Every runner household has the same morning ritual. The runner stands at the window holding a long sleeve in one hand and a tee in the other, asking nobody in particular, "Is it cold?" Then they check three weather apps, change twice, and come home either dripping inside a jacket or with ears the color of a fire truck.
In our house the runner is Shalev, and Tal has watched this ritual for years from the kitchen, coffee in hand. So we built something to end it.
Updated October 2026
Quick answer
Our free What to Wear Running tool pulls the live hourly forecast for your city and the hour you plan to run, then tells you what to wear from head to toe. It uses the classic "dress for 15°F warmer than it feels" rule, adjusts for your run type and how warm you run, and adds rain, wind, sun and darkness gear when you need it. It is free, there is no sign-up, and it works on your phone.
- Cold Miles. Hot Takes. beanie ($29.99): for the runner whose opinions get louder below 40 degrees.
- Still Behind Me? Keep Up. running socks ($19.99): a message on the back of the ankle for whoever is chasing you.
- Spectator. Trained 0 Miles. Cheered All 26.2. tee ($39.99): for the family member who checked the forecast so the runner did not have to.
Run & Tell was started by Tal, a mom of two, when she couldn't find gifts for her runner husband Shalev that weren't cheesy or generic.
Dress for it, then brag about it
Layers that keep the ears warm and the jokes going.
It's Headlamp Season (long sleeve)$42.99Get the long sleeve
Cold Miles. Hot Takes. Beanie$29.99Get the beanie
Still Behind Me? Keep Up. Socks$19.99Get the socks
Runs on Gels and Gossip$59.99Get the hoodie
Order by Mon Nov 30 for Christmas delivery in the US.
See hats, socks and towelsHow it works
It takes about as long as tying your shoes.
- Tell it where. Type a city or zip code (suggestions pop up as you type), or tap Use my location.
- Tell it when. Pick the day and the hour you plan to run. A 6am run and a noon run on the same day can call for very different outfits.
- Tell it what kind of run. Choose easy or long run, or workout or race.
- Tell it about you. Do you usually run cold, normal or hot? Be honest. Everyone in your house already knows which one you are.
Then it shows your outfit, head to toe, along with the weather it used to decide.
Where the weather comes from
The tool pulls the live hourly forecast from Open-Meteo, a free weather data service. For the hour you pick, it looks at the temperature, the feels-like temperature, wind speed, the chance of rain and whether it will be light or dark outside. Forecasts change, so check again the night before and the morning of.
The rule behind it: dress for 15°F warmer than it feels
Runners have an old rule of thumb: once you get moving, you feel a lot warmer than you did standing on the porch. So you dress for the run, not the doorstep. The tool takes the feels-like temperature, adds 15°F, and calls that your "dress like it is" temperature. A workout or race makes more heat than an easy jog, so it nudges you a little lighter. If you said you run cold, it nudges you warmer. If you run hot, lighter.
Yes, this means you will be a bit chilly for the first few minutes. That is the plan. If you feel cozy standing in the driveway, you are overdressed.
What it suggests at each temperature
Here is the core of it, based on your "dress like it is" temperature:
- 70°F and up: singlet and shorts.
- 60s: tech tee and shorts.
- 50s: tee (long sleeve optional) and shorts.
- 40s: long sleeve, shorts or tights, light gloves.
- 30s: long sleeve plus a light wind jacket, tights, gloves and an ear band.
- 20s: base layer, running jacket, fleece tights, warm gloves and a beanie.
- Under 20°F: thermal layers, an insulated jacket, mittens, a beanie and a neck gaiter.
These are "dress like it is" numbers, not the forecast. A calm 40°F morning dresses like the 50s. Want the detail for one specific temperature? We wrote a guide for each, linked at the bottom of this post.
The extras: rain, wind, sun and dark
- Rain: at a 50% or higher chance of rain, it adds a rain shell or a brimmed cap to keep water out of your eyes.
- Wind: at 15 mph or more, it adds a wind vest.
- Sun: when it is sunny and 55°F or warmer, it adds sunglasses and a cap.
- Dark: if your hour is before sunrise or after sunset, it adds lights and reflective gear so drivers can see you.
For the family members holding the coats
If you are the one standing at mile 8 with a sign, do not dress like the runner. They are moving and you are not. Dress for the actual feels-like temperature, then add a layer. A warm hat, gloves and a thermos turn a cold morning of cheering into a nice one. Every one of our temperature guides has a short section just for spectators.
People are different
Clothing advice is a general guide. Some people run warm, some run cold, and most of us learn our own preferences the hard way. Use the tool as a starting point, notice how you feel after a mile, and adjust next time. If you ever feel unwell in the cold or heat, stop, get warm or cool, and see a doctor if it does not pass.
Once you know what to wear, our hats, socks and towels finish the outfit, and the support crew collection is for whoever is cheering.
For the runner who runs in anything
The run is cold. The mug after is not.
My Pace Is Private. My Mileage Is Not.$59.99Get the hoodie
Hot Cocoa. Cold Miles.$22.99Get the mug
Ho Ho Hold My Gels Socks$19.99Get the socks
I Paid to Feel Like This (performance tee)$39.99Get the tee
Order by Mon Nov 30 for Christmas delivery in the US. 20% off automatically on orders of $75 or more through Nov 26. New here? Code FIRSTLAP10 takes 10% off through Nov 30.
See all gifts for runnersFAQ
Is the What to Wear Running tool free?
Yes. It is free, there is no sign-up and nothing to download. Open it on your phone and go.
Where does the forecast come from?
It uses the live hourly forecast from Open-Meteo, including temperature, feels-like temperature, wind, rain chance and daylight for the hour you pick.
Why does it tell me to dress lighter than I expect?
Because you warm up fast once you are running. The tool dresses you for 15°F warmer than it feels, so you are a little cold at the start and comfortable by the first mile.
Does it work for races?
Yes. Choose workout or race as your run type and it dresses you a bit lighter, since you will be working harder. Check it the night before and again on race morning.
Can I use it for walking or cheering?
It is built for runners. If you are walking or standing outside to cheer, dress warmer than it suggests, since you will make much less heat.
