sportswear
Running jackets in spring: tips, tricks and four models for men
Running jackets should meet at least two important criteria. In this article you will find out what else is important when making a purchase.
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Running jackets don’t have it easy. They should protect the jogger’s body from wind and weather. However, the rotor motor must not overheat either. Tips and thoughts on running jackets for men.
April is a darn complicated month. Neither hot nor cold. Sleet in the morning, t-shirt weather in the afternoon. Cap on, cap off. The idiosyncratic quirks of April also bring beads of sweat to the forehead of runners. And often before training. Short or long? Two layers? Or three? And what about the running jacket? questions upon questions.
It is not that complicated to dress appropriately and comfortably. But as so often in life, it’s about finding the happy medium. This article explains what role running jackets play in this, why breathable and windproof are (not entirely) mutually exclusive, which ones you should get out of the closet at the start of the 2023 running season and what’s hot on the runway this year.
Running jackets for men: Two criteria are crucial
Running jackets have two main tasks. On the one hand, they should protect their wearer. In winter from low temperatures, in spring more from drizzle or the last cool gusts of wind from the east. Running jackets should also be comfortable. Because even the highest water column and high-tech fibers that protect against the cold are worthless if the jacket pinches under the armpits while running or the zipper rubs against the neck and chin. It also creates frustration and a bad mood. The problem: How high the feel-good factor of the new running jacket is usually only becomes apparent on the first run. When browsing online, always pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions, who often give helpful tips on the fit.
Windproof and breathable: does that go together?
In contrast to ordinary everyday clothing, sportswear sometimes has to endure a lot. Not only do they have to defend themselves against wind, rain and cold. The functional fibers are also challenged from the inside. The great art of high-quality functional clothing consists in wicking sweat away to the outside in the form of water vapor – but at the same time ensuring that the body does not cool down. So rain and cold air should stay outside. Permeable on the inside and wind and waterproof on the outside. Insulate from the cold and wick away heat at the same time. Sounds like a tricky endeavor. Can this work?
There are actually synthetic fibers that can do this feat. Manufacturers of running jackets combine different fiber types with each other. Up to a certain limit, the processed fibers protect the body from cooling down and at the same time ensure that the body does not overheat by transporting excess heat and water vapor to the outside. A brilliant achievement. Running jackets like this are worth their weight in gold, especially in April, when the (running) weather is still going crazy from time to time. Running jackets additionally lined with light fleece only make sense in really icy temperatures.
On the other hand, it is a matter of taste whether a running jacket needs to have a hood. If the weather is right, a thin running cap will certainly protect your head more effectively. In the event of a shower, a hood can help temporarily.
Running jackets for men: the most common mistake
In general, many amateur runners tend to dress too thickly when exercising outdoors. The following helps as a mnemonic for running clothing that is appropriate for the temperature: Add three degrees to the current outside temperature and then decide what to wear in this weather. For example, assume 13 degrees when the thermometer shows ten degrees. This may make you a little chilly in the first few minutes, but it will prevent your body from overheating once it has reached its operating temperature. You should quickly dismiss the obvious idea of taking off your running jacket during training. Typically, the layers you wear underneath are anything but insulating. The wind hits the sweaty body directly and the heat regulation is gone.
You can read more tips about jogging outfits here.
When the temperatures are around ten degrees in spring, it is best to use a thin functional shirt as a base layer. The running jacket you wear over it should be windproof and breathable. Running jackets tend to be counterproductive as soon as the temperatures climb to around 15 degrees. Here the body hardly needs to be protected from the weather. Instead, it should be ensured that the sweat on the skin is absorbed and transported away by the functional fibers. As a rule, short or long running shirts that are close to the body are the best solution in early summer. At the latest with the first autumn storms, the hour of the running jackets.
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