---
source_url: "https://runningmatters.substack.com/p/the-best-winter-running-jackets"
title: The best winter running jackets - by Lily Canter
mirrored_at: 2026-08-11T01:01:41.950Z
host: runningmatters.substack.com
cited_in_42a: true
mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/runningmatters.substack.com/p/the-best-winter-running-jackets"
---

> **Original source:** https://runningmatters.substack.com/p/the-best-winter-running-jackets

**Winter is coming. The cold snap has truly bitten this week and we’ve endured plenty of rain. Increasingly I’ve been grabbing a running jacket when I head out the door. Unsurprisingly, a lot of my own club runners have been asking me which running jackets are actually worth buying for this time of year?**

So I have pulled together a short list of the jackets I reach for most in winter, and why. Some are better for grim, sideways-rain long runs, some are more about staying seen on dark evenings, and some are the kind of lightweight shells that earn their keep on race day. With Black Friday in full swing there are some good deals around at the moment, but I have not included anything here just because it is discounted.

A quick note on that: I do not get any money if you buy any of these. There are no affiliate links or paid placements hiding in this newsletter. These are simply jackets I have tested myself and genuinely rate. There are other good brands out there too. [Harrier](https://harrierrunfree.co.uk/), for example, do some very solid, affordable kit that a lot of runners I know love. They are not on this list purely because I have not personally tested their jackets yet.

With that said, here are the four pieces that have earned a place on my hallway peg space.

If I had to pick a dedicated race jacket, this would be it. The Compressport Hurricane Waterproof 10/10 is one of those pieces you forget you are wearing until you stop and realise you are not actually frozen. It is properly lightweight and fits like a second skin, so you do not get that annoying rustle or flap when you are trying to run fast. The cut is close but stretchy, so you still have full freedom of movement rather than feeling trussed up in a hardshell.

On paper it has a 10,000 mm waterproof rating, which in real life translates to “absolutely fine for light to medium rain or cold, slushy conditions”. I reach for it when it is hovering just above zero, for snowy runs, or on those wet, miserable race mornings where you know you will be out for up to a couple of hours. Paired with a couple of thin long-sleeve layers underneath, it has kept me warm enough without ever tipping into boil-in-the-bag territory.

What I really like about it is how well it manages sweat when you are working hard. I have raced in it, including a ten-mile PB with the dog in steady rain, and did not get that clammy, plastic mac feeling. It keeps the wind and drizzle out, but I do not finish with sweat pooling inside or cold damp patches.

There are limits. This is not the jacket I would choose for an all-day winter ultra in biblical rain – it will not cope with truly heavy downpours for hours on end. But for races up to about half marathon, or any run where you want a bit of extra protection without sacrificing speed, it is pretty much spot on.

The hood is a bit of a talking point. It fits very snugly around the face, which is great for keeping wind and rain off your neck and stopping your hair whipping about, but you do slightly resemble a condom when it is fully up. There is also no peak or visor, so in proper rain I would team it with a waterproof cap, otherwise the water just runs straight down into your face.

In short, this is my lightweight race shell: minimal drag, decent weather protection for an hour or two of hard running, and plenty breathable enough.

[Buy now](https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/cop914/compressport-hurricane-waterproof-10%2f10-women's-jacket---aw25)

If the Compressport is the racy, clingy shell you forget you are wearing, the Janji Rainrunner Pack Jacket 2.0 is its more relaxed, everyday cousin. This is the jacket I would pull on for most winter runs where the forecast says “showers” rather than “biblical”. It has enough weather protection for grim evenings, but feels more like a breathable layer than a plastic mac.

The standout feature is the overlay design on the back. Rather than a single solid panel, it uses overlapping sections that create covered vents. It looks quite stylish, but the effect is very practical: air can move through the jacket so you do not overheat, while the outer layer still keeps the rain off. One of the biggest issues with waterproofs is ending up just as wet from sweat as you would be from the rain; this design goes a long way to avoiding that swampy, steamy feeling.

On paper, the shell is rated to 20,000 mm with fully taped seams. In real terms, that means it shrugs off light to moderate rain and breezy conditions very well, and the loose cut means you can comfortably layer a mid-layer or two underneath. For most everyday runs – evening miles from the front door, daytime loops around town, or commuting to and from club sessions – it hits a sweet spot between protection and comfort.

There are compromises. The hem does not have a drawcord, so you cannot cinch it in around the hips; if it is really wet, you can feel like water is creeping in from below. The hood is another weak point on properly foul days. It has a soft little cap that can flap about when wet, and although it tightens at the back, there is no way to snug it in around the face. In wind and driving rain that means water finds its way in, and it does not do much to keep rain off your eyes.

Overall, I would class the Rainrunner Pack Jacket 2.0 as an everyday waterproof rather than a full mountain shell. It is ideal for regular winter runs in light to moderate rain, where you want to stay reasonably dry and, crucially, not overheat. I would happily wear it for town loops, club nights and general training. I just would not choose it for a full day out on the moors in howling wind and sideways rain.

[Buy now](https://uk.janji.com/products/ws-rainrunner-pack-jacket-2-0?_pos=2&_psq=rainrunner&_ss=e&_v=1.0)

This is the jacket I would file under “safety first”. The Proviz Reflect360 is, at heart, a visibility piece that happens to be a running jacket, rather than the other way round. The whole surface is made from Proviz’s reflective fabric, so when headlights hit you, you light up like a Christmas tree. If your main concern on dark winter evenings is that drivers actually notice you, it does that job very, very well.

For a hi-vis shell it is not bad to run in. It is quite lightweight and has a vented panel on the back and sides to let some heat escape, which makes it more comfortable than some of the older, fully sealed reflective shells. Among the Proviz range, the Reflect360 feels like the most breathable option rather than a total sweat box. I would happily wear it for leading a run club session or steady evening miles when I want to be sure I am visible from all angles.

That said, breathability is still the weak link. Once you start working harder, you notice the heat building up inside and you can finish a run feeling as though you are wetter from sweat than from the weather. Even Proviz’s own rating puts reflectivity at 5/5 and breathability at only 3/5, with similar mid-range scores for waterproofing and warmth. It will take light to medium rain without issue, and for shorter runs that is often all you need, but it is not the jacket I would choose for tempo reps or long efforts.

Price is one of its big advantages. The current Reflect360 Women’s Fully Reflective Running Jacket 2.0 sits at around £79.99 RRP, but is very often discounted – at the moment Proviz has it at £67.99 in a site promotion, and it is the sort of piece that regularly pops up in Black Friday deals too . For a specialist reflective shell that you can throw on over whatever you are already wearing, that feels like good value.

[Buy now](https://provizsports.com/products/reflect360-womens-running-jacket?utm_source=Skimlinks&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=awin-uk&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=78888&sv_campaign_id=78888&sv_tax1=affiliate&sv_tax2=622837%7C653447&sv_tax3=Skimlinks&sv_tax4=livefortheoutdoors.com&sv_affiliate_id=78888&awc=5010_1763465111_d1c5c84a72abe2fd533260cb5801470d)

This is the jacket I keep for “proper” weather. The Montane Minimus Lite is the one I reach for when the forecast says heavy rain, strong wind or if I’m heading to the hills. With a 20,000 mm hydrostatic head rating and fully taped seams, it comfortably passes kit checks for mountain and ultra events, and it feels built with that in mind.

The fit is trim rather than flappy, which I really like. It is close enough that it does not balloon or catch the wind, but there is still room for a couple of layers underneath. The fabric has a bit of stretch and a soft, flexible feel, so it moves with you rather than feeling like a rigid shell. You get two decent pockets, an adjustable hem so you can snug it in around the waist, and an adjustable hood that you can tweak at the back and front to sit properly over your head or a hat.

The hood is one of its best features in bad weather. It has a stiff peak that actually keeps the rain off your face instead of collapsing or flapping about, which makes a big difference when you are running into wind. Combined with that close fit, it does a good job of keeping the worst of the weather out. I have used it on long, wet days in the Highlands and for multi-day ultras, and it has kept me as dry as any running shell realistically can over four or five hours of rain and wind.

There are a couple of niggles. When you unzip it part way, there is no way to pin or clip the front back, so the edges can flap around your face which gets annoying. The hood drawcords can also whip about and smack you in the face when it is windy. None of that is a deal-breaker, but they are the bits I notice when I am tired and grumpy in bad weather.

Price-wise it sits at the more premium end, with a RRP around £185, but there are some good deals around at the moment – around £166 at some specialist outdoor and running shops . Given the level of waterproofing, the race-legal spec and the fact it is still genuinely lightweight and packable for a mountain-ready shell, it feels like money well spent if you spend a lot of time in the hills.

No jacket is going to keep you perfectly dry in hours and hours of hammering rain, but for winter long runs, foul-weather training days and mountain ultras, this is the one I trust most. It is my go-to “serious” waterproof when the other jackets on this list would feel under-gunned.

[Buy now](https://montane.com/products/montane-womens-minimus-lite-waterproof-jacket)

If I had to pick one jacket from the list above it would definitely be the [Montane Minimus Lite](https://montane.com/products/montane-womens-minimus-lite-waterproof-jacket). It has seen me through many long runs and races in appalling conditions in the Lake District, Scottish Highlands and soggy ole’ Leicestershire. It was the obvious choice during my 24 hour run in September and achieved the fine balance of keeping me dry and warm through the stormy night without tipping me into hot and sweaty.

_Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter. Send feedback to lilycanter@yahoo.co.uk_

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