The essentials for trail running this winter

Winter is here and you’re dreaming of running on snowy paths? So do we, but before you embark on a frosty challenge, you need to be prepared. Because running in winter is fun, but without the right equipment it can quickly lose its charm. Here’s everything you need to have fun trail running, even in winter conditions 😉

Published on 14 January 2025

1. The secret of comfort: the 3-layer technique

The trick to staying warm and dry is to use the onion technique: an onion has several layers, each with its own role, to cope with cold, snow, rain and other bad weather.

1° Anti-transpi 💧

Running in a soaking wet T-shirt is a good way to catch a cold. This first layer, close to the body, is designed towick away sweat and keep you dry.

We recommend :

A technical T-shirt in merino wool or synthetic material (no cotton).
A long sleeve (5°C or less) or short sleeve (+5°C) depending on the weather.

2° Cocooning🔥

This second layer will serve to maintain your body heat and will act like a cocoon.

We recommend:

A light (5°C to 0°C) or intermediate (-1°C to -10°C) fleece, preferably technical.
Or a merino wool fleece! The softer and warmer, the better. 🥰

3° Shield ☔️

Who likes running in pouring rain or face-whipping gusts of wind? Not many runners, but if that’s what you fancy, we’ve got just the thing for you!

Our advice:

A waterproof, breathable jacket with ventilation zips to avoid the sauna🥵 effect.
Gore-Tex models do the job very well (minimum 10,000 schmerber).

2. Let's talk small, let's talk big!

We’ve all experienced the tingling sensation in our toes caused by the cold, or the pain of an ankle that’s turned the wrong way after a slip. We don’t want that to happen to you, so here’s a handy guide to fighting the cold and protecting yourself!

Trail shoes 👟

Before making your choice, check that the pair you’ve chosen is suitable for your sport, because buying a new pair is a big investment. To do this, you’ll need to look at a number of criteria:

Grip and grip: if you’re planning to go running on forest or mountain terrain, you’re going to want a pair with crampons (5mm or more) to avoid slipping on ice, snow and stones. 🪨
Waterproofing: if you’re going to be running in the snow all winter, we recommend you opt for a waterproof model with a Gore-tex membrane, to keep your feet dry. Be careful, waterproofing does not mean breathability, because as the saying goes: to choose is to give up.
Insulation: if temperatures where you live often fall into the negative in winter, make sure your pair of trail runners are well insulated against the cold. ❄
Comfort: perhaps the most important criterion, because you need to bear in mind that a new pair can travel up to 1000 km depending on the model. We therefore strongly advise you to take the time at fittings to make sure you don’t have any particular pain or chafing.

💡Petit tip’s: If you still don’t know where to find your pair of trail runners, we strongly advise you to go to a specialist mountain shop, where the sales staff will be able to point you in the direction of THE pair that suits you best.

Socks 🧦

Now that you’ve got a good pair of shoes, it would be silly to ruin everything by putting on poor quality cotton socks. Hello frozen feet and blisters! If you want our advice: a good pair made for winter and for trail running can really change your practice.

We recommend :

Synthetic or merino wool socks.
Medium-high or high socks to protect your ankles from the cold and keep the wind out.

3. Accessories that change everything

When it’s cold, every detail counts to avoid wind or rain infiltration.

Winter basics …

Hat or headband: Choose something breathable but warm, a thin hat or a headband to cover your ears for example.

Gloves: Frozen fingers are a horror! If the temperatures are below zero or the conditions are bad, we really recommend a pair of technical gloves, with the option of under-gloves if it’s really cold.

Neck warmer: This is the essential accessory for trail running, because it’s multifunctional. It can cover your neck, nose and ears, and can even be transformed into a mini-cagoule or beanie if required. This thing is magic! 🪄

and those who are (all too often) forgotten:

Sunglasses: Yes, even in winter. Snow reflects sunlight and can seriously damage your eyes, and sunglasses also protect you from the wind… so you won’t cry during your run. We recommend a pair of technical glasses made for trail running, otherwise you’ll fog up and you won’t be able to see much. Photochromic lenses (0 to 3 or 1 to 4) are preferable if you like running on forest paths as much as on ridges, as they automatically adapt to the light.

Crampons: if you’re planning to run on ice or don’t know the ground conditions in advance, this will save you from having to turn back!

Trail poles: light and collapsible, poles are designed to help you on the way up, by distributing the effort throughout your body (arms + legs), and on the way down, by cushioning your stride. It’s perfectly possible to run without them, but in winter they can be useful for preventing slipping. For very long runs, they also save energy and protect your joints.

4. Safety first and foremost!

In winter, it gets dark early, so the most important thing is visibility.

So you’ll need a headlamp that’s powerful enough to see and be seen, and light enough not to weigh you down, especially on descents.

Even though most trail clothing comes with reflective strips, you can invest in accessories to make yourself more visible, if you often run close to roads, for example.

Finally, check the weather forecast before setting off, to avoid surprises and adapt your equipment. Always remember to tell someone close to you about your outing, the route and the estimated time (there’s not always reception in the mountains…). It costs nothing and can save your life!

If you decide topick up a race number this year, whatever the distance, you’ll need to bring the following compulsory equipment:

A survival blanket.
a drinking cup
at least 1L of water, divided between your flasks or hydration bag.

If you’re going on a trail outing alone in the mountains, we strongly recommend that you take with you :

a survival blanket
A small first-aid kit (pliers, bandages, antiseptic, bandages) to tide you over if anything goes wrong.
compotes and/or energy bars, to avoid hypoglycaemia😶 attacks
water (about 500 ml/hour) to avoid dehydration, because yes, we do sweat even in winter!

Trail routes