I workout, stretch and run outdoors three to four times a week, it’s a routine I like.
It’s November already and it’s getting cold. I have a 100% merino wool mid layer long sleeved shirt I spent 130$ on I wear to the office but I don’t want to ruin it working out, stretching and running because it was expensive.
This piece of clothing is quite thick, like 2 layers put together. I don’t want to buy anything thinner for sport because I’ve read thinner undershirts/base layers break due to friction.
This is what I fear is going to happen with my merino mid/base layer if I workout with it, even if it’s on the thicker end of layers.
Another option would be to buy a regular polyester base layer to use with a synthetic mid layer or combine a synthetic base layer and a cotton mid layer. Would these be stupid ideas?
What should I use as an outer layer?
Overall, what brands would you recommend? I’m a skinny 5’6’’ woman.
I’m from Minnesota and I used to run to and from work and go trail running on pretty desolate mixed use trails, so my advice might not applicable if you aren’t running in that kind of environment, but here goes:
I’d go way overboard on the digits and the ears, toasty when standing around, and layer my core fairly light: underarmor-type long sleeve compression, long sleeve shirt, then fleece or a windbreaker (full zipper). Basically kinda chilly but not shivering when standing around. If it’s like -20F I bust out the wool, balaclava (sp?), and ski goggles. Goal is to be able to unzip and open things up and not get too hot and sweaty, not rely on physical activity to keep fingers and toes warm. When it’s too cold and you aren’t crossing paths with many people, an easily-overlooked danger is injury or incapacitation. You wanna be dressed to the point that you could just lie on the ground for a couple hours, take a nap, and not wind up with frostbite (or worse), because ice is fun and shit happens. If you’re gonna be running in that kind of cold, it’s a good thing to keep in mind, kinda like how people say to throw a blanket in the trunk just in case your car breaks down, you’ll probably never use it but it’s good to plan around a bad scenario
