Running in the winter can be a challenge because you need need to stay warm, dry and visible. Your footing is very important in the Winter because slick conditions and numb feet can quickly lead to slipping and hurting yourself.

There are three basic considerations in the Winter regarding your feet:

1. Socks
2. Shoes
3. Attachments

Socks

Unless you are going for a short run on a relatively dry day, you don’t want to wear cotton socks. Cotton collects moisture and pools it all in one place rather than spreading it out over the surface of the fabric and wicking it away from your skin where it can evaporate. It is worth spending the extra money on a few good pairs of running socks, which will keep your feet warm, dry and blister free.

There is a surprising amount of variety available in running socks. Experiment with different cuts, breathability, fabrics, and thicknesses to find what works best for you in different conditions.

I’m a big fan of Thorlos Socks in colder weather as they are pretty thick and keep my feet warm while still being very breathable. If I’m planning on running through streams (or might break through some ice) then I will usually go with a pair of Wright Socks.

Shoes

My first suggestion when choosing a pair of shoes is always to visit a local specialty running store and have an expert help you choose. Gait analysis and years of experience are a great aid in finding that perfect pair.

Consider the types of conditions you’ll be running through. If you are going to be running through snow or brooks or in a lot of rain and puddles, then you are going to want lighter shoes that drain water pretty well. If you live in an arid area, then a heavier or more waterproof shoe might do a better job of keeping your feet warm so that they don’t go numb.

Will you be spending a lot of time on trails, or sticking mostly to roads? How technical are the trails, and are you going to want an aggressive tread on your shoes to be able to keep you from slipping on rocks and roots?

Find a pair of shoes that is comfortable for you and then see how they hold up. If they work out well then keep buying them, if they aren’t the right pair then don’t be afraid to look for a new style.

Personally, I like Inov-8 Roclite 315s when I am running trails, and Nike Zoom Katana for when I’m training on icy roads.

Attachments

If you are running in icy conditions you are going to want to have a good grip on the road.

Popular options for improving your grip in slippery conditions is to buy a product such as Stabilicers or Yak Trax and wear them on your feet around your shoes.

Yak Trax are a spikeless coil that wrap around the bottom of your feet and are good for traveling in loose snow. Stabilicers are plastic sheathes for the bottom of your shoes with cleats for biting into the ice as you run.

What I prefer to do, however, is to put sheet metal screws directly into the sole of my sneakers. Sheet metal screws are much lighter than both Stabilicers and Yak Trax, are much cheaper, and in my experience are a lot more effective. and it’s a lot more effective. They don’t come off of your feet as easily as either of the other products, they aren’t as likely to break as Yak Trax, and they don’t collect a layer of snow like the Stabilicers.

All three methods will give you a better grip against the road than what you’ll find that you have without them. If you ever run in icy conditions then it is worth investing in at least one of the solutions in order to keep your feet and find traction as you run.

Bonus Tip:

Take care of your skin.

Even though it’s the winter time, the sun can still be very bright and especially if you are running on snow or if you are doing any kind of lake running, the sun can be coming down at you from above and reflecting off of the ice or the snow into any exposed areas of your skin.

This can warm you up quite a bit, but it can also give you a good sunburn. Put sunscreen on if you are going to be running for any length of time during the day.