Best Rain Running Gear
Running in different weather gives you a completely different experience. And in most cases, it is often polarizing. Some people love it while others absolutely hate it.
So whether you love it or hate it, you have to make sure that your fitness is on point. And that means you will have to plow through everything the weather gods decide to throw at you.
Buying proper running gear for the wet weather is one of the things you can do to make sure you are prepared to face the rain and keeping yourself warm.
So whether you are looking to get a quick speed run done on the track or if you want to take it slow and reach your weekly mileage goal on a Sunday, these running gears will help your mind stay at ease and stay focused on the run.
A Pair of Waterproof Running Shoes
Obviously, this is the most important part of the overall gear. Not having waterproof shoes will end your run in a disaster because not only will you not be able to get a proper grip on the surface, your shoes will fill up with water – making them heavy and unstable. The exact opposite of what shoes are supposed to do.
Whichever shoes you decide to buy, make sure that they have rubber soles (preferably similar to the ones you find on your tires) and a fabric on the upper side that won’t get wet. These two things are a must because, without them, you might as well not run at all.
Another thing you have to make sure of with the shoes is that they are breathable. Your feet will quickly get hot thanks to the increase in humidity.
Adidas’ Terrex Swift R2 GTX shoes are perfect for this. It has a bungee lace-up system so you won’t have to deal with open laces all the time and it also has a TPU toe cap. So if you get too tired and accidentally hit your foot on the pavement, you won’t break your toes.
A Waterproof Running Jacket
A waterproof running jacket is a must. You want to make sure that your core is warm so you don’t start to feel tired quickly. Not just that, you also want to keep your base layer and your skin dry to make sure you’re not chafing while running.
So having a good waterproof running jacket will be a lifesaver. Or you’ll end up having to buy anti-chafing cream just so you can run. And trust me, it is a headache to apply this cream in all the areas that start chafing when you run.
You’re better off investing in a good jacket and never having to think about chafing at all.
The Marmot Waterproof Jacket is perfect for running. It is lightweight, breathable, and also has extra pockets to keep your tech. But recommend not carrying a lot of things. Speaking of things, you are better off keeping your smartphone in your belt (check the waterproof wallet section) to avoid having it bounce around in your jacket while you run.
The best part about this jacket is that it lets you regulate the internal temperature by increasing or decreasing airflow.
Waterproof Running Pants
Waterproof running pants are another thing you shouldn’t run without. These pants will ensure that water doesn’t seep through to your skin.
So what should you look for in these pants?
Make sure they have elastic ankles with laces so you can tighten them while running. You don’t want water running down your legs and into your shoes. Not just that, if you don’t have anything keeping your fabric tight at the ankle area, it will get wet and keep flopping around while you run. It is very distracting and annoying, trust me.
These pants are perfect for this. It is 100% polyester and it also has a stretch nylon surface to prevent it from tearing apart when it gets scratched. And they also have lace at the ankles so you can tighten them when you’re running.
Waterproof Running Gloves
If you live in an area that gets extremely cold when it rains, then you will need a pair of running gloves that are lined with wool on the inside to keep you warm. And the outer layer has to be waterproof or end the wool will get wet and too heavy for you to wear while running.
Another thing you need to look for is the fasteners at the wrist area. They should be good enough to hold through your entire run.
These gloves are perfect for this. Not only is the outer layer waterproof, but you can also still operate your smartphone’s touchscreen while wearing them. Most of us never think about this until we are on the run and someone calls us and we have to take the call.
Then you realize that you might as well not wear the gloves because your hands would get wet the moment you take the gloves off.
Waterproof Running Socks
This is a must! All other socks are made out of 100% cotton. So you cannot wear them when running in the rain. They will just get too wet, heavy, and damp for you to even enjoy your run.
You want a pair of socks that are built for running in this weather. Something that will stay warm and dry even when your shoes are filled up with water.
These pair of socks are perfect for this. They are high enough so they can get under your pants. And if you have ankle laces on your waterproof pants then you can tighten them up with your socks inside.
The best part of these socks is that they are still breathable even with the waterproofing capability. That is what we want.
Waterproof Running Wallet
We all have to carry our smartphones everywhere these days. I’d love for a day to come when we could just walk out of the house without having to carry that slab of technology. The Apple Watch is working toward that but until it becomes good enough for us to operate all the tech without having to interact through a touchscreen, we are stuck with how our smartphones are right now.
And you want to make sure it is safe while you run.
Like I mentioned above, if you keep it in your jacket pocket or your pant pockets, it will just keep bouncing around while you run. You want something that will stick to your body so it doesn’t move around much.
There are 2 options you can choose from – a fanny pack or an ankle pouch. Both are good options but for me, the ankle pouch looks like a better solution.
As long as you’re not kicking things in the road with your shin, your tech should be safe in this ankle pocket. And it is also a good-looking solution fashion-wise. You can even hide it under your pants so it looks like you aren’t carrying any gadgets on you.
The problem with a fanny pack/adjustable waist strap is that it will still bounce around a little bit while you run, just not as much as the jacket or pant pockets would have. So if you are okay with that, you can go for this.
But for me personally, I don’t like anything moving around on my body when I’m running. So for me, the ankle pocket looks like the perfect solution.
A Waterproof Pair of Earphones for Running
No run is complete without a good pair of earphones and top-notch workout music. But when you’re running in rain, you have to make sure that your earphones are waterproof or you’ll end up destroying them.
You don’t want to wear over-ear headphones during this season for obvious reasons. Ideally, your earphones should be able to fit snugly in your ears and they should be waterproof and sweatproof.
If not both, they should at least be water-resistant. That will give you peace of mind that you can listen to music without letting the water destroy them.
The Jabra Elite Sport Earbuds are perfect for this.
They come with multiple eargels, so you can choose which one fits perfectly in your ears.
Besides that, they come with the usual things that we all expect from any Bluetooth earphone:
- Proper wireless connectivity
- High-quality microphones so you can take calls without having to pull out your phone
- A good battery life that will last your entire run. Heck, it will last you an entire marathon as well
Besides that, it also has some additional features like an in-ear heart rate monitor, pace predictor, etc.
But the most important thing it comes with is the IP67 rating. This means it is waterproof and you can run in the rain wearing these without worrying about anything. And not just that, these also come with a 3-year warranty against sweat damage.
Summing Up
At the end of the day, it all depends on how much you love running. Sure, you can run in the rain without any of the things I mentioned above. Heck, there are people that run barefoot on cement roads during summer. But you have to ask yourself whether you’d enjoy that run yourself.
For me, it is all about comfort and fun. If I’m able to run comfortably without having to worry about chafing, slipping, or getting wet, and I can still listen to my music while running, that’s a good run for me.
