Pearl Izumi Ultra Barrier WxB Jacket
The polyester and polyurethane kept us warm in the cold and dry in the rain and sleet. More impressive, thanks to a back vent and pit zips, it breathed remarkably well, even while running in heavy snow. One gripe: it could use hand-warmer pockets.
Icebreaker Women’s LS Quest Zip
The delivers all that you’ve come to expect from merino—warmth and wicking without the odor. A touch of Lycra aids stretch, underarm venting helps it breathe, and the stash pocket is big enough to hold gloves. It’s great under a jacket or on its own.
Health Warrior Acai Berry Chia Bars
Chia seeds are touted for boosting energy, staving off hunger, and enhancing focus, which is why we loved these . We definitely felt more energized after eating them, but only our health-nut testers liked the flavor (vanilla with hints of citrus).
Helly Hansen Winter Tights
With their soft nylon-Lycra band and flat, no-chafe seams, these are the comfiest we’ve worn in years. They’re only mildly water-resistant, though, and best suited to shoulder-season workouts.
Kiehl’s Cross-Terrain UV Face Protector SPF 50
This also prevents windburn. It’s a little greasy, but after multiple days none of our testers were breaking out.
Sierra Designs Cascade Skirt
A puffy for your posterior! Pull on after a run to keep your backside warm—and to soften the über-athlete look at the grocery store.
Mountain Hardwear Winter Momentum Running Gloves
Stretchy soft shell and heavy wool make warmer and more windproof than polyester numbers. The fleecy index finger and thumb make great nose wipes.
Arc’teryx Phase SV Toque
Even though the polyester-and-polypropylene hat has silver ions that promise to control stink, it was the simpler features that won us over: it’s lightweight, breathes well, and crushes easily into a pocket.
Saucony Ignite LT Bra
The poly-spandex was perfect for B-cup runners—supportive, not too tight around the rib cage—but runners with C cups liked it, too. It didn’t chafe and dried quickly, which is even more critical in winter.