When conditions are Baltic, the last thing any of us want to do is go for a run.
Instead of putting one foot in front of the other, we reserve our precious off-duty time for sofas, duvets and Deliveroos - rather than piercing park runs or chilly run clubs.
But if you're training for a race, want to get fit or crave that sweet runner’s high, the right kit will turn motivation into discipline and pain into power. Arming yourself with the tools to get out and smash your PBs without sending a shiver down your spine is of the utmost importance.
If you take a tip-to-toe approach, this should begin with a cosy beanie and end with a pair of winter-ready, waterproof running trainers. Somewhere in the middle, there is a jacket that will offer warmth and protection - but not too much of it.
A running jacket must tow the line between shielding you from the elements – be it rain, wind or storms – and keeping you dry and comfortable throughout your run. It also needs to be breathable so as not to overheat once you’re warmed up and cranked your mileage up a gear. Ideally, it’s packable or lightweight when tied around your waist so as not to interfere with your exercise.
It is also worth considering visibility, especially if you’re a pre or post-work runner. As the days get shorter, it’s crucial to stand out from a safety perspective in low-light conditions, whether that means you opt for a reflective style, or you include lights in your headband.
Finally, if you subscribe to the motto ‘look good, feel good’, you’ll want a trend-led colourway and well-fitting cut so you can pound the pavements, take to the track or explore the countryside in style.
Shop the best running jackets for women below.
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Proviz Women's Fully Reflective Running Jacket
The reason that the Proviz Reflect360 jacket is so popular among runners, cyclists and all outdoor athletes is immediately obvious as soon as the nights draw in. The jacket is made entirely from a reflective material that make you visible to other road and street traffic as soon as it gets dark. This safety-first approach makes it essential in your winter running arsenal. It is also windproof, has mesh inserts for breathability and has an elastic waist to secure the fit.
Buy now £50.00, Proviz
On Running Weather Jacket Lumos
The Lumos is a new addition to the On collection. The brand, which specialises in high-performance running gear, has created this jacket to see you through the seasons and no matter what the mercurial British weather throws at you. As such, it’s lightweight in its construction, insulating but encouraging airflow with a hi-tech micro-ventilation pattern. The cloud pattern is not just fashion-forward but provides visibility too. It also packs into itself, has a windproof and rain-repelling construction and will not weigh you down at just 160g. Harry Potter fans will appreciate the moniker.
Buy now £210.00, On Running
Inov8 Stormshell Full Zip V2 Women's Jacket
Forming a cocoon to protect you from the elements, the INOV8 Stormshell jacket has earned its place in runner’s wet weather gear thanks to its shielding features. First and foremost, it is constructed from a fabric known as Pertex Shield, which you may gather is waterproof. This is combined with taped seams to ensure that no water passes through. It remains breathable, though, with a sweat-wicking shell. There is a hood and it’s packable into its own pocket. For a more sustainable approach, it is now made from 58 per cent recycled content.
Buy now £119.99, Sports Shoes
Sweaty Betty Light Speed Running Jacket
Function and fashion combined, it is no surprise that this is a bestselling style at Sweaty Betty. From its fitted construction to its impressive performance credentials, it’s a piece that you won’t want to take off. The lightweight jacket is made entirely from recycled fabric and is sweat-wicking and weatherproof with a water-resistant exterior. The Light Speed Running Jacket comes in two shades: black and green.
Buy now £130.00, Sweaty Betty
Lululemon Define Cropped Jacket
Much like each piece in the Lululemon repertoire, this jacket is one you can wear for fitness purposes as much as you can for fashion. It has a cropped fit and figure-hugging design that proves the brand’s prowess in the athleisure space. To see you through your runs, there is a back vent to encourage breathability. Honourable mention goes to the thumbholes that really lock in the heat.
Buy now £108.00, Lululemon
Run Visible Convertible Jacket
Ensuring you’re visible and thus safe as you pound the pavements or speed along country roads is of the utmost importance to Brooks Running. This is why the brand created this hi-vis jacket that will help you shine during dark mornings and even darker nights. It’s packed with insulating features to keep you at the optimal temperature throughout the winter, but perhaps most impressively, it stows into itself to create a built-in pack so you can style it as a vest so as not to stand in the way of achieving your PB once you’re all warmed up.
Buy now £130.00, Brooks Running
New Balance Womens Impact Run Luminious Packable Vest
Gilets are hugely popular as a way to stay warm during outdoor sport without excess padding – and let’s be honest too, they just look good. This is especially true of the Impact Run Luminous Packable Vest from New Balance. It is designed to see you through the transitional months, keeping you warm yet shielding from wind and rain. Its armless design allows for easy, fluid movement and there’s the added bonus of a reflective pattern for safety reasons.
Buy now £52.50, Cotswold Outdoor
Nike Dri-FIT Women's Running Jacket
The constellation design set on this running jacket from Nike is not just an eye-catching way to liven up your activewear. In fact, the pattern acts as a reflective finish that catches the light, so you are easily seen through night runs. This is set alongside a hood, thumb holes and a sweat-wicking material so you are protected from the weather too without overheating.
Buy now £89.95, Nike
Adidas Ultimate Running Conquer the Elements COLD.RDY Jacket
When the temperature is in single figures, it’s hard to find the motivation to get out there and run. That’s what Adidas is trying to tackle with this jacket that was created specifically to provide insulation without impacting mobility. This is a versatile piece that is lightweight, stretchy and you can detach the sleeves to create a gilet. The purple colourway is hard to resist and so are the environmental credentials – 70 per cent of this product is made from recycled and renewable materials.
Buy now £140.00, Adidas
Higher State Trail Waterproof Lite Women's Jacket
With the Higher State Trail Waterproof Lite Women's Jacket ready and rearing to go, you’ll be rain dancing in anticipation of putting it through its paces. This is a waterproof, windproof and technically advanced jacket that means the weather will not stand in the way of your training. You will stay dry, cool and comfortable no matter what the sky has in store. It was created to act as a barrier against windchill but there’s no build-up of heat. Performance is taken into consideration from the outset with the anatomical cut that was made for movement.
Buy now £39.99, Sports Shoes
