Winter Run Jackets: Craft vs ON vs Gore vs Tracksmith vs Sugoi vs ______?

Full disclosure as I work for the company, I have the Gore R7 and got it at a huge discount. Knowing what I know now after 3 and a half years I would totally pay full price for it. It has been an excellent jacket for the wind chill, and is bulletproof in the rain and wet snow days. I run pretty hot so when it is low 30's out with a wind chill in the 20's I won't wear anything other than a sleeveless base layer and t-shirt under it with gloves and I am super comfortable from start to finish. I only wear a long sleeve under it if the weather is in the teens to 20's and the wind chill is even lower.

I also stuff it in my bike pack every summer for rainy/monsoon days in the mountains. Even though I have the running version, it still works awesome for biking days out where you hit 20 degree temp differences riding around and can get caught in a downpour. I have ridden in downpours with my phone in the chest pocket and the zipper/material keep everything perfectly dry.

Best part is that the jacket still looks new after 3.5 years of rain/sun/wind exposure and spending each summer crammed in my backpack. I imagine it will be years before I have to think about replacing it.

The Jacket should be thin and only break/block wind and deal with rain. Branding is pretty much irrelevant, buy whatever fits your weirdo lumpy bodyshape well when on discount.

The temperature is managed via layering.

I've had a number of waterproof shells over the years, but I almost never use them for running. They're all too warm for running until you get down to the low teens, at which point you don't need something waterproof, and you'd be better off with some kind of soft shell because they breathe so much better than even "breathable" shells like Shakedry.

The only time I'll run in a waterproof shell is if it's pouring rain, with high wind, in the 30s.

Sub-zero and also freezing temp rain showers? In over 40 years of running and cycling I've not found one that works for both.

Arcteryx Norvan Sl - best rain/winter jacket I have ever had. Hard to find now. Crazy light but bare bones (no pockets etc), but only weighs 120grams. I have done very long runs (3 hours) in non-stop driving cold rain and pretty much felt like it saved my life. You wear it a like just putting on another layer, like a long sleeve top, rather than a "jacket", and it works amazing.

I agree on Arcteryx, I use the Incendo Hoody for almost all my runs in the Boston winter, along with the Patagonia Houdini. The Houdini is much less breathable however.

Some used ones right now on Arcteryx.com ReGear site. I just looked.

Agree, the Arcteryx jacket is outstanding. One of the reasons why is the type of Gore Tex fabric used. It is laminated with fewer layers and as a result it actually breaths such that you can wear it in 70F weather without sweating to death. I wish it had more than just the pocket inside at the breast but I think the type of fabric makes having "normal" pockets problematic

I usually wear layers. I typically wear a very lightweight nylon wind jacket like my Brooks jacket. It's basically a nylon shell that has nothing (no liner/mesh, etc) to absorb moisture. Depending on how cold it is, will depend on what I'll wear under that.

During the fall or spring, when the temps are in the 50's, but light mist or rain, I don't even bother with a shirt, I just wear the jacket alone as it dries in less than 20 minutes inside because it's all nylon.

Best part of that jacket is the fact that it isn't coated with PU, meaning it doesn't trap sweat or rain that makes you colder. Basically it's not a jacket you'll wear to keep dry when not running, it's meant to give you a wind block and and trap a little bit of warmth, while being able to try extremely quickly.

That's why I love nylon unlined wind pants and wind jackets. Unfortunately not manufacturers make unlined wind pants and jackets. Everything is made from polyester or nylon with a lining that absorbs moisture.

you're doin it all wrong brah. upstate New York here. hooded sweatshirt w thermal layer underneath all winter. if its cold and raining im cross training instead.

We were not asking for girls opinions.

have fun wasting your money and getting hypothermia

I guess you think it´s more fun with the guys checking out your butt at the gym.

Incendo Hoody is hard to find now, too.

Always, ALWAYS the Boston ‘thon jacket.

Gotta let everyone out there know you’re elite

I haven’t found anything that truly works. I live in a relatively mild climate (southwest Germany), and most of winter can hover just above freezing but with regular stretches of milder weather and plenty of rain. The Gore R3 (or R5, can’t remember) is fine for running in the rain if it’s close to freezing, but even then I still sweat too much if I pick up the pace. A good compromise I found is with the Black Diamond Alpine Start hoodie, a super thin softshell with DWR treatment. Layer it right and you get some protection but with actual breathability. Rain will soak through in sustained rain, but you won’t feel it too much with the right baselayer.

I have an On jacket, it keeps out exactly 0% of any rain, but it looks nice.

Best running jacket I have is from Soar - I can only wear it when it's really cold, but it's comfortable enough to wear with nothing else underneath, warm and heavy shower proof.

So I have the Tracksmith NDO jacket.

It is bulletproof. Zero wetness, zero windchill. However. It is very, very warm. I like being cosy, even in snow but I wouldn’t say it’s breathable.