The Right Gear

Hats and Gloves

Hats

Hats are similar to gloves in that woollen ones are the norm because they are easy to get hold of and cheap. The more high tech versions, such as fleece, offer wind stopping capabilities and some are waterproof as well. Caps have become more fashionable recently and are favoured by younger runners. Caps offer greater protection from the rain, snow and sun and are better for runners who wear glasses because they help the glasses from getting rain or snow on but often they can get blown off in windy conditions, and they don’t offer the same warmth capabilities as woollen or high tech fabrics.

Gloves

Gloves should be lightweight and comfortable. Only in extreme weather will you need to wear thick running gloves and more often than not you will heat up enough to be okay in the normal thin type. Woollen gloves are the norm because they are cheap but they don’t offer the same water-proof and wind-stopper capabilities of the new high tech fabrics. Woollen gloves will be fine for most runners but if you are venturing out into cold or wet climates, it is worth investing in a high tech pair. Running with cold hands can ruin the experience for you, so choose carefully when you buy, especially in winter.