Gear for cold weather running

[SNOWRUNNER]

Ya... what she said..

[Patchoulimoon]

Wow, I'm always 'red-faced' when done and the way back is definetly harder like ..."running in mud"  Hmmm... I guess I'll be in to get one of those water belts!  Now that I think of it... I was hospitalized once for an electrolyte imbalance and never really understood it.  I wasn't running or anything like that but couldn't stand and felt it felt exactly like I was drunk. (but I wasn't) 
Thanks!!   

[chattyfeet]

another important tip....buy a jacket with "pit zips"...you know, the zippers under the armpits.  Perfect example, today I was running the M.A. Sills track.  So, for 2/3 of the track I was fine, for 1/3  I was running into a cold wind.  After about a mile and a half I was warmed up....BUT when I headed into the wind it was cold....then as soon as I was out of the wind I was too warm.  I couldn't decide if I should lose the coat or not, then remembered my pit zips...once I undid them everything was perfect!  Not too warm when I wasn't against the wind, but still "protected" from the wind when I was running into it.  I think pit zips on a running jacket are CRUCIAL.

[Sandy]

Good point Chatty but that's where indivdual preferences come in.  I don't find them necessary at all.

[Cathy]

The only coat I owned with zippitts was from RR and it was probably the worse coat that I owned.  It just didn't breath at all even with the zips open.  I would get home after running in cold weather freezing.  The whole inside of the jacket was wet and so was my cloths. 

[chattyfeet]

those coats from the Running Room are not for running in rain...they are only for wind and cool temps.  And a lot of women like them because of the butt coverage....something about lycra and cellulite?  lol  The RR does not recommend them for wet conditions either...at least when my girlfriend bought hers that's what they told her.   They recommend another coat in the store for wet conditions.  Problem with a totally waterproof coat is it can be too warm.  Is there any way you can make a material completely waterproof that also breathes?   I have a Nike thermosphere jacket that is great for running in wet conditions.  I truly don't believe there is ONE jacket that can do it all.  I've run in wet conditions in April with a temp of about 10 degrees and I've run in wet, wet snow and sleet in Jan. when it was 0 degrees....the coat I wore in the Dec. run would've had me MELTING in the April run.  so I actually have two coats....

[Sandy]

Most people do end up with two coats eventually but they are usually a wind/water restistant for spring/fall and a warmer insulated one for winter.  I have run in a Saucony jacket for years and it deals very well in the rain, it is not waterproof.  Sugoi makes a water proof jacket and we have sold a number of them.  Everyone that uses it says it's quite breathable and keeps them dry. 

I'm all for covering up the butt but when the "tail" is too long it can interfer with gait.

[SNOWRUNNER]

I have a rr jacket. It has the bum flap.. but i`ve never had it caught on any gates..  the pocket holds a lot of crap though..

[Sandy]

  Good one.

[Patchoulimoon]

Hilarious!