• Men's Fitness
• Men's Lifestyle

The Best Winter Gym Kit

Best Leg Forward

Whatever your view on leggings, in winter, you’ll appreciate the extra layer.

Sundried’s have flatlock seams, so no chafing, and the sweat-wicking fabric means you won’t suffer windchill when you’re stretching. Or get hit by a car, thanks to the reflective cuffs.

Better still, they’re made ethically in Portuguese factories, from responsibly sourced materials. That warm glow should heat you up. Sundried Roteck Legging Mens, available at Sundried, priced £75.

Jacket Required

Whether you’re heading to the gym or out on a 10k, rain can extinguish your willpower. Brooks’ LSD jacket is wind- and waterproof, plus light enough to layer over your kit, with reflective detailing front and back to keep you safe when the nights draw in.

If the weather brightens up, it also packs down into an arm-mounted bag. So no more excuses.

Brooks Mens LSD Running Jacket, available at Brooks Running, priced £70.

Player Layer

A base layer is the difference between an effective session and giving up after your warm-up because, well, you couldn’t.

Peak Performance’s ditches space-age fabrics for the cyclist’s favourite, merino wool, which is warm, soft and sucks up sweat – so you stay dry and comfortable no matter how hard you work.

Peak Performance Long Sleeve Base Layer, available at Peak Performance, priced £50.

Bag It Up

It’s time to ditch the gym freebie. This Patagonia duffel has room for all your kit, in a design that won’t look ridiculous at work, so you can head from an early-morning workout straight to the office.

It’s also light enough that your commute doesn’t become an extra weights session, while the weatherproof fabric will keep rain out, and sweat smells in.

Patagonia Black Hole Duffle Bag, available at Farfetch, priced £100.

Step Ahead

Your knit trainers are no good in the wet. The Pure Boost ZG Heat takes tech from Adidas’ best runners – a boost sole for more efficient strides; a foot-hugging shape so you don’t slide around – then adds some seasonal extras.

For rain, an ATR outsole is like strapping on winter tyres. For cold, the climaheat upper traps warmth, while the heat seal collar keeps chills out. Like on-foot radiators.

Adidas Pure Boost ZG Heat Shoes, available at Farfetch, priced £99.95.

Funk Free

Few things kill your up-and-at-’em impetus like cold, damp trainers.

After a wet session, slip in Stuffits – their dual-wick shell sucks up rain and sweat, while red cedar does the same job for smells. Goodbye, snooze function.

Stuffitts Ultimate Shoe Saver Black, available at Northern Runner, priced £21.99.

Bodyweight Body Builder

There’s a limit to what weather you can actually train in. When gales hit, get all the workout from the comfort of home with a TRX.

Sling the straps over a door and you can hit every muscle using just your bodyweight, from ab crunches to squats to rows. It might have you reconsidering why you spend all that money on a gym membership.

TRX Home Gym, available at TRX, priced £149.

Home Masseuse

Cold weather means cold muscles, which are more at risk of injury. Because you can’t get to the masseuse after every session, loosen up tight spots with a foam roller. You’ll minimise post-workout soreness and become more flexible, as you start to undo all that damage your desk inflicts on your posture.

Break it out for 10 minutes a day and you can spend the rest of your time training, not in rehab.

Go Fit Massage Roller, available at Amazon, priced £42.

Immune Booster

Intense exercise can make you more susceptible to bugs, especially if you do it in the cold and wet.

Proto-col’s Green Magic packs the equivalent of seven portions of fruit and veg into each serving – stick it in your morning smoothie to see off sniffles all season.

Green Magic, available at Proto-Col, priced £8.95 for 30g.

Tom Banham

Jocks & Nerds deputy editor Tom Banham is an outerwear addict with bylines in GQ, Men’s Health and Mr Porter. He’s fascinated by the collision of high fashion and streetwear, but also knows his way around a soft-shouldered blazer. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter at @banham_tom