You love a challenging mud run, and you aren’t about to let a little bit of cold weather slow you down. To make it to the finish line, you need winter gear that won’t bulk you up or reduce your flexibility and speed. What should you wear for a mud run in the cold weather?
Here is some must-have winter gear for a mud run:
- Knit cap
- Balaclava
- Layered shirts
- Fleece jacket
- Winter grip gloves
- Winter tights
- Shorts
- Winter compression socks
- Running shoes
In this extensive guide, we’ll go over the above clothes and include some product examples so you can continue attending Tough Mudder and other mud-run events all throughout the year! You’re not going to want to miss it.
Planning a Cold-Weather Mud Run? Here’s What You Need
Knit Cap
You always bring a cap with you when your mud run is in sunny weather so you don’t burn your scalp. Although the winter isn’t known for its sunlight, foregoing head protection is still ill-advised.
Upgrade your cap to something that’s more appropriate for the unforgiving cold. We recommend a knit cap. The sun can’t get through and you’ll keep your noggin warm too.
Although it’s been disproven that we lose a lot of heat from our heads, heat loss still occurs, and you’ll want to hold onto whatever body heat you can maintain if the mud is practically ice.
You want a cap that ideally you can pull over your ears so they don’t get cold. According to knit cap tutorial resource Woolly Wormhead, a mid-ear hat for adults should be between 10.75 and 13.75 inches.
Since you probably don’t want to visit your favorite hat store with a tape measurer in hand, do some research online and then go to the store. Ask if you’re allowed to try on the cap and see how it fits.
A cap that’s too constricting can be uncomfortable to wear, as you’ll feel like something has your head in a vice grip. That’s hardly conducive to beating your prior mud run records. If your cap is too loose, it will slip right off your head when you go to do the rope-climbing portion of the Spartan Race.
Balaclava
Having the right gear for a mud run is all about your comfort, and it’s hard to feel comfortable when your face is literally freezing. The fat in your face (and yes, all faces have fat, no matter how fit you are) acts as an insulator, so the parts of your face with less fat get cold fastest. That’s why you tend to lose feeling in your nose after a few minutes of being outside in the wintertime.
A balaclava is a great accessory for your next January mud run. If you’re not familiar, a balaclava is a full-face mask that has an opening for your eyes and the upper bridge of your nose. You’ll prevent your face from being cold even if you sort of have to look like a bank robber to do it.
Balaclavas don’t only come in boring black. The First Lite Phantom 3D balaclava
is utterly awesome-looking with its camo pattern and shredded texture throughout. Plus, we like how it includes a built-in cap for sun protection.
Layered Shirts
With your head and face taken care of, let’s continue to what you wear on your upper half for a cold-weather mud run. Layers are crucial if you want to maintain your warmth, but you must choose the right kinds of layers.
You need at least two layers, perhaps a third depending on how cold it is. If the temps are approaching single digits, then we’d highly recommend a couple of layers. For those mild winter days, two layers will suffice.
Your base layer is the most important, as it’s closest to your body. The one material you should always skip for the base layer is cotton. Why is that? Cotton absorbs moisture, keeping the perspiration against your skin. Your sweat will be warm at first, then it will turn cold and make you feel even chillier.
You need moisture-wicking materials for the first layer especially. The first layer should also be form-fitting. The best materials for a base layer are wool, Thinsulate, Thermax, polyester, silk, or polypropylene, as they check both boxes.
The second layer, which is known as the mid-layer, will build on the insulation you created with your base layer. The mid-layer doesn’t have to be skin-tight, but it should be close to the first layer. Moisture-wicking materials are a good idea here too.
Fleece Jacket
That brings us to your outer layer, which is your second or third layer depending on the weather. As convenient as it would be to zipper yourself up in a winter coat for a mud run, it’s simply not feasible.
Most winter coats are too thick and bulky for physical activity, plus, we’re sure you don’t want your pricy coat to get soaked in mud, right? It might never be the same again, even if you wash it a few times.
Spare your winter coat and opt for a fleece jacket instead such as the Columbia Steens Mountain full-zip fleece from Dick’s Sporting Goods. This mid-priced fleece features a tall collar that you can pop up to protect your neck from the unyielding wintry chill.
Wrist elastics mean the jacket won’t get in the way of your hands so you can navigate, climb, and crawl your way to victory on your next mud run. Fleeces like this zip so you can easily put yours on and then get going.
Winter Grip Gloves
You might have gone bare-handed for your first mud run, but after your hands were left calloused, cut, and sore, you vowed to never do that again. The gloves you usually wear are ultra-grippy so you can latch onto that rock wall with ease.
You’re reluctant to give up those gloves in the winter, but it’s integral that you do. Mud run gloves might cover your hands, but they’re thin and won’t insulate your digits enough. If your fingers go numb, it will be awfully hard to climb to the top of the rope during your mud run.
The Wells Lamont cold winter work gloves are an Amazon’s Choice product that will keep your hands warm while still providing the grip you need for a Tough Mudder. The grips are coated in latex so they’ll last longer. Wells Lamont says their gloves are tear and puncture-resistant as well.
Inside the gloves are a thermal knit shell that keeps your hands nice and toasty but not sweaty. These gloves are meant to fit tightly on your hands, so you don’t have to worry about them being too loose for a mud run.
Winter Tights
Most participants in Spartan Race events wear tights or leggings, but the problem with these bottoms is that a light breeze will send a chill down your spine. You need the flexibility that leggings provide though, so what else are you supposed to wear for a winter mud run?
Winter tights, of course. If you’re not familiar, winter tights look just like your standard pair of leggings, but they’re made with insulating materials that will keep your bottom half warm. They make the perfect base layer.
These men’s winter leggings from Roadbox on Amazon are also compression leggings that might alleviate muscle soreness and fatigue. They come in several colors and are available in a pack of up to three.
For the ladies, these Baleaf leggings, again courtesy of Amazon, are lined with fleece. They’re also water-resistant, which is not the same as being waterproof. Water-resistance means the leggings include a coating within the weave that will prevent water from getting through until that coating disappears. Still, it’s better than nothing!
Oh, and did we mention the leggings include pockets as well? It’s not like you’re going to store your smartphone or your keys in your pocket during a mud run, but maybe you use the pockets when training for the next Spartan Race.
Shorts
We know what you’re thinking. Shorts, in the wintertime? Well yes, but you’re not wearing shorts and nothing else except your undergarments underneath. You’d layer the shorts over your winter tights to create a secondary layer of cold protection.
Adding shorts to your winter mud run gear checklist is completely optional, especially if you have insulating leggings with fleece lining. Our recommendation is this. Go out for a run or an outdoor exercise session on a cold day wearing your winter leggings.
Do you wish you had another layer of insulation? If so, then buy some shorts. Otherwise, you can go without and still stay warm on your bottom half.
Winter Compression Socks
How many pairs of compression socks do you have in your sock drawer at home? Since you first got into mud runs, we’re sure the number has steadily gone up. After all, compression socks send oxygenated blood as well as hydration and nutrients to your muscles so you can run longer and further.
It’s time to add one more pair of compression socks to the collection, this time socks intended for wintertime running. We like these ski ultralight compression socks from CEP. Here’s the men’s version and here’s the women’s version.
The socks are made of merino wool, a lightweight type of wool that’s becoming more and more popular in clothing. The reason? Merino wool maintains its shape even after many washes, and it isn’t known to crease when it exits the washer or dryer.
The wool doesn’t get stinky, and it won’t itch, the same of which you can’t say about your favorite wool sweater. Plus, merino wool is anti-static, and it wicks moisture away. It’s also an excellent insulator, which is its biggest benefit for wintertime running.
If you put on one merino wool sock and one of your regular compression socks while blindfolded, we bet you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference. The socks wear and feel the same; they even look similar. Yet you’ll be so much warmer in the wool socks!
Running Shoes
From head to toe, the last piece of winter mud run gear is a great pair of winter running shoes. You’re probably wondering, is there really a difference between winter running shoes versus the running shoes in your closet? To that, we say yes!
Winter running shoes cover more of your foot so your ankles don’t get chilly. They might be made of insulating materials as well. These shoes will usually be waterproof so that even if they do get wet, your feet won’t turn into frozen ice blocks as you continue on the Tough Mudder course.
On the undersides, winter running shoes feature a sole that might have lugs for traction and grip on slippery terrains such as ice and snow. Deep grooves in the sole will also provide traction.
Although no one wants to invest in yet another pair of running shoes, we’d say it’s worth it. Once you remove all the mud from your new shoes, you can use them for outdoor training all winter long.
Conclusion
It’s always been your dream to compete in a wintertime mud run. With the gear that we talked about today, you won’t have to worry about being cold and soaking wet as you partake in the Tough Mudder or Spartan Race. Instead, you can focus more on breaking boundaries and smashing records so you can win that gold medal!
