You have to give the millions of joggers in Germany one thing: They are extremely creative. There is almost nothing a man or woman wouldn’t wear on their Sunday jog. The classic: A baggy cotton hoodie combined with jogging pants that are no less baggy. Even in winter. In addition, a pair of leisure sneakers rocked down. Others seem to see their training session as a kind of catwalk, wearing a woolen hat, floral leggings with a running skirt and matching color shoes.
And then there are the athletes, clad from head to toe in functional underwear, who conjure up the right running robe from the closet for any weather. Just don’t get me wrong: clothes don’t make runners. First of all, everyone should wear what they find comfortable and what they feel most comfortable in. But cotton, the material that beginners in particular like to wrap themselves in when running, has several disadvantages.
In this article, you can read what they are, why you should also try functional clothing with your jogging outfit in winter and what the so-called 3-layer principle is.
Doctors and running experts judge cotton shirts critically. In contrast to functional (and synthetic) running clothing, the fabric soaks up sweat during exercise. Problem 1: The natural fibers do not release the liquid again. This leads to problem #2: The shirt or sweater is getting heavier by the minute. In the worst case, the soaking wet fabric will chafe the skin at some point – for example under the arms. The nipples are particularly sensitive. So that their clothes aren’t ruined by bloodstains, even beginners should wear running underwear made of microsilk, a synthetic material – especially in temperatures around freezing point. This light piece of clothing not only fits snugly on the body, it also ensures that perspiration is transported away from the body and thus cools down less quickly. You don’t usually have to spend a lot of money for this.
Running and functional underwear in a quick check
While the functional underwear usually remains hidden when running, fashion-conscious runners can certainly add color to the insulating layer. Because in spring-like temperatures, a good functional undershirt and a long-sleeved running shirt or fleece shirt that is slightly roughened on the inside are enough to keep the body warm. In cooler temperatures, on the other hand, the so-called insulation layer is in the sandwich of functional underwear and a protective layer, i.e. the running jacket. Basically, the fibers in the running shirt have similar properties and functions as underwear. It is supposed to keep you warm and transport the moisture “transferred” from the underwear to the outside instead of storing it. Cotton cannot meet these requirements and would interrupt the transport of sweat. In the transition period between winter and spring, light fleece shirts or jackets are the best choice.
Quick check of long-sleeved running shirts
Which brings us to the third layer of the well-known 3-layer principle. The outer layer and its membranes are designed to protect the body from the outside against wind and water while running. At the same time, a functional running jacket like this women’s model by Odlo should release the water vapor that was transported through the inner layers “to freedom”. A remarkable achievement that only high-quality breathable membranes can achieve. And you’ll guess: Here, too, jackets made of cotton do not sting. They soak up the sweat from the inside and the wet from the outside, get heavier with every kilometer and sooner or later start to wobble uncomfortably on the upper body. The fabric cannot stop the wind either.
Running jackets in quick check
Of course, there is more to a complete jogging outfit than just the 2 or 3 layers for the upper body. In autumn and winter (at temperatures of ten degrees and below) long running pants should be used to prevent muscular tension. You can’t go wrong with slightly roughened and tight-fitting trousers. With slightly larger models there is a risk of chafing. They also keep your legs less reliably warm.
When it comes to running socks, cotton comes into play again. Feet produce sweat, lots of sweat. That’s another reason why it’s not important how thick the socks are, regardless of the weather (or have you ever gotten cold feet while jogging?), but that they fit properly. So treat your feet to a pair of breathable running socks with slightly reinforced fibers in the forefoot and heel. Many manufacturers rely on left and right socks and tailor their models to men’s and women’s feet.
We give off around a quarter of all body heat through our heads. So it makes sense why it should also be protected. Namely – you guessed it: with a hat that is as breathable as possible. As much as you love your beanie or bobble hat, it’s best to leave your favorite hat at home when you’re running. Caps with an integrated fleece layer do a good job, as do practical functional scarves that can be transformed into a fashionable running cap in no time at all.
Gloves are one of the rare items of clothing when jogging. But in cool wind and temperatures of five degrees or colder, fingers should also be protected. The body first withdraws the blood from the hands and feet, so that they quickly become cold. As a rule, thin gloves are sufficient to prevent cooling down. If in doubt, they can then be taken off during training and stowed in a jacket pocket. The frostbite among the runners best grab the slightly thicker version. The running gloves from Reusch are windproof and reliably keep your fingers warm in the cold season.
Source: “The Running Bible”
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