Winter obstacle racing gear

Winter races bring an extra challenge: cold combined with wet conditions from water and mud sections raises the risk of getting dangerously cold far more than cold alone in dry weather. This page covers how to adapt clothing and gear for winter, and what to watch for when it comes to hypothermia.

Why winter races are a particular challenge

Wet skin cools down far faster than dry skin, because water conducts heat away much more efficiently than air. In a winter OCR, cold ambient temperatures combine with soaked clothing after water or mud sections, which significantly raises the risk of getting dangerously cold compared with a purely dry winter run without water obstacles. Anyone who has only raced in summer easily underestimates this difference.

Layers rather than one jacket

Rather than one thick jacket, a layering system works better for winter races: a technical, quick-drying base layer against the skin, then, depending on temperature, a warming mid layer that still insulates somewhat even when wet. Cotton should be avoided in winter for the same reasons as in summer, covered further on the clothing page.

Neoprene elements

Neoprene keeps its warming effect even in water, unlike most other materials. Neoprene sleeves, neoprene gloves or full neoprene suits are mainly worn for races with long, cold water sections in winter, for example on some Tough Mudder or Strong Viking courses that take place during the colder months.

Hats and gloves

A lot of body heat is lost through the head, and a close-fitting, technical hat helps against that. It should be wearable on race day without getting in the way while crawling through tight tunnels or under nets, and easy to remove if you get too warm while running. Gloves add a warmth benefit for the fingers in winter, alongside the grip benefit described on the gloves page, since fingers otherwise get cold and stiff quickly in wet, cold conditions.

Spare clothing as a safety factor

During the colder months, dry spare clothing is not just about comfort but a safety consideration. Right after crossing the finish line, the body cools down very quickly as effort drops off and clothing stays soaked. An especially warm set from head to toe, a hat, and ideally a thermal blanket or extra jacket should be within easy reach. Details on the full packing list are on the packing list page.

Recognising hypothermia

Signs of early hypothermia can include heavy shivering that surprisingly eases off, confusion, slurred speech, coordination problems or unusual exhaustion. These signs should be taken seriously, even if the affected person plays them down themselves, which can be typical with hypothermia. If any of these signs appear, alert on-site medical staff immediately, rather than self-diagnosing or waiting to see if things improve.

If you are preparing for a winter race, general notes on clothing are on the clothing page and on gear overall on the gear page. The race calendar lists upcoming winter races.