Winter Trail running Gear

[Jonathan Ryan]

Hey All,
Another winter trail running topic. Just curious what people carry for their winter distance trail runs. The weather up here is New England is kinda weird so over the years I have found I need to carry a fair amount of gear to meet the needs of the terrain and weather I see. Went out for a 10 miler last night and found this setup worked well (FYI on conditions: the loop was 10.5 miles with an even mix of road and trail. Trail conditions were a mix of mud/slushy snow early in the run changing over to ice by the end)

Clothing Worn
-BPL UL merino Hoody
-Ibex Strider Shorts
-Golite Mesh b-ball hat
-Patagonia Cold Track Light pants (now called Traverse)
-Patagonia Nine Trails Jkt (Houdini in precip)
-Ibex Liner gloves
-Darn Tough socks (3/4)
-Inov8 Roclite 320 (better for road sections)
-Nathan HPL 20 Pack/Vest
-34oz Platy bottle (hydration systems useless up here in winter)
-Princeton Tec EOS R headlamp and Fenix L1D flashlight (do all my running in the dark)
-Kahtoola Microspikes (snow melts during the day and refreezes at night)
-Rocky GTX socks (too cold out to have wet feet)
-Northern Lites Elite Racer snowshoes (carried only when needed)

[t.darrah]

Gear Used:
Shoes: Montrail Streaks
Socks: defeet Aireator or Levitator Lite (wool)
Gloves: defeet HandSkins
Cap: Patagonia LW Alpine Beanie
Tight: Patagonia Coolweather
Top: Wildthings Hoody
Shell (if needed): Patagonia Houdini

[Eugene Smith]

"Winter" Gear for trail running/road (New Mexico style):

Shoes: New Balance MT100's or La Sportiva Crosslite
Socks: Darn Tough Mesh Low or no socks
Top: Merino wool top 1/4 zip or Shirtless (midday sun)
Bottoms: random shorties or TNF Swift Hybrid Pant
Shell: Patagonia Nine Trails or TNF Momentum jacket
Underwear: Smartwool boxer briefs (when wearing pants)
Headwear: Patagonia LW Alpine beanie (perfect!)
Gloves: Arcteryx Delta SV glove
Neck: bandana (3 times in the last 3 months I've loaned my bandana to running partners who ate too close to runs; I refuse to let people rip nice running gear for wiping their bum!)
Hydration: TNF E50/50 or Nathan handheld (or both) (16-32oz)
Time: Garmin 305 Forerunner

It is weird running in NM in "winter", one minute you can be running shirtless in high 50's in sun, ascend 1000ft. and dip into a canyon or cross over a saddle and be in packed snow and temps in the 30's with wind and shade. So I can usually get by with just my Patagonia Nine Trails windshell and nothing else up top when running in the day. Shorts suffice unless it's breezy in the mornings.

[Pepe LP]

……"Neck: bandana (3 times in the last 3 months I've loaned my bandana to running partners who ate too close to runs; I refuse to let people rip nice running gear for wiping their bum!)"

If I let them use it, it definitely wouldn't be a "loan", I'm not asking for it back….ever!

I've started running here in NM. I live at 7,000 feet with a bunch of mountains and canyons. Sometimes dropping into a canyon is like stepping into an icebox. Temps can drop 20 degrees in just a few minutes.

As long as I keep moving, I find I can get away with really light clothes in the cold, unless the wind picks up. I do carry a light pack with a windbreaker, extra layers, a lighter, and water. Just in case I break a leg or something.

[ben wood]

i would have to give away that bandana as well.
pepe, where are you in NM?

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