The New Fall Running Gear Our Editors Are Reaching for When the Weather Can't Make Up Its Mind

Our favorite running brands have some cool new gear perfect for the season.

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Fall running is kind of the sweet spot. The air is crisp, the humidity finally chills out, and you can actually enjoy a long run without feeling like you're being slow-roasted by the sun. The one tricky part, though, is figuring out the appropriate gear for this kind of weather. One morning it's 48 degrees, the next it's somehow 68, and suddenly you're either freezing for the first mile or sweating through your entire outfit. Luckily, some of our favorite brands here at Runner’s World have come launched some practical and trendy gear right in time for fall. These are the running shoes, layers, accessories, and other gear our team is reaching for this season to make those in-between-weather miles a little more comfortable.

Cat Bowen, Senior Commerce Editor, has basically confirmed that this jacket is witchcraft. “I've never seen anything like it,” she says. Wear it one way for a breathable layer that takes the edge off a chilly morning, then flip it around for more warmth and protection when the weather starts doing its fall thing. Basically, it's two jackets in one.

Cold fingers can ruin an otherwise great fall run, but sometimes a full glove is way too much once you get warmed up. These convertible gloves let you start with your fingers covered and then flip them back when your hands inevitably start getting sweaty. Having the option to adjust mid-run is exactly the kind of fall-running convenience you'll appreciate.

A bandana might seem like a weirdly specific thing to put on your fall running gear list, until you're halfway through a run with sweat dripping into your eyes. Satisfy's SoftCell Bandana is an easy little add-on for cooler-weather miles, whether you wear it around your neck for a touch of extra warmth or reach for it when things get sweaty. Plus, it looks cool enough that you can keep wearing it after your run, too.

Another Bowen pick! Janji makes great long sleeves that come with flattering silhouettes and sweat-wicking technology. Bowen says she likes that she “can tie it around my waist and run in my bra if I get too hot. But for fall? It's just right.”

Fall running can still get surprisingly sweaty, especially when you're getting your miles in during the last few warm afternoons of the season. Bandit's CoolGrid 2-in-1s give you the coverage liners provide, but with the easy, loose feel of a traditional running short. We also love the cocoa color— it feels a little more fall than your standard black pair.

The quarter-zip is basically the unofficial uniform of the transitional-season runner. Tracksmith's Session Quarter Zip gives you that extra layer for chilly starts, while the zipper lets you dump heat once your body catches up. It's an easy grab when you're heading out into one of those crisp fall mornings that starts cold and somehow ends sweaty.

If Tracksmith prices have you doing a double take, this budget-friendly quarter-zip gives you the same basic fall-running idea without the splurge price. The lightweight layer is easy to throw on for a chilly morning, and you can unzip it as your body temperature starts catching up.

When shorts finally stop cutting it but full-on winter running pants feel like overkill, these are the move. The lululemon Mile Maker Cold-Weather Pant gives you more coverage for those colder miles without making you feel like you've dressed for a blizzard. Wear them for an early-morning run, a long walk, or an outdoor stretch session.

Not quite shorts weather, not quite full-legging weather? Enter the 3/4 legging. These hit that very specific sweet spot for mild fall days when you want a little more coverage without trapping all that extra heat around your legs. We also like that this Adidas pair comes in regular and tall length, so everyone can find the right fit for them.

A neck gaiter is one of those pieces of running gear you don't fully appreciate until the wind starts whipping around your neck. This one can be worn several ways, whether you want a little extra coverage around your neck and face on a chilly morning or need something to help manage sweat once your run heats up. Keep one in your running bag and you'll have plenty of ways to put it to work.

The Glycerin 23 is the kind of shoe you want when fall marathon training turns into more miles, longer runs, and a lot of time on your feet. It's cushioned without feeling like you're running on something too soft, and the coconut, bleached sand, grey colorway is a particularly good match for the season.
SHOP MEN’S

The downside of fall running is that suddenly it's dark at 5:30 p.m. The upside is that a headlamp makes it a lot easier to keep your usual routine when daylight starts disappearing. Energizer's water-resistant option is a simple piece of gear to stash in your running drawer for those early-morning or after-work miles when the sun is nowhere to be found.

Fall weather loves to change its mind halfway through a run, which is exactly why a packable jacket is worth carrying. The lululemon Fast and Free folds down small enough to stash when you don't need it, then gives you an extra layer when the wind picks up or a surprise drizzle rolls through. Fun fact: Harry Styles was just seen wearing these as he was on a run in Williamsburg.

There is nothing worse than getting three miles into a run and having your earbuds slowly work their way out of your ears. The JLab Go Air Sport+ have ear hooks that help keep them locked in while you run, plus a design made for workouts and all those sweaty fall miles. They can fit under ear muffs or the buff you use to stay warm.

Just because summer is over doesn't mean you can ditch your sunglasses. The Oakley Portal X helps cut glare on bright fall mornings while protecting your eyes from wind, dust, and whatever else gets kicked up when you're logging miles outside. Plus, the sporty shape feels right at home on a run without making you look like you accidentally wore your beach sunglasses to the track. Another thing Harry Styles was seen in recently, by the way.

Josiah is the Digital Content Producer for the commerce team at Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Runner’s World, and Bicycling Magazine. He also writes for “BIO Buys”—a column on Biography.com—giving readers the lowdown on what products their favorite celebs are using. In another life, Josiah was an editor at ThePioneerWoman.com, where he sharpened his expertise on all things lifestyle, food-news, and entertainment. Outside work related matters, he’s a fan of Studio Ghibli films, unimportant reality TV drama, and melancholy Lorde songs. 

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