The best running jackets solve all the outdoor running challenges you’ll face in the fall, winter, and spring. During these seasons, the weather can be wildly unpredictable, meaning it’s critical to have some outer layer on standby—either on your person or at the house—should conditions take a turn for the worse while you’re getting your miles in. As with all fitness gear, the difference can quite literally make or break a run, as being too cold can make a session feel even more difficult than it’s supposed to feel.
Running outerwear comes in two key but critically important distinctions: jackets for cold weather and lighter shell jackets for transitional fall and spring weather. Cold-weather winter jackets aren’t dissimilar from puffers or fleece pieces you’d wear around town on a weekend, but do include more moisture-wicking and breathability-minded features in order to keep wearers from getting too overheated during a session. On the shell front, these are often engineered to block the wind and rain while adding as little bulk as possible. Both are important for any runner—seasoned or aspiring—to keep in their rotations so they’re prepared for the worst of the worst that Mother Nature will throw their way.
We’ve done the research and the testing to determine the best of the best when it comes to all types of running jackets to ensure you and go out and focus on putting one foot in front of the other—see our favorites below.
The Best Running Jackets, According to GQ
In This Guide
Best Fleece Running Jacket: Bandit Running Iceland Fleece Jacket
Why We Like It: Fleece is more than just a tremendously cozy (and, if styled right, trendy!) fabric—just ask any seasoned hiker. The fuzzy material is a longtime staple of the outdoor world because of its technical ability to wick moisture away from the body while keeping one nice and warm. That’s the case with Bandit Running’s aptly named Iceland fleece jacket, which is more than suitable for the most brutal of cold weather runs. But what stands out about this compared to other fleece jackets is the mesh back, which not only helps with breathability but also provides a sturdy structure. Plus, it doubles nicely as outwear on cold days coming and going to a track session.
Best Lightweight Running Jacket: District Vision Recycled Half Zip Shell
Why We Like It: We’re big fans of District Vision here at GQ, and this pullover half zip is the perfect exemplification of why. It’s a stylish and modern update of a classic windbreaker: The highly water-resistant shell is made from a lightweight 155 gsm shell fabric and also features reflective detailing in the piping across the arms, chest, and sternum piping. The hardest thing to convey about this jacket, though, is how great it feels to wear it; it’s so comfortable and, for most runners, will hit all the boxes of what they’re looking for in a shell layer.
Best Lightweight Running Jacket for Cold Weather: Arc’teryx Norvan Insulated Hoody
Why We Like It: Arc’teryx’s insulated jacket is intended for winter mountain runs, but that shouldn’t stop you from wearing it on chilly days around town. In fact, the expertise with which this was created can be particularly beneficial for all kinds of runs. Super lightweight and warm, the Norvan uses some proprietary material to balance both weather resistance and breathability while still ensuring overall warmth. Case in point: I ran in this along the National Mall on a 30-degree day and got caught in some drizzle halfway through and still managed to stay pretty dry and warm for the remaining four miles or so I had left. Bonus: This is super packable, which means you can even roll it up and toss it in a travel bag if you’re headed to the mountains and you need another layer of warmth.
Best Splurge Cold Weather Running Jacket: Soar Running All Weather Jacket
Why We Like It: You know the saying: Rain, sleet, snow, or hail, Soar Running’s All Weather jacket is equipped to help you tackle it all—save for maybe that last one. The high-end running brand’s creme de la creme running jacket lives up to its name and kept me warm during brutal winds and cold temps and kept my body dry even in substantial rain. The texture of the All Weather is, candidly, kind of nuts. It’s nearly wool-like in feel, which may lead you to question how it’s still wind and waterproof, but the material is treated twice over with a DWR coating to eliminate the need for an interior coating. As a result, the jacket is supremely warm, and I found myself needing only a baselayer underneath it on most cold or freezing runs. While I wish it had a hoodie, the feel, and freedom of movement during wear more than make up for it. If you’re a hardcore runner looking to make an investment for now and years down the line, this is the jacket for you.
Best Budget Cold Weather Running Jacket: Outdoor Research Deviator Hoodie
Why We Like It: You shouldn’t have to spend an arm and/or a leg to get a nice winter running jacket, which is exactly the reason we love the Deviator Hoodie from Outdoor Research. The, well, outdoor brand makes a ton of apparel that is well-suited to the elements, but the Deviator straddles the line between cost and value perfectly, offering a lot for its $229 tag. While it’s not treated with any sort of DWR coating, it is super breathable and very insulating, capable of handling most winter runs with relative ease. I found the sizing to be snug but not slim, which meant I could layer underneath it to give it an even warmer boost on cold days. Plus, the stretchy outer meant that it moved with me pretty well, even when I had the hood up, allowing a good range of movement when I was literally hitting my strides. If your winter gear needs an upgrade, start here.
Warmest Running Jacket: Ciele athletics VLVInsulator Jacket
Why We Like It: Is the weather outside frightful? Reach for Ciele’s VLVInsulator jacket, which is easily the warmest jacket on this list. I tested at an early morning track run in DC with seven-degree temps where it felt even colder than that and felt as warm as I could given the circumstance of it all (listen, these PRs aren’t gonna set themselves). Thanks to the combination of Merino wool and recycled silk, the liner is toasty without adding much bulk before you get to a DWR-treated outer that includes reflective details and a bit of ventilation to keep you from totally overheating. But if you’re really overheating, the dual zippers can help to drop the top and cool things down.
Best Waterproof Running Jacket: Satisfy Pertex 3L Fly Rain Jacket
Why We Love It: Satisfy makes some of the coolest and most tech-forward running gear around, as displayed by this Pertex rain jacket. Clad in a handful of excellent colors, including a neon green that I tested for this piece, the Fly Rain Jacket is every kind of “-proof:” windproof, waterproof, and windproof—none of the elements are slowing you down. But it’s also highly breathable, super light (it’s the lightest shell in this roundup), and super packable. Basically, this is the shell you should spring for if you’re a runner racking up 15 to 20 miles a week, 52 weeks out of the year. While it does fit a little slim, the jacket still manages to move with you on a run and even includes a reinforced back to help ensure a cozy fit when you’re wearing the jacket over a hydration vest on longer runs. Oh, and it packs into itself, too. Everything you could want in a shell is present and accounted for here.
More Running Jackets We Love
What to Look for in the Best Running Jackets
When considering cold weather jackets, it’s key to prioritize warmth, but you want to keep a few factors in mind. Synthetic insulation is here, especially since you’ll be sweating while wearing these, so you want something that’s easy to send through the wash. Additionally, breathable material and/or included ventilation options are helpful so things don’t get too heated. Finally, knowing your own body temperature is helpful if for no other reason than to keep sizing in mind. Are you someone who runs a little cold? It might be necessary to size up to better layer underneath the jacket, while if you run hot, you can probably just stick to something a little more true to size.
When it comes to shells, resistant factors are most critical. You’ll ideally want a shell that can withstand the rain and wind, usually signified by the inclusion of sealed seams so that you’re not getting any water inside the shell. It’s also important to keep in mind your body temperature here as well so you can look at potentially layering (or not) underneath the jacket.
Generally speaking, across both categories, you’ll also want to consider overall weight and material. You don’t want something too heavy so that it feels like you’re running with a weighted vest on, and you don’t want something that won’t move with you. Getting something that falls into either of these categories can feel like you’re running in a straightjacket.
How We Tested
The only way to test these jackets is to, well, wear them. We wore each of these jackets throughout the winter in a variety of different conditions to test how effective they were against the elements. Were they warm enough? Waterproof enough? Wind-resistant enough? From there, we also evaluated any specialty materials and any features that warranted a higher price tag or other special considerations before landing on these selections.