiers, a neck warmer can be extremely valuable on frigid, windy days to protect your neck and face. You can pull it up over your mouth to warm the air you are breathing in until you get used to the cold and then return it to warm to your neck.

Ski Mask: The kind that only has openings for your face or just your eyes. These are usually made of fleece or wool and are only necessary if the temperature or wind chill is below zero.

Chapstick/Vaseline: Protect your lips from chapping with some Chapstick or Vaseline. Vaseline can also be used on your nose or anywhere else on your face to prevent windburn and chapping.

Sunglasses: The glare from freshly fallen snow can cause issues. Wearing a pair of sunglasses can help.

Upper Body

The key to winter clothing is layering. Running is no exception. Not only do layers trap body heat, they allow sweat to move through the layers of clothing. The moisture is wicked away from your first layer to your outer layers, and then it evaporates. However, avoid overdressing. You should be a bit chilly when you start to run. Try layering you clothes using the following information:

First layer: The layer closest to your body should be made from a technical material, not just a t-shirt or undershirt made of cotton. Once cotton gets wet, it stays wet and you will be most uncomfortable. Try clothing with names like DryFit, Thinsulate, Thermax, CoolMax, or made of polypropylene or silk. This will wick the sweat away from your body, keeping you dry and warm.

Second layer: If the temperature is 10 degrees F or lower this layer should be an insulating material, such as fleece. This layer must also continue wicking moisture away form the skin. It should be designed to have a balance of trapping some air to keep you warm, yet release enough heat to avoid overheating. Some fabrics for this layer include polyester fleece, Micro fleece or Therma fleece.

Wind or Waterproof Outer layer: This layer should protect you against wind and moisture (rain, sleet, snow), but at the same time allow both heat and moisture to escape to prevent overheating and chilling. It’s a good idea to wear a jacket with a zipper for this layer, so you can regulate your temperature by zipping it up and down. A nylon or windbreaker jacket would be ideal.

Gloves/Mittens: Your hands and feet are another place where you can lose body heat. so it's important to cover those hands. On cold days, wear gloves that wick away moisture. When it is extremely cold, mittens are a better choice because your fingers will share their body heat with each other.

Lower Body

Running pants: Your legs generate a lot of heat so you don’t need as many layers on your lower body. You can usually wear just a pair of tights or running pants made of some kind of synthetic material such as Thinsulate. If it is below 10 degree F (temperature or wind chill) you may want to consider two layers, a wicking pair of tights and a wind-proof layer such as track or warm-up pants.

Shoes: Your feet also stay pretty warm, as long as you keep them moving and dry. Try to avoid puddles, slush and snow. Look for a running shoe with as little mesh as possible, since that’s where the water will seep through to your feet.

Socks: Never wear cotton socks (in cold or warm weather) when running because they won’t wick away the moisture, leaving your feet wet and prone to blisters. Instead be sure to wear a good pair of wicking socks made with acrylic or wool (in the winter)

Other Aids and Products

WarmSkin: is a barrier skin cream that provides an extra layer of protection. It is a non-greasy cream that moisturizes and insulates against extreme weather conditions