Best Running Jackets For Men 2023
A quality running jacket can keep you warm, dry and visible during your workouts. Here's everything you need to know
An essential piece of gear for the winter months, running jackets can help to keep you warm, dry and visible without restricting your ease of movement.
A high-quality running jacket can shield help to you from the elements and ensure that you can be easily spotted if you’re running in low light conditions.
In this article, we’re going to cover all of the key things to consider when shopping for a running jacket, including the brand, style, materials and feel. We’re also going reveal our pick of the best men’s running jackets on the market right now from a range of different brands.
So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s focus on some of the key things to bear in mind when selecting the ideal running jacket for you.
Men’s Running Jackets – Things To Consider
Not all running jackets are created equal. Some are very lightweight and are only designed to shield you from the rain, while others are more substantial and can go a long way towards keeping you warm on a frosty day.
There are also lots of other factors to bear in mind, such as the materials, the colour, the brand and use of pockets. Let’s take a look at the main things to focus on when shopping for a good running jacket.
• Material – It’s worth taking a look at exactly what materials your running jacket is made of. Most of the top modern-day running jackets are made almost entirely from synthetic materials such as polyester. This mainly because these materials tend to deal well with moisture and have the added benefit of being pretty lightweight. A good running jacket should help you to feel protected from the elements but not restrict your movement.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
• Zipped Pockets and Hood – Having zipped pockets and a hood will not be crucial to all runners, but we generally favour jackets that offer both. Zipped side and back pockets give you places to store your items such as your keys, cards and phone. A hood can help to keep your head dry and warm when it’s wet or cold but some runners may prefer not to have one on their jacket. Most of the jackets we featured below have at least some zip pockets and a hood, but there are plenty of options on the market that have neither and are still good choices.
• Colour and Style – The colour of running jacket you choose will ultimately come down to personal preference. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that lighter colours will help you to stay more visible during low-light conditions. That being said, most modern running jackets do have reflective elements added to their designs to help keep you as visible as possible. Many jackets feature simple designs with basic colours, while others have bolder block colours. These kinds of details will ultimately come down to personal preference.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
• Wind and Rain Protection – The main purpose of a running jacket is to keep you both dry and warm. It’s worth checking the product description to check that the jacket you’re looking at will do what you expect it too. Many options on the market are very lightweight, and although they can help to keep you dry and visible, they may not be great at keeping you warm and shielded from wind.
• Other Added Benefits – Some running jacket offer some nice extras that not all options have. These include things like specific-designed smartphone storage sleeves and thumbholes. Some jackets also have knitted balaclavas and gloves incorporated into their design to help keep you even more shielded.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Best Running Jackets For Men 2023 – Our Pick
So, now that we’ve covered some of the basic points to consider when shopping for a running jacket, it’s time to take a look at our pick of five of the best options on the market right now.
All of the jackets featured below are from reputable brands with a track history in the sport of running, and most are available to buy directly on the official manufacturer websites, which deliver to the UK, the USA and rest of the world.
1) Nike Windrunner Jacket
Where to buy: www.nike.com
(Photo: Nike)
The first men’s running jacket on our list is the Windrunner from Nike. This is a great all-round running jacket which features water-repellent materials and a packable design. The material also has added stretch to ensure that you can move freely during your run. The Windrunner can be packed into the back-panel pocket when you need to layer down and the jacket has a back vent to help keep you cool. The design features reflective bars on the seams and sleeves, and this jacket has a zipped side pocket and a hood. The Windrunner is also now made from more sustainable materials, with the jacket constructed from at least 50% recycled polyester fibres.
2) Under Armour OutRun The Storm Jacket
Where to buy: www.underarmour.com
(Photo: Under Armour)
Next up is Under Armour’s OutRun The Storm Jacket. This highly water-resistant running jacket is a great option if you’re specifically looking for a garment to keep you completely shielded from the elements. Designed to help protect you from the wind as well as the rain, it’s made from a stretchy material and features a back vent construction for breathability. It also has a hood, plus zip hand pockets with right-side interior media pocket. Like most modern running jackets, it has reflective elements to help keep you visible in lower light conditions, and it comes in a range of colours to suit different tastes.
3) Adidas Own The Run Jacket
Where to buy: www.adidas.com
(Photo: Adidas)
The Adidas Own The Run Jacket is one of the sportswear giants’ main offerings when it comes to running jackets. Available in three different colours, this jacket has been designed to keep you shielded from light rain plus also helping to keep you visible in lower light conditions thanks to its reflective details. Featuring zip side pockets to keep your small items such as keys, cards and phone secure, this jacket features a full-length front zip with a high collar. This jacket has also been constructed from recycled materials.
4) Nike Windrunner DYE Jacket
Where to buy: www.nike.com
(Photo: Nike)
Nike’s Windrunner DYE (‘Do You Even?’) is a new variation of the classic Windrunner. Featuring a more eye-catching design and a bigger front zip, this lightweight jacket has water-repellent properties to help keep you going whatever the weather. This jacket is packable (into the back zip pocket), making it easy to layer down when you need to and it features some very cool-looking design details, some of which are reflective to aid with visibility.
5) Lululemon Stretch Ventilated Running Jacket
Where to buy: www.lululemon.com
(Photo: Lululemon)
The final product on our list is the Stretch Ventilated Running Jacket from Lululemon. A minimalist and stylish option, this hood-less running jacket features integrated ventilation and reflective details. The Stretch Ventilated Running Jacket also has zip side pockets with a hidden phone sleeve, and reflective details to help with visibility. Available in multiple colours, it’s made from a two-way stretch material which is designed to protect you from the wind and rain.
Anything Else To Consider?
It’s a good idea to carefully check the return, refund and exchange policy of the site you’re shopping from before making a purchase, so you’ll know where you stand if the size isn’t quite right or you decide to return it for another reason.
Most retailers will offer free online size exchanges for unused items, but it’s best to double check this before making a purchase. Using the provided size guide on the official brand website can help to ensure that you get the right fit.
If you’re not sure about your size, it may be worth popping into your local sports store to try on a few jackets to see how they look and feel.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
It’s also worth bearing in mind that most running jackets will not be able to keep you completely dry in the pouring rain. Most of them are designed to keep you dry in lighter rainy conditions and they may not be able to withstand heavy precipitation.
Wrapping Things Up – Our Final Thoughts
So, that brings us to the end of our buying guide to the best running jackets for men. We’ve walked you through some of the key considerations to think about before making a purchase so that you can decide exactly what you’re looking for.
We’ve also brought you five of the best options from a range of brands on the market at the moment. We currently rate the Nike Windrunner at the top of our list, but all of the running jackets on this page are solid options to help you get the most out of your workouts.
