The 7 Best Running Jackets for Women to Keep Cozy in This Fall
Don’t let cool weather stand between you and your training.
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Your running jacket needs to do more than keep you warm, though—it should protect against water and wind while remaining flexible so you can pump your arms and lightweight so as not to slow you down. With these standards in mind, we’ve rounded up the best women’s running jackets on the market, all of which effortlessly combine performance, protection, comfort, and a sleek profile.
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The Best Women’s Running Jackets
- Best Overall: Patagonia Houdini Air Women’s Running Windbreaker
- Best Value: C9 Champion Full Zip Cardio Women’s Running Jacket
- shoe cream gino rossi pomade cream neutral: Athleta Inlet Women’s Running Jacket
- oslo city re gen sneakers puma buty puma white nimbus cloud: Lululemon Mist Over Women’s Running Windbreaker
- Best Lightweight: Arc'Teryx Norvan Windshell Women’s Running Windbreaker
What to Consider
Materials
A somewhat stretchy jacket is ideal so the fabric can move with you as you pump your arms, lift your legs up, and bend at the torso. Polyester is a good option because it’s flexible, especially when combined with elastane, and wicks moisture well. Nylon is another good moisture-wicking option. Moisture-wicking is especially important for cold-weather running because it allows your sweat to evaporate before it can freeze and cause a shiver-inducing chill.
Insulation
The amount of insulation you need depends on the conditions you’re running in and, to a certain extent, your personal preference and natural physiology (for instance, how hot you get when you run). Lots of runners prefer to use a running jacket as a windbreaker and waterproof layer, and then add merino wool base layers underneath to stay warm.
People with faster metabolisms generally run warmer and won’t need as much insulation. Even people who run colder will need less insulation on a 40-degree day during a high-output run than if they were walking around at a slower pace that same day.
When it comes to designs specifically for women, some companies employ body-mapped insulation or venting that varies between women’s and men’s styles based on where you’re more likely to feel hot.
Weatherproofing
If you don’t mind logging miles in the rain and snow, you should add a water-resistant or waterproof jacket to your arsenal, even though they usually aren’t as breathable as non-waterproof coats. Both water-resistant and waterproof constructions also block wind.
Water-resistance, often achieved with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating, offers a moderate level of protection that will keep you dry in light precipitation. A waterproof jacket, on the other hand, offers a higher level of protection, thanks to a bonded membrane that seals out water at the seams. That’s great if you’re going to be out in heavy precipitation for a long run, but keep in mind membranes often limit breathability and slow down drying.
How We Evaluated
The original author of this piece, Marissa Cruz Lemar, is an avid runner who especially prefers cold-weather running in the 30- to 40-degree range—as such, she’s had plenty of opportunity to test a variety of jackets. Because she runs outside year-round, Lemar used her expertise to recommend the best winter running jackets for women that’ll keep you warm and, when you need it, dry.
In addition to Lemar’s recommendations, we used our staff’s experience and researched the market to find the best running jackets for women. This guide includes a variety of styles—insulated, waterproof, pullover, and lightweight—so you’ll be covered no matter the weather or your preferences. We prioritized jackets made from materials that are stretchy and breathable, and we evaluated each model based on weather protection, value, comfort, and style.
For the jackets that made the cut, we included an estimated temperature range in Fahrenheit. For jackets we’ve run in, this temperature range is based on our personal experience; for models we haven’t tried, we made assessments based on product descriptions and customer reviews. Keep in mind that these temp ranges are estimations, and your own experience might vary—our “what to wear” tool can help with that.
Patagonia Women’s Houdini Air Running Jacket
Pros
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Cons
- Not as breathable as soft jackets
adidas edge gameday black white men running training best overall windbreaker, the Houdini Air straddles the line between two of Patagonia’s other top jackets: the lightweight, packable Houdini and the soft, breathable Airshed. It borrows the former’s wind- and water-resistance, but it also offers some of the latter’s softness, making it a perfect all-rounder for chilly runs above freezing.
Need to ditch your outer layer? The Houdini Air also packs away into a reversible chest pocket, stuffing all that functionality into a package the size of a point-and-shoot camera.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XXS-XL |
|---|---|
| syb ugg mens neumel boot salty blue new | 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit |
C9 Champion Full Zip Cardio Running Jacket for Women
Pros
- Breathable
- Zippered pockets
Cons
- Material can be a lint and hair magnet
This mid-weight jacket is ideal for keeping warm in just-above-freezing temps. Although very form-fitting, it’s made of polyester and spandex, so it gives way as you move, and the thicker fabric still wicks moisture and dries fast—that last point can be critical when the wind gets icy.
Instead of a hood, the Cardio Jacket sports a tall mock neck that fends off bone-chilling gusts without flapping around. If you want the overhead coverage a hood provides, you’ll need to look elsewhere, but you may also feel just fine wearing a cozy hat instead.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XS–2XL |
|---|---|
| syb ugg mens neumel boot salty blue new | 30–45 degrees Fahrenheit |
Lululemon Mist Over Windbreaker
Lululemon Mist Over Windbreaker
Pros
- Stretchy material
- Extra zippered pocket in the back
Cons
- Size up if you like layering
Lululemon offers a mobile, slim-fitting jacket in the Mist Over windbreaker. Its drop-tail design, which provides some extra rear-end coverage, pairs nicely with leggings or running tights while providing some bonus warmth.
In addition to wind protection, you’ll keep dry thanks to this jacket’s water-repellent fabric. It’s made of a stretchy polyester and elastane blend, but plan to size up if you want to comfortably add layers underneath—this is definitely a more fitted option.
Key Specs
| Sizes | 0-14 |
|---|---|
| syb ugg mens neumel boot salty blue new | 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit |
Baleaf Laureate Women’s Thermal Fleece Pullover Jacket
adidas adizero ubersonic 2 tennis shoes fu9468 men | Baleaf Laureate Women’s Thermal Fleece Pullover Jacket
Pros
- Breathable and moisture-wicking
- Great price
Cons
- Sizes run a bit small
This Baleaf piece brings the benefits of a jacket to a fitted pullover style. Don’t let the brushed fleece interior fool you, though—it’ll keep you warm without trapping heat.
The moisture-wicking material helps you stay comfortable as you get warmed up, and the half-zip style means you can unzip for extra ventilation. This option is extra stretchy because it’s made of a polyester and elastane blend, like the Lululemon Mist Over, so you’ll have lots of flexibility as you move.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XS-3XL |
|---|---|
| syb ugg mens neumel boot salty blue new | 25-40 degrees Fahrenheit |
Arc’teryx Norvan Windshell Running Jacket for Women
Arc’teryx Norvan Windshell Running Jacket for Women
Pros
- Ludicrously light
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Cons
- No hood, if that’s your thing
For days when you’re not sure if it’s going to get cooler, but you don’t want to be burdened with a heavy jacket, look no further than the Norvan Windshell.
At only 3 ounces, you can pack this jacket down, throw in your pocket or bag, and completely forget about until you need some extra wind protection. And while it’s technically a windbreaker, the Norvan still provides some breathability for your higher-intensity runs.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XXS-XXL |
|---|---|
| syb ugg mens neumel boot salty blue new | 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit |
Columbia Women's Park View Grid Fleece Full Zip Jacket
Columbia Women's Park View Grid Fleece Full Zip Jacket
Pros
- Moisture-wicking material
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Cons
- No water resistance
This jacket is another superb mid-weight option for yucky-weather runs. Wear it on its own as an external layer or as a mid-layer under a weather-resistant shell.
The full polyester design is stretchy, making it ideal for lovers of form-fitting clothes, but it also offers a looser-fit alternative to the C9 Champion jacket that earned our Best Value designation.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XS-3XL |
|---|---|
| syb ugg mens neumel boot salty blue new | 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit |
adidas adizero ubersonic 2 tennis shoes fu9468 men | Athleta Inlet Women’s Running Jacket
Athleta Inlet Women’s Running Jacket
Pros
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- More than enough coverage
Cons
- You'll cook above 32 degrees
If you want to keep conquering your outdoor runs when the weather becomes inhospitable, you’ll appreciate some extra insulation—that’s where the Inlet’s down stuffing comes in handy. This jacket can keep you comfortable all the way down to zero degrees, and despite the fluffy layer of feathers, it still provides an impressive amount of arm mobility.
Other neat finishing touches include a removable hood, thumb holes for extra hand coverage, and a water-resistant treatment on the Inlet’s outer layer—ideal for unexpectedly snowy days.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XXS-3XL |
|---|---|
| syb ugg mens neumel boot salty blue new | 0 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit |
Adam Schram is an Assistant Editor of Commerce at Runner's World, though you might see his byline on Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a bike mechanic in his hometown of State College, PA. His journalism experience is steeped in cycling and running gear reviews, and he's also a published creative nonfiction and satire author. When he's not writing, riding, or running, you can catch Adam at home mixing cocktails, watching Star Wars, reebok classic leather patent sneakers desert dust white.
Before joining Runner's World, Gabrielle Hondorp spent 6 years in running retail (she has tested top gear from shoes, to watches, to rain jackets which has expanded her expertise—and her closets); she specializes in health and wellness, and is an expert on running gear from head-to-toe. Gabi began her journalism career as a Digital Editorial Fellow for Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine, and has since advanced to a Runner's World Editor specializing in commerce. She has a double degree in English and Media and Communication from Muhlenberg College where she also ran cross country and track.
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