Time for the warm up: a guide to winterproofing your workout kit

Winter is coming, and for runners and cyclists this means upgrading your kit: combating the chill is priority number one but breathability is essential when you’re working up a sweat.

Cold-weather dressing is all about what lies beneath, and this season it’s all about that base (layer).

The best tops are technical: Lululemon’s Zoned In thermal top uses SenseKnit technology, which means varying levels of breathability are knitted seamlessly into the fabric, while adidas’s new Response Tee is made for running in chillier climes. Climacool technology maintains ventilation and reflective forearms keep you safe on dark nights. The tee fits close to the body and scores well on the eco-scale, too — it’s made with recycled polyester.

Meanwhile, Nike has just launched its new AeroLoft Jacket, designed specifically for pounding the pavements on extra-cold nights. The lightweight jacket features Durable Water Repellency-coated feathers to prevent clumping when wet and the 800 down-filled baffles are placed on heat maps throughout the garment, meaning extra warmth where it’s needed most.

For a hybrid, try Saucony’s Bonded Baffle Jacket, which combines technical fleece on the sleeves and a more padded body to keep the heat in without restricting movement. Perfect for bitter, drizzly days.

Keeping your leg muscles warm is vital so don’t neglect the lower layers. Tribe Sports has a sweat-wicking thermal running tight made for putting in the miles on cold days, while 2XU’s new winter collection includes a pair of running leggings that combine thermal material with compression technology. They’re reflective too, so you’ll be seen on the roads.

Sweaty Betty has a full set: the new winter 2018 collection features three different base-layer sets of matching tops and leggings for staying (and looking) hot in the cold.

Choose from a festival star print to a retro Union Jack design inspired by the winter Olympics.

The wind picks up when you’re cycling so dhb’s Classic FLT Thermal Softshell will keep the cold out. Soft, fleecy Roubaix fabric is combined with a windproof outer membrane to stop you cooling down, and the elasticated cuffs are another defence against wind-chill.

It features a smart Flashlight Technology to keep you seen on the roads, while Proviz, the king of reflective cycling gear, has a more technical version of its original jacket, the Reflect360 Plus, designed to regulate your body heat even better. It uses a lighter-weight material, and a more tailored fit means it’s closer to your skin to retain your body’s natural heat, hence the thermal principle.

On really cold days, pair with Proviz’s new thermal arm- and leg-warmers which use a high-tech, moisture-wicking fabric to give you extra protection, stopping you losing heat through your wrists and ankles.