The best cold-weather workout gear

Best picks for running

Lauren Indvik

Winter is a beautiful season for park running in north London: the paths are quiet, the light sharp, and I don’t have to worry about my running companion — a one-and-a-half-year-old cockapoo named Piper — overheating. (She does, however, require more baths.)

But dressing smartly for cold-weather exercise can be a challenge. Despite the boom in sports clothing over the past decade, the overlap between workout clothes that are functional and workout clothes that are good-looking remains slim. By default, I’ve ended up with a workout wardrobe of mostly Lululemon. The designs aren’t thrilling, but the Canadian label’s wicking and anti-microbial technology is excellent and not one piece has worn out after (in some cases) more than a decade of use. The seams, too, are in all the right places.

My latest addition to my running wardrobe has been a Patagonia knit headband which, besides keeping my ears from smarting, has a Fair Isle-esque pattern I really like. Here are my other tried-and-test essentials:

Nike Essentials running jacket, on sale for £53, prodirectrunning.com

Terrific on drizzly or moderately cold days, this lightweight, water-repellent jacket comes with handy pockets on the back and sides for keys and gloves.

Uniqlo ultra light down vest, £40, uniqlo.co.uk

Although not designed for exercise, this ultralight down vest is a terrific lightweight layer for running, which I also use for hiking. The zipperless pockets are deep enough to stow house keys and a roll of dog bags.

Lululemon Swiftly Tech long sleeve shirt, on sale at £49, lululemon.co.uk

I have four of these stretchy knit shirts, which I like because they are thin but warm, and woven with “anti-microbial” thread that keeps them from smelling even after more than 10 years of use. They also get softer over time.

Patagonia Powder Town headband, £30, eu.patagonia.com

Designed to be tucked under a ski helmet, this super soft, 100 per cent recycled knit headband stays put and keeps my ears warm on long runs and hikes.

Lululemon Run For It All gloves, £25, lululemon.co.uk

These soft, water-resistant, touchscreen-compatible gloves are wonderfully versatile — I wear them for running when temps go below freezing, and layer them under ski gloves on the slopes.

Best picks for outdoor swimming

Carola Long

On a recent visit to the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond on Hampstead Heath, I came across a pamphlet pinned to the noticeboard listing obscure words applicable to winter swimming. In addition to “apricity” (the warmth of the sun in winter) and “psithurism” (the sound of rustling leaves) was “kalopsia”. Apparently neither widely used nor deemed acceptable in Scrabble, the word’s definitions vary, but run along the lines of “the state in which everything and everyone looks beautiful” (even if they are not).

This is the state of being after a cold winter swim: the ultimate natural high. Mist is mistier. Birdsong is more melodious. Life feels beautiful. I feel beautiful, as I emerge from the toad-green water with a few damp leaves stuck to my goose-pimpled legs, but I don’t look it. My skin goes red, my lips a bit blue, I have woolly hat-hair. But I really don’t care.

For me, winter swimming is the antithesis of the kind of narcissistic gym culture where you exercise in front of a mirror to admire your 12-pack. I and the women I sometimes swim with do have chic swimsuits, but generally practicality is queen. I don’t wear a wetsuit as it dampens the buzz but I do favour wetsuit gloves, and occasionally neoprene or Yulex socks.

For afterwards, a towel poncho that you can get changed underneath is handy (especially on a pebbly beach). Flip-flops or pool shoes offer a barrier between feet and chilly ground before you get your shoes on (avoid fiddly laces as freezing fingers aren’t always dexterous). In addition to a woolly hat, cashmere gloves and an old puffer, I love a thin merino base layer. And then there’s the oldest trick in the keeping warm playbook: a flask of tea.

Patagonia R2 Yulex gloves, £50, eu.patagonia.com

Patagonia’s wetsuit gloves are made from 85 per cent Yulex (derived from Forest Stewardship Council certified rubber) and 15 per cent synthetic rubber, making them a more environmentally responsible choice than conventional neoprene.

Sloactive surf leotard in Yulex, £260, sloactive.com

I feel quite “secret agent on an underwater mission” in this slick Yulex number, although it is pretty high cut.

Towel Dryrobe, £50, dryrobe.com

A Dryrobe provides protection from winter air when you emerge from the water, and a sort of portable changing room.

Sweaty Betty springboard swimsuit, £60, sweatybetty.com

The choice of swimsuits in winter is minimal, and even less have decent bust support. This stylish and practical option is made from recycled nylon.

Bombas colorblock merino socks, £21, bombas.co.uk

Thick socks are a must when your feet feel like ice sculptures. Bombas’ are warm, stretchy and don’t bunch inside boots.

Cos merino turtleneck, £45, cosstores.com

A merino layering piece makes a huge difference to warmth levels after a dip, and doesn’t cause that clammy, trapped feeling synthetic versions can create.

Best picks for high-intensity workouts

Annachiara Biondi

There is nothing better than taking a kick-boxing session in the crisp early-morning air of east London’s Victoria Park, a pleasure I discovered when the pandemic forced me to leave my crowded dojo behind. Exercising outdoors lifts my mood in a way that being inside a gym has never done.

Rising for my 8am workouts hasn’t been an issue, but adapting my indoor gear to withstand the unforgiving British winter weather has been a challenge. To meet my trainer I take a brisk 40-minute walk along Regent’s Canal, which can be freezing, but kick-boxing warms you up pretty quickly, so it’s essential to wear clothing that can be easily peeled off and then put on again with minimum fuss.

Flexibility is also important. I wear black leggings all year round for head kicks. I’m not a fan of hats or gloves, and with no lockers or changing room I keep my accessories to a minimum, but hoodies and handwraps can provide some extra warmth.

AYBL motion seamless long sleeve crop top, £27, eu.beaybl.com

This long-sleeve crop top is the perfect garment to layer between a sports bra and a T-shirt when temperatures fall below 10C. It’s so comfortable that it gives the impression of not being there at all.

Pangaia high neck sweatshirt, £120, thepangaia.com

Kick-boxing means using your upper body as much as your lower body. A slightly oversized, soft sweatshirt is the best option to comfortably throw hooks and uppercuts while locking in warmth. The orchid purple colour brightens up my usual black and grey ensembles.

Nike sportswear tech fleece, £100, nike.com

I use this men’s soft hoodie as a cosy jacket when it doesn’t rain, zipped up over my long-sleeve top, T-shirt and sweatshirt combo. However, it does restrict movement, so I wear it for warming up and shed it for the actual workout.

Nike windrunner, £90, nike.com

A rainproof windbreaker is essential for when that morning breeze turns into a barrage of wind and rain. I like to size up so that I can fit in my winter layers (up to four for me).

Jaxjox metal skipping rope, £15.99, sportsdirect.com

When everything else fails, skipping is the fastest way to regain some warmth. Jaxjox’s light and adjustable option can be squeezed into any bag.

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