how cold for shorts

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how cold for shorts

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

how cold for shorts Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:31 pm

How cold does it have to get before you'll exchange your shorts and a T-shirt for something heavier? It always amuses me when I'm out running on a chilly morning, and I pass by someone in a heavy parka, hat, scarf, gloves, and boots while I'm wearing shorts and a lightweight T. Of course they probably think I'm insane, and they're probably right. Being from a mild climate, I actually don't own any running tights, so I always wear shorts. I'll go with just a T-shirt down to about 45 degrees, and below that I'll either add gloves, a long-sleeve shirt, or both. I generally only wear a windbreaker if it's raining.

Rustyboy

LA, CA
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 225

Re: how cold for shorts Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:44 pm

I break out the tights only on my morning runs when it's below 40, and even then it's just a t shirt and sometimes gloves. I shave my head, so anywhere below 35 (a rarity in LA), out comes the fleece hat.

Bricks
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
Chicago
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 222

Re: how cold for shorts Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:58 pm

I'm jealous of you california boys. I don't touch cotton, but in the winter I'm pretty comfortable until it gets around the zero mark with a tighter base layer, a middle 'warmth' layer thatvaries from something loose and long sleeve to a fleece, and an outter wind/water resistantish layer and pants. Here's my rules of thumb: 40+ shorts, 1-2 layers up top, no hat, somtimes gloves 0-39 loose pants, 2-3 layers up top, hat, gloves -0 pants and tights, 3 layers up top, hat, gloves, neck protection, thicker socks

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Re: how cold for shorts Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 6:05 pm

Bricks wrote:
40+ shorts, 1-2 layers up top, no hat, somtimes gloves
0-39 loose pants, 2-3 layers up top, hat, gloves
-0 pants and tights, 3 layers up top, hat, gloves, neck protection, thicker socks

Yikes! How about:

40+ shorts, 1-2 layers up top, no hat, sometimes gloves
0-39 stay home
-0 stay in bed!

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: how cold for shorts Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:33 pm

Yeh, my routine is much like Bricks'. I think the coldest it's ever been for any of my runs was about 19. My wife gave me a new stretchy lycra Balaclava for Christmas. I've only needed to wear it a few times this year but I love it. I can wear it so it protects my entire head and neck (like a ski mask) or pull it down so it only covers my ears, nose and mouth, or pull it down more so it cover just my neck. It's extremely versatile and lightweight.

allen

Utah
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 27

Re: how cold for shorts Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 10:47 am

I suppose we're all different in how we handle cold weather. In my case, I wear shorts until the temperature goes below freezing. Then I switch to my nylon pants. A related question is how many layers do you wear? I ran in Massachusetts for 17 years, and the most layers was 5. My personal best in MA for cold weather was -18F with no wind. I ran in a colder chill factor of approximately -63 (-10F and 30 mph wind) and would return after an hour with sweatcicles hanging down the back of my neck. Even with that chill factor, I never needed more than 5 layers on my body and 2 layers on my legs. I'm now in Utah with warmer winters, and I usually only need 2 layers, once in a while 3 layers. /Allen

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