Everything you need to work out in the cold now gyms are closed, from running jackets to cycling gloves

Boris Johnson has announced that England will enter its third national lockdown in a bid to control the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

The new strict measures, which come into force at midnight on 5 January, mean that everyone will be required to stay at home other than for limited exceptions, while all non-essential shops, including gyms, will be forced to close. The latest rules will stay in place until at least mid-February.

Throughout the pandemic, many people have turned to exercising outdoors, whether that’s in the form of a daily walk or weekend cycle. Not only is it an opportunity to get out of the house and change your surroundings, it’s also a great way to bump up those feel-good endorphins while following social distancing measures.

However, as the temperatures continue to plummet and we head towards winter, wrapping up in the right fitness gear is essential to a successful workout.

Whether you’re a keen walker, regular runner or avid cyclist, there are a few essentials you need before stepping outdoors, from jackets and gloves to bike lights and more.

We’ve found everything you need to be equipped with, whatever the weather, come rain or snow, as British winters aren't known for being particularly pleasant.

You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

Walking

Boots

Whether you’re a weekend rambler or like to get half an hour of fresh air on your lunch break with a lap around your local park, investing in the right footwear will help you get the most of your time outside.

In our guide to the best men’s walking boots, these Adidas terrex free hiker parley (Adidas, £170) came out on top, praised by our reviewers for putting a spring in their step during a full-day hike into some of the most remote parts of a national park.

“The upper was extraordinarily comfortable, required no breaking in and was also highly breathable thanks to the Primeknit design that provides ankle support too.

"It also proved to be water-repellent, so socks stayed pretty dry even after being semi-submerged in a moorland stream,” they said.

The pair have also been made with sustainability in mind, as the upper is made from upcycled coastal plastic waste.

For the most comfortable fit for women, we loved these Ariat skyline summit (Ariat, £170) that will allow you tackle all types of terrain.

The leather pair were described by our tester as “very breathable, making them a great boot for use all year round,” and they were especially impressed with their flexibility and lightweight mesh fabric that needed no breaking in.

Jackets

If you’re planning on enjoying refreshing walks in the crisp, wintry outdoors, you’ll need a jacket that will keep you warm without causing you to overheat.

We loved this Fjällräven expedition pack down hoodie jacket (Fjällräven, £275) in our guide to the best women’s mid-layers that will keep you warm in cold weather.

We tested this piece on multiple autumn hikes, and our reviewers were impressed with the thoughtful design features, including an adjustable hood, a high neck lined with soft fleece, deep and well-placed inner and outer zipped pockets, and a hip-skimming length, which offers extra warmth.

“The hoodie fits easily under a waterproof jacket but might be too warm for the mildest autumn days – this is one to crack out when the mercury drops,” they said.

Don’t let a rain shower get in the way of a walk with a waterproof jacket. Our favourite is The North Face 1994 retro mountain light (The North Face, £325) which earned the top spot in our guide to the best men’s waterproof jackets.

Our reviewer found that it provided parka-length coverage without being heavy or restrictive. They said the hard shell material "vented extremely well when the environment we were walking began to get more challenging”.

Thanks to the pit zips, bungee cinches, cord locks and Velcro, it was praised for the ease with which it can be customised according to the temperamental British weather.

Running

Trainers

When it comes to running, the first thing to get right during the winter is keeping your feet warm and dry, so a good pair of trainers is a must. They will also provide cushioning and support your heels and ankles, minimising the risk of injury.

We would recommend the New Balance fresh foam 1080v10 London (New Balance, £135) both for men and women. Our reviewers loved these for being lightweight, giving a smooth ride on the road and keeping legs feeling fresh even after a long run.

The midsole was praised for keeping the foot in place and anchoring the heel. This is a great all-rounder shoe that excels in comfort and performance, whether you’re training to run a half-marathon or heading off on a brisk walk.

Running socks

Ditch your everyday pair of socks for a specific running pair, as they’ll wick sweat and moisture away from your feet and ward off blisters. They’ll also keep you warm during the colder months.

Some also have cushioned pads on the sides and soles, which will provide comfort on longer runs.

In our guide to the best, we loved the Under Armour run cushion crew sock (Zalando, £15).

“They have cushioning and ventilation in the right places, are breathable but warm enough for colder runs, and include a a supportive arch, a reflective logo on the back, and no lumpy seams,” said our reviewer.

They’re also discreet enough to wear under running tights. Once you pop these on, you’ll never look back.

Running jackets

When it comes to outerwear, there’s more than just warmth to consider. While you want a lightweight piece that won’t slow you down or restrict movement, it’s also important to consider colour, especially if you’re running in the evening, now that the clocks have gone back and it gets darker earlier.

In our review of the best women’s running jackets, this Proviz classic women’s waterproof running jacket (Proviz, £84.99) was praised for being a perfect hi-vis option.

Our tester said: “This is breathable, waterproof and its trademark reflectivity (it lights up like a Christmas tree when a light is shone at it) is abundant, rather than just the nod to visibility that many running jackets give.” They also loved its stretchy fabric that moved well while running.

For men, this Patagonia nano-air jacket (Patagonia, £180) earned top marks for its comfort and snug fit thanks to its neck zips, which our reviewer found kept the warmth in and cold winds out.

They said: “It’s really comfortable because of its stretchy construction and its soft-on-skin-feel fabric, plus the cut is really nice, with just the right amount of space under the pit and around the body, along with a rather loose hem which comes lower than most (almost below the crotch).”

We also found it doubled up nicely for everyday wear, so you’ll be able to get a lot of use out of it during the colder months.

Running trousers

It’s not only your top half that needs extra warmth; so do your legs, especially to avoid cramping up in the cold and reducing sore muscles.

One of our favourite pairs of running tights for women are these Sweaty Betty zero gravity leggings (Sweaty Betty, £95) that we found to be super-stylish but most importantly, super-comfortable.

“We found the sweat wicking material really does dry quickly, ensuring we didn’t chafe at all, even during some of our longer runs. The supportive fabric is so lightweight it almost feels like a second skin,” said our reviewer.

One feature worth noting is the zippered back pocket, which saved our tester carrying house keys when on a run.

If you prefer a jogger-style trouser to keep knees, shins and ankles out of the cold, we’d recommend these On Running pants (On Running, £135) from our guide to the best men's running gear, that are ideal in both cold or wet weather.

“On the front, the top half is water-repellent, plus it doesn’t re-attach below the knee so they don’t restrict your movement at all,” our tester said.

We were also impressed with the snug fit around the ankle and leg zips that made them easy to put on and take off.

Cycling

Jackets

While you can of course wear any jacket to go for a ride on your bike, if you’re a regular cyclist, we’d suggest investing in a specific cycling jacket, which often have features that allow easy access while on the move, when you don’t have both hands available.

For men, we loved this Chrome Industries storm salute commute (Chrome Industries, £170) in our guide to the best waterproof cycling jackets, which fast became our reviewers go-to for short trips and fun family rides.

While the design may look simple, it features a handy two-way zipper so you can open it at the waist while in the saddle, and a zipped pocket at the back that you can use to store your gloves.

For women, try this Rapha explore women’s pullover (Rapha, £250), which ranked highly in our guide to the best women’s cycling jackets.

It’s lightweight enough to not weigh down a rucksack but comes with a handy hood for rainy days, and features a generous map and phone-sized pocket on the front that we loved for its convenience.

Our tester said: “It combines Rapha’s signature tailored look with a looser (but not baggy) fit, which also makes it easy to pull on over your base layer.”

Cycling gloves

Don’t leave the house without your gloves, as there’s nothing worse than numb, frozen fingers while trying to adjust your gears.

We put cycling-specific pairs to the test in our guide and loved these Assos winter gloves (Wiggle, £70), which are pricey but well worth the investment.

They’re lightweight and won’t take up much space in a jacket pocket once you dismount and head back indoors. Don’t dismiss them as too thin, as they have a fleece lining to keep hands warm.

According to our reviewer: “The low-profile design also increases finger dexterity, meaning gears and brakes are very easy to operate and trying to readjust your helmet strap or get an energy gel out of a jersey pocket doesn’t become a ham-fisted ordeal.”

Bike lights

As daylight hours decrease in winter, a bike light is an important piece of gear to add to your kit.

Topping our guide to the best bike lights was this Bontrager ion pro RT / flare RT light set (Sigma Sports, £139) that helped our reviewer navigate unlit roads at night and on daytime training rides.

“Fitting the front mount is easy as it just loops around the bars and screws down tight. The rear one mounts easily thanks to a rubbery band that wraps around your seatpost, and the light is so small it won’t get in the way if you ride with a saddle pack,” they said.

You can also sync up the light with a Garmin bike computer, to control them remotely and see how much battery is left, so you’ll never be caught without light mid-ride.

For more fitness must-haves, read our guide to the best winter cycling gloves

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