The Best Winter Running Jacket

Living in Alaska, I spend more months wearing winter running clothes than I do wearing summer running clothes. From October through April you can find me in running tights, a long sleeve, a jacket, and usually something on my ears and hands.

During the 13 years of living in Alaska, I’ve tried a lot of winter running gear. I’ve purchased a lot of good gear to keep my core warm, but there is one jacket that I reach for time and time again because it actually keeps me warm without the bulk of multiple layers. This jacket has kept me warm on runs in the 20s, teens, single digits, and below zero!

I used to wear a base layer + mid layer (often a lightweight fleece or cotton sweatshirt<–what was I thinking?!) + lightweight jacket. While this worked, and it a good layering system, it was bulky! I love summer running because of the ease and simplicity of getting ready with less layers and feeling a lot less bogged down with clothes, so I needed to find something equally warm but without the bulk and endless layers to put on in the morning.

Several years ago I came across the perfect winter running jacket–one that actually kept me warm and was cute and practical. Plus, it was designed for running, and incredibly comfortable to wear for hours upon hours of being outdoors in the winter time. This jacket is down-filled, which makes it very lightweight and warm, and I have never been cold wearing it. I will wear it for runs in the 20s but it is a must-have for runs in the teens, single digits, and below. I have worn it below zero and still stayed warm!

This lululemon jacket has a removable hood, two zippered pockets, thumbholes, and two elastic pockets on the side to stash gloves or a hat if you get too warm. The underarms have a stretchy, breathable material while the front and back have a water-repellent fabric to protect yourself from the elements.

The fit of this jacket is super flattering. It is more fitted through the body of the jacket, so I would advise going up one size if you don’t want it to be snug, or if you want to be able to layer more underneath (but honestly I only have to wear a thin base layer in order to stay warm).

Since this jacket is so warm, I don’t need a special base layer. I just make sure to choose a sweat-wicking layer that will wick moisture away from my skin and not keep it close like a cotton layer would. I will use a thinner layer such as this long sleeve when the temps are quite as cold, a thicker layer like this when the temps dip in the teens and single digits, and I also like to use a wool layer if it is really cold.

I can’t rave enough about this jacket, and I love it so much I actually own FOUR of them. This is literally the only thing I wear on nearly every winter run. I have recommended this jacket time and time again and everyone loves it.

My runner-up recommendation is this winter running jacket. It is even warmer than the green down jacket pictured above as there is more material to the jacket, and it is made from a synthetic material that will keep you warm even when it gets wet.

One thing that makes this jacket different than the first one I featured is that it has a “dickie” (the hood plus extra lining along the zipper) that can be zipped out and removed. There are two zippers on this jacket, so you can zip the “dickie” portion out and leave the other zipper for closure on the jacket.

This black jacket is perfect for someone out on an adventure that would take them on a run or trek where the temperature would change 10 to 20 degrees during their expedition. For example, someone on a mountain run might start out at a warmer temperature but knows the temperature will drop as they climbed in elevation, so they could zip the dickie back in. (Or vise versa going from cold temperatures to not-as-cold temps.)

I love the fit of this jacket as well. It fits very similarly to the green jacket with a slim-fitting design, so I would advise going up a size if you wanted a little more room. I also like that the back comes down a little to cover your bum a little bit.

Which ever jacket you choose, you’re getting a high-quality jacket that will last you for years! One of my jackets I’ve had for five years, and it is still in great shape.