How to Dress for Winter Exercise

As a species, humans are not designed to hibernate through winter.  To stay healthy and fit, exercise needs to be a lifelong, year-round lifestyle.  Here are a few tips on how to dress for exercising throughout the darker, colder months ahead. 

Do not wear clothing made with cotton.  When you exercise, cotton will hold perspiration against your skin, which will make you colder in the winter.  Instead, wear clothing made with technical fabrics that breathe, or wick moisture away from the skin.  Clothing made with technical fabrics will also perform better than cotton during the warmer summer months, because their wicking capability will enhance your body’s natural ability to cool itself.  Especially avoid socks made with cotton while exercising.  Cotton socks will hold perspiration (moisture) against the skin on your feet, which will lead to a higher likelihood of developing blisters.

Resist the temptation to over-dress.  Even the best quality technical fabrics have their limitations on how fast they can wick moisture away from the skin.  Dress as if it is 20°F warmer than the actual outside temperature.  You should feel a little chill as you first step outside to exercise.  Once you are moving, your body temperature will rise and you should feel comfortable.  Layer according to your need for added warmth or protection from the elements like wind, rain or snow.  Sometimes our extremities, like our hands, need more protection from the cold.   Mittens provide greater warmth than gloves, because they allow better heat conduction from finger to finger.

Wear brighter colors and/or reflective clothing for visibility.  Our winter months consist of shorter days and longer nights.  Invariably, you will be forced to exercise in the dark.  For your safety, choose to wear clothing with bright reflective capabilities to ensure that others see you.  Most winter gear (jackets, pants and accessories) will contain reflective stripping to improve visibility.  For those that will spend considerable time exercising in the dark, it is recommended that they use safety lights.

Wear shoes with good traction, or purchase accessories to improve your footing on slippery surfaces.  With winter, the footing on the paths and roadways can be treacherous.  Black ice can sneak up on anyone, even the most gifted athlete.  Yaktrax are a lightweight, compact accessory designed to provide you solid footing on slippery surfaces, and they fit over nearly all types of shoes.