The Best Men’s Winter Workout Gear for 2024
This article originally appeared on Outside
Congratulations! It's cold and miserable outside but you haven't dropped your workout routine. Your body thanks you. And sure, you've been on the boring trainer more than your regular bike and just running three miles outside instead of five. But who cares? You're sweating, which means you're winning. To help you in your quest to stay fit through the winter months, we've sorted through the most functional, highest-performing gear on the market.
The Winners at a Glance
Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Fleece Pullover Hoodie
Black Diamond First Lite Stretch Hoody
Patagonia Peak Mission Tights
Injinji Liner Mini-Crew Socks
Prana Ice Flow Headband
The Reviews: The Best Men's Winter Workout Gear for 2024
Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Fleece Pullover Hoodie ($110)
Weight: 9.6 ounces
Size: S-XXL
Pros: Built-in balaclava
Cons: Collar sits high on your neck when not in use
Sometimes it's so damn cold while you're running, bike commuting, or uphill skiing that you need something to keep your chin and nose from icing over. You could buy a dedicated balaclava, which is one more thing to keep track of, or you could go with the Vigor, which is a great high-intensity base- or midlayer with a built-in balaclava. New Mexico-based tester Kip Malone said the Vigor became his go-to cold weather layer because it highly breathable (credit the grid fleece), long enough that it stays tucked in at all times (when running, stretching, and uphill skiing), and exceptionally warm for its relatively low bulk and weight. Malone said, however, that he wouldn't wear the Vigor around town because the high collar (which is created by the bulk of the balaclava material) looks "unapologetically technical." Casual fashion aside, he said it was the most useful and best-fitting technical fleece midlayer he'd ever tested.
Bottom line: Your go-to inner layer for output activities on cold days
Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody ($295)
Weight: 12.7 ounces
Size: XS-XXXL
Pros: Strikes the perfect warmth/breathability balance
Cons: Pockets sit a little high
Runners will think this jacket is too bulky because of the insulation, but anyone who's bike commuting or uphill skiing during the winter will fall in love. The jacket's technical chops are thanks to an optimal layer of PrimaLoft Gold Active Insulation wrapped with an inner synthetic/stretch lining and outer 20-denier nylon ripstop face fabric. These three layers work together to provide just the right amount of warmth, even when it's well below freezing, while also breathing exceptionally well when you're huffing up the steepest part of the skin track or trying to catch that cyclist who just blew by you on the big climb. Lead tester Jakob Schiller has worn more than a dozen insulated/breathable midlayers over the past several years and he thinks the First Light Stretch sits head-and-shoulders above the rest. "It's one of those layers that I know will just work. I put it on, start climbing or cycling, and don't have to worry about regulating my body temp because it does that for me," he says.
Bottom line: We never knew insulation could breathe this well.
Patagonia Peak Mission Tights ($129)
Weight: 7.6 ounces
Size: XS-XXL
Pros: Just the right amount of features
Cons: Fabric is not the softest
Our testers' legs seemed to be the last thing to get cold, but some days were so brutal that tights became necessary. Patagonia's version won out over a sea of entries thanks to a medium-thick fabric--made of 68 percent recycled nylon, 15 percent polyester and 17 percent spandex--that retained heat while running and bike commuting. Tester Max Halbach, who lives out of his Toyota Previa van, called them the "goldilocks tights" thanks to the carefully-considered design features. Besides the well-balanced insulation, his favorite details were the two side pockets, each one big enough to hold an iPhone or trail snacks. Additional features include reflective hits on the cuffs for nighttime visibility and a well-made waistband that, when cinched down with the drawstring, never came down, even when doing pre-run squats and lunges.
Bottom line: A well-designed leg layer for high output activities in seriously-cold weather
Injinji Liner Mini-Crew Socks ($11)
Weight: 1.25 ounces
Size: S-XL
Pros: Versatile comfort
Cons: Longevity concerns
We used to ask ourselves why anyone would wear socks with toe slots. Then we tried the Injinji Mini-Crew Socks in a variety of settings and quickly understood the appeal. Albuquerque, New Mexico-based tester Phil Shaffer loved them for colder-morning yoga sessions where they added a little warmth over bare feet, but also let him feel like he was still completely in contact with his yoga mat. Tester Jakob Schiller wore them as a liner sock during a long winter hike and immediately appreciated how each toe was separated, eliminating skin-to-skin contact that could cause blisters. Made from recycled polyester fabric, nylon, and a healthy dose of stretchy lycra, the socks were easy to get on and breathed and dried well when testers worked up a sweat. Our only niggle: the socks are ultra-thin, making us question durability. We never saw any tears or holes during the test period, but they clearly have to be treated gently and reserved for exercise, not worn as everyday socks.
Bottom line: Ultra-thin performance socks that will win you over to toe pockets
Prana Ice Flow Headband ($25)
Weight: .9 ounces
Size: One size
Pros: Well-tailored
Cons: Dull colorways
Some days, a beanie is just too much warmth for the job. But going hatless? There's nothing worse than cold ears. Enter the headband. After going through countless options this year, the Ice Flow came out on top: It was thick enough to fight off the cold but didn't leave our testers' heads a sweaty mess. Tester Kip Malone also appreciated that it "played well with winter helmets," whether he was uphill skiing in Albequerque, New Mexico, or bike commuting in Tacoma, Washington. Folks with long hair appreciated the discrete ponytail hole at the back that kept the headband perfectly placed. Kudos to Prana for using an 87-percent recycled polyester plus elastane material that all testers found to be comfy, with just the right amount of stretch.
Bottom line: A small but powerful piece of gear to save your ears
How to Buy
It's harder to buy winter workout gear than to buy summer workout gear: winter gear has to perform in a more complicated environment, balancing warmth and moisture-management. That, and there's more of it. Instead of a pair of shorts and a shirt, you need multiple layers that cover from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. To help you find the right kit, here are some tips.
Be Picky About Fit
For insulation layers like the Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Fleece and the Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody to work well, they need to be sized correctly. The Vigor needs to sit tight on your body in order to pull off your sweat, and the Stretch Hoody can't be too big or it won't insulate well. Go to your local retailer to try on midlayers like these, or order online, wear them around the house, and send them back if you need another size.
Materials Matter
We loved the Patagonia tights because they're durable and well-designed. But its material isn't the softest on the market, which may rub some people the wrong way. If you're picky about how a material feels on your skin--and you should be if you're going to be in that apparel for hundreds if not thousands of miles--then make sure to find a softness or texture that appeals to you.
Pieces of Your Personal Puzzle
What's on this page is obviously not a full kit. We've just picked top-quality pieces that will be part of your individual puzzle. Buy any one of these products and your winter workout will be that much better, but you'll have to do the rest of the testing on your own. Go out for a cold run or ride and you'll quickly figure out what other layers and accessories you'll want in addition to a good jacket and pair of gloves (suffering is always the best way to figure out exactly what you need). Everyone needs a breathable base layer, but only a few can get away with wearing it by itself down to nearly freezing, while others add an outer shell as soon as it gets brisk--and some prefer an additional insulating middle layer. If you run hot as a person, a thick long-sleeve tech tee is not what you want for indoor workouts. If you run cold, get yourself a neck gaiter stat because it adds warmth in all the right places.
How We Test
Number of testers: 7
Number of products tested: 65
Number of miles: 430
Vertical feet: 25,000
Favorite post-workout snack: miso soup
All the meteorologists said winter 2023 was going to suck down in the Southwest. No snow, warm temps, drought, and pestilence. They were dead wrong, thankfully. The snow came in thick, the temps stayed cold, and New Mexico (where our lead tester is based) made for a great winter fitness proving ground. Jakob Schiller and his crew spread out throughout the state and as far afield as Mexico City to punish a heaping pile of workout gear. Testers, who ranged in age from 28 to 58, spent time skinning up ski areas in zero-degree temps and sweated it out in temperature-controlled garages, all in search of the pieces that helped motivate them to keep their workout routine going during fall, winter, and early spring.
Meet Our Lead Tester
Jakob Schiller is a former Outside gear editor and now gear columnist. You won't find him on Strava, and he hasn't qualified for the Boston Marathon, but he's obsessive about working out because it's the only way he can stay sane. As the father of four, and a marketing director in his day job, he doesn't function unless he sweats at some point every day. He's also been in the gear review game so long (more than a decade) that he's a bit jaded--meaning nothing makes his review list unless it truly has something unique to offer.
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