Cold Weather Running

When I started running in the fall of 2008, it was exclusively on the treadmill at the local YMCA. The only time I ventured out on the roads was to run a race. As I went through early 2009, I was still shy about going outside but once the weather turned nice, I got some cabin fever and went out for some fresh air. Add to the nice weather a comment I read where a runner said something to the tune of "there are very few races on a treadmill so you might as well train for the road conditions you may have on race day" and I never looked back. In fact, I'm doing my best to avoid the treadmill at all costs. I've run faster on the treadmill and enjoy watching TV while I run. There are no cars to worry about, the temperature is always the same, but I swear I get sick when I get on that evil hamster wheel.

So this winter (2009/2010) I made a very conscious decision to tough it out and go hardcore by running outside no matter the conditions. I think I did okay, but had a few relapses where the wind was just too cold or there was too much rain or too much snow and I wimped out. Those were the runs where I felt lousy when I was done and swore I'd never go back to the treadmill.

My final tipping point was a year ago (almost exactly) when I ran a 5k race in mid-December. This was before our heavy double-blizzard of 2010. Any snow in eastern Virginia is bad. A few inches in the forecast can result in closed schools. So you can imagine what two storms with 14+ inches each did to us. Anyway, my 5k was in mid-December and it was cold and wet. As in just above freezing and raining. Sometimes just a mist, sometimes a downpour. The event also had a half-marathon that started just before us, so those runners were even more hardcore than me. I had no idea how to dress, so I made due with what I had. An old rain jacket, some winter clothes, and a pair of bamboo socks I got at the last minute. By the time I finished I was soaked to my underwear, cold, and wanting to do more. I changed into dry clothes, ate breakfast, and came back in time to see some friends finish the half. They were shivering, soaked, and had an awesome glow. I wanted to be just like them next year (I'm already signed-up for the half in two weeks). So I knew it was time to commit to running outside to not only capture that "hardcore runner" high, but to also prepare for any race-day condition I may have to endure.

While I did take time off during the blizzards (kind of hard to run in 14 inches of snow), I've stuck to my guns and avoided the treadmill. So where does that leave me during the upcoming winter season and running outside? Much more prepared. I've had more time to run outside, adapt to the changing weather, and learn what equipment to use. So from here, I'll finally get into what I've learned about running in the winter. The overall idea here is broken down into a few, simple areas that you'll need to be aware of; weather, equipment, your body, and adaptation.

Weather
I've mentioned it before when I talked about running in the rain, but weather has never been important to me. I worked in an office for years and now work at home, so other than the quick dash between the house and my car, I didn't care. Now that I'm running outside, weather is important. And the forecast for the week can often times dictate when I run and how long I run. For example, they're calling for rain Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Tuesday and Thursday are usually my heavy running days, so now I know I may need to run in the rain or maybe make it a short day instead of a long day on Tuesday and run longer on Friday. This is a big part of adaptation, but more on that later. The big thing with weather though, is to just pay attention. I can't read the clouds and tell you when it'll rain, but I can tell you running down the road where the wind will pick up because I'm next to an open field. Or where I'll have mud on the trail because it rained last night. Or that it may start out at 40 degrees on my long run and warm up to 60 degrees by the time I'm finished. So pay attention to the forecast and plan accordingly.

Equipment
The weather can make your run wonderful or miserable. But it's something that you can't control. Your equipment on the other hand, you only have yourself to blame if you don't come dressed for the occasion. In other words, this can make or break your run. It can keep you going for miles on end or it can turn you into a hypothermic ball of whimpering blubber. And everything matters here. From your shoes to your hat, what you choose needs to be the right thing.

For winter runs, I would keep two key points in mind. First, from Les Stroud, if you sweat, you die. Simply put, dress in layers and remember to strip one off as you warm up. You shouldn't be in danger of death when you run, but the idea is to not sweat if at all possible. Second, the 20 degrees rule. As in you need to dress as if it were 20 degrees warmer out. So if it's 40 degrees out, dress as it were 60 degrees. Obviously everyone is different, so it may be 15 degrees for you. But I'll get into knowing your body in a minute.

The key point is that you'll warm up during your run, so dress with less than you think you'll need. If you're cold when you start, that's good. If you're still cold after a mile or two, maybe you need to add another layer or run a little faster.

For me, I choose from an array of hats and gloves to stay warm. But it's more than that. So I'll just give you an example of what I wore during a recent run. Weather was clear and sunny. Time was between 9am and 11am (2 hour run over 10 miles). Temperatures ranged from 40 to 45 degrees. Wind was light at 5 to 10 miles per hour so wind chill temps were around 35 degrees or so. All of this means that it was cold out and a little windy here and there. From head to toe I wore:

- a winter hat (Saucony DryLete Skull Cap)
- sunglasses (Oakley)
- TRI top (Saucony)
- arm sleeves (Saucony)
- long sleeve shirt (Saucony)
- underwear (Reebok)
- calf sleeves (Saucony AmpPro2)
- pants (Brooks)
- socks (Saucony)
- shoes (Saucony Exodus 2)

Other than the obvious love of Saucony products, what you'll see is a layering system that works for me. While I could have worn a long sleeve shirt under a light jacket, I chose to wear a triathlon top with arm sleeves under a long sleeve shirt. The big reason for this was to have pockets available on the TRI top to carry my e-Gel, but also because it had a long zipper down the front. I knew this would give me plenty of ventilation so I could adjust it up or down as I got warm or cold. So when I started, it was zipped up tight but when I was finished it was unzipped to the bottom. The arm sleeves are another great method for me to control my temperature. They can easily be pulled up or pushed down but they're also easy to manage during a race. pushing them down doesn't really cause a problem, so you don't have to worry about stashing them in a pocket along the way. Plus it gives my body room to sweat and lose heat in my armpits where a long sleeve shirt would seal things up a bit warmer than I'd prefer.

The pants are also a big deal for winter running. I used to be very self-conscious about my body (I still am, just not so much when I run) so I avoided the dreaded tight pants at all costs. Between my big butt and bigger gut, I didn't want to show off all the wrong things. And with cold weather brings shrinkage, so I feared even more sidelong glances. While my body hasn't changed much, my attitude about it has. I'd rather wear something that works and looks horrible than something that looks cool and makes things shrink even more. I'll take function over fashion any day. Which means I wear pants now and I'm not afraid. I'll even wear tight pants. As long as I'm warm, I'm good. But remember that your legs will be doing a lot of the work when you run, so they'll be warm. So even though it was cold out during my run, my legs were never cold.

Your Body
As usual when it comes to my opinions and reviews, your mileage and pace may vary. So what works for me, may not work for you. This is because everyone is different. So part of learning what to wear during winter runs is learning what your body needs. I know I need gloves before a hat. When temps drop into the 50s, I need gloves. For some reason my hands always get cold. But when temps drop into the 50s I can get away with a regular hat or maybe a headband. But when the temps drop to the 40s, I know I need to think about wearing a winter hat. And if it's going to rain when it's, I need to wear something that will retain heat on my head when it's wet. Same goes for socks. I have bamboo socks that keep my feet warm even when they're soaked through. But if I wore them on a summer day I'd end up with baked and blistered feet from all the heat and sweat. So learn what your body needs. This goes hand-in-hand with the weather part. When you see your breath, learn how many layers you'll need. When the car window is coated in a heavy frost, learn what gloves to wear. When the flag on the pole is snapping in the heavy wind, learn what windbreaker to wear. Your body may need more or less, you just need to know what works best.

Adaptation
Adaptation is a huge part of running. HUGE. If your training schedule is so strict that you can't switch your long run with your cross-training or you can't miss a day because you need an extra rest day, then it doesn't sound like you're much having fun. And even if it's something small, like my favorite shirt is dirty, I'll need to pick a different one, the key is to learn how to adapt. This can make or break your run or your race. I recently had to deal with some GI issues during a trail run and I had to deal with them in a more graphic way than I'd prefer. But I adapted to the situation, dealt with it, and kept on going. Just like those layers help during winter runs, you need to plan for the worst, hope for the best, and deal with whatever comes your way. Just like knowing your body, you may realize 3 miles into a 10 mile run that you didn't wear enough layers and need to call it quits before your toes fall off. Literally. Be prepared to do that and not feel bad about it. Things can always be worse, right?

Bottom Line
Learn your body's needs, adapt to changing conditions, wear the right gear (in layers), and watch the weather.

RoadID and Crank Sports Coupon Codes

Since today is "Cyber Monday," I thought it would be the perfect time to give out some coupon codes I have for RoadID and Crank Sports. For those unfamiliar with either company, they are both worthy of a prolonged gander.

Personally, I wear the Wrist ID Elite. I started out with the Sport model, but after several months of wearing it 24/7, it started to smell a bit (yes, I did clean it in the shower). The Elite model works great and I've had no issues so far. I've also started to use the Firefly Supernova lights during my pre-dawn runs. They work great and haven't fallen off. I'm not a big fan of the batteries (they need to be purchased from RoadID) but the product works well enough for me continue to use them.

Sorry, I only have three coupons, so use them while they last.

RoadID Coupon Code (Valid for $1.00 off. Expires 12/31/2011) = TAF1238
RoadID Coupon Code (Valid for $1.00 off. Expires 12/31/2011) = TAF1239
RoadID Coupon Code (Valid for $1.00 off. Expires 12/31/2011) = TAF1240

From Crank Sports, I use both the e-Gel and the e-Fuel. I can tell you the e-Gel works great for longer runs and has a slower burn than GU or other gels. In other words, it'll give you a slow dose of energy for an hour or so before it wears off where GU will act more like a flash in the pan and burn off in a half hour or less. My mind still isn't made up on the e-Fuel since I haven't tried it enough to make an informed opinion. But what few times I have used it, I've felt an increase in energy while running.

This coupon should be valid for anyone.

Crank Sports Coupon Code (Valid for $2.00 off first order and up to 25% off all orders) = 386304

Product Review - Calf Sleeves

Saucony AmpPro2 Calf Sleeves

FEATURES:
- Labeled for anatomical fit - You would think the difference between LEFT and RIGHT wouldn't make a difference. And to be honest, I have no idea if they do. Fortunately Saucony takes the mystery out of things by clearly labeling which sleeve goes on which leg. The best part is the labels are part of the sleeve, not part of the label. That's important because my labels were quickly cut out for improved comfort.

- Microban - Um, supposedly this keeps things less microbial than normal. I'm guessing that means I'm less likely to get some sort of odd calf fungus. Since it's hard to measure and plays no part in my performance, I'm not really worried about this feature.

- Celliant - This fiber or additive to fiber is designed to improve oxygen levels and body temperatures. I'm no scientist so I'm not sure if it works or not. Although I have used the sleeves on cold days and it helped keep my calves warm. But then again so would an extra layer of clothes.



FIT:
They fit like I would expect compression sleeves to fit. Tight. Not so tight that my toes turn purple, but tight enough that I can feel them when I run. Tight enough that I can see lines on my calf when I take them off after my run. Tight enough that they do help my calves in both active mode and recovery mode. In other words, the fit is just right. I got mine in Large (16" to 17" according to their site) since my calf is 17" at it's largest point. Small runs from 12" to 13" and Medium runs from 14" to 15". Oddly, there's no 13" to 14" so you just have to guess a bit if you fall between sizes. Remember to measure the largest part of your calf. And remember that these are unisex, so gender doesn't matter. Oh, and for those guys with hairy legs, don't worry, you won't need to shave. These are hairy-guy friendly. As you'll see in the photos, my legs are hairy enough but I didn't have any issues.



CARE:
- Machine wash cold with like colors
- Do not use softeners
- Remove immediately
- Do not bleach
- Line dry
- Do not iron
- Do not dry clean

OVERALL:
The biggest secret to these is placement. Following some tweets sent by Saucony, I just happened to discover that the seams go on the inside. Fortunately these are flat seams and don't chafe, so even if you have some serious calf-whip or calf-rub or what have you, they shouldn't pose any issues. Aside from that random nugget of information, these are nice sleeves. They're just a hair tighter than expected but they don't constrict your blood flow. In fact, I think they actually work better because they're tighter. I can feel the support, especially on runs beyond 5 miles. Since these are my second pair of calf sleeves, I've already learned that they go on easier if you put them on before your socks. Not that you can't, it just seems to go easier if you do.

They also feel nice for recovery. I went for a long run, showered, and wore these the rest of the day. My calves felt like I didn't run a step (although the rest of me did). I did notice some binding at the top on my first few times wearing them. I think I was pulling them up too high and they pinched a bit between the calf and the back of the knee. After trying them again without hiking them all the way up, they felt much better. No pinching. My biggest problem with these is they don't come in ViZi-PRO orange, so you'll have to settle for black.



CEP AllSports Compression Leg Sleeves

FEATURES:
Unlike the Saucony sleeves, CEP doesn't list any "features" on their site. So other than some fancy seams, they're pretty plain. They do have a totally different design and you can feel it when you wear them. Comparing the two is difficult because of how different they feel when you wear them. The CEP sleeves aren't as tight and feel more like a sock. This is likely because CEP appears to have moved from the medical industry to the sports industry. Not a huge leap when you consider the benefits of compression on athletes and their performance and recovery.



FIT:
Not nearly as tight as the Saucony sleeves and more prone to stretching. Think of these like you would socks; stretch them out too much and they'll lose their shape until you wash them again. But they still work. I've worn them on long runs (including my premier 50k) and they do help your calves continue to fire long after they should be dead tired. They also help in recovery. After my first half-marathon, I could feel the compression easing my pain. And seeing as they are still tight against the skin, they'll keep out ticks but not aggressive and large horseflies.

There are different size charts for men and women. Because my calf is 17", I fit in the IV Men size (from 15.5" to 17.5"). The III Men's runs from 12.5" to 15" and the V Men's runs from 18" to 20".



CARE:
- Machine wash, permanent press/wrinkle resistant, max. water temperature 105°F/40°C
- Do not bleach
- Tumble dry, permanent press/wrinkle resistant cycle, low heat
- Do not iron or press with heat
- Do not dryclean (their spelling, not mine)

OVERALL:
The design makes these differ greatly from the Saucony sleeves. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. The CEP sleeves feel looser but still offer some level of compression. The unique seam pattern doesn't appear to harm you and may even help with blood flow and compression. Oddly, while they are looser than the Saucony sleeves, the bottoms are tighter, making it a bit more difficult to put them on.



COMPARISON:
Here's a little side-by-side comparison so you can see how they fit.









MEASUREMENTS:
You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like. For this particular review, take note that my calves are 17 inches around at their largest point. My ankles are just under 10 inches (above the ankle bones) and the top of my calf (just below the knee) is 15 inches.

Learning to Adapt on the Run

As a runner, I've learned to adapt to changing terrain, weather, mood, and more. I strive to adapt as well as I can, but sometimes you get a curve ball that's too big to handle so you just shut down and call it a day.

As I've grown older, I've learned that boring is pretty damn nice. Sometimes I dread living a boring life, but those exciting days tend to make me enjoy them much more. So now when I have a boring day, I'm thankful it wasn't full of too much excitement.

Today was a day I had to apply both of these learnings. It was a bit too exciting in some areas, and just exciting enough in others. Since it was a Federal holiday, our babysitter was off which meant I was the babysitter. Yvonne was off too, but because she had some doctor's appointments. So William and I dropped Elizabeth off at school and we headed to town for a day of shopping. I scored a great breakfast at Panera before we headed to Target for some shopping. Nothing too exciting there, so we washed Yvonne's truck then headed to BJ's to meet Yvonne for some shopping. So far, nothing terribly exciting.

Then we headed to Gander Mountain for more shopping. William enjoyed looking at the tents, which was a hoot. Then we went to Joseph-Beth Booksellers where I scored a running and a tri magazine. Can't wait to crack into them. William was being a good sport, so I got a book for him (more on that later). We went down to the local bike shop and I shopped around and tried out a bike. Fit better than expected and was a hell of a lot lighter than expected. It may be love at first sight, but I think that's the bike I want. I'll have to do some more research. I also picked up new bike shorts (woohoo!) and some drink-mix to test out as well.

We met my dad for lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise and then we went to my favorite store, VA Runner where I finally made a decision and bought a pair of Kinvaras. Yes, I'm the proud owner of some Saucony Kinvaras (in ViZi-PRO of course) as well as a pair of Exodus 2s as well. They felt better than the Asics I tried on and feel better than the TR4s I already have.

I had my excitement in the bag with some new shoes so we headed to Wegman's to get some groceries. Since we were just a tiny bit pushed for time, I made sure we were as efficient as possible picking up all of our food. As we neared the end of the list, we waited for our steaks to get sliced and William decided to have his excitement. By barfing all over the cart, himself, and the floor. With a little going on the display and his father, but thankfully none contaminated the food. Ick.

As I cleaned my son, myself, and our cart, the employees at Wegman's were wonderful, nay, beyond wonderful. I had to sacrifice a reusable grocery bag to catch some of the barf as well as use it as a trash bag for the paper towels we were using. So not only did they help clean, they also gave us some plastic bags to use should William decide for more excitement. And, they gave us a new shopping bag to replace the sacrifice. And during the entire time, they kept asking if William was okay as well as asked if we needed anything. Not to mention the meat department guy finished cutting and wrapping the steaks. If you ever want to know what great customer service is like, I suggest you check out Wegman's and Zappos. Both are leaders in awesome service.

So while this all happened, I told Yvonne I couldn't make it to school to pick up Elizabeth, so Yvonne took care of that. And as William and I neared home, she called to tell me to take a detour because there was an accident right in front of our house. Oh boy. More excitement. Turns out some guy was run off the road by a woman in a white Jeep with a black top. She stopped, saw what happened, then took off. The guy that wrecked his truck was fine but his truck wasn't. Tires aren't supposed to point in opposite directions. So I put my new Saucony Epic Run jacket (in ViZi-PRO of course) to good use as I directed traffic around the scene.

So. Police. New shoes. Barf on my old shoes. And I still didn't get marshmallows at the grocery store. Now do you see why boring is good? And why adapting to the stuff life throws at you is important. And with that, I bid you good night.

Product Review - Hats

If you haven't done so already, you can read the first part of the Hats and Headbands review over here. This is where I cover headbands and touch lightly on how they compare to hats.

Hats

No, not summer hats, these are winter hats. As the temperatures warm up I may cover my summer hats, but for now, these are my winter hats. I need to admit up front that I have an unhealthy obsession with winter hats and I don't know why. Once upon a time I had a crazy jester hat. I've since retired it (or maybe my wife tossed it when I wasn't looking because she hated it) and moved on to the beanie style hat. They fit close to my head and they keep my head warm. I don't have a lot of hair but I do have a lot of melon, so size is an issue (insert crude joke here). I have tried on many, many winter hats over the ages and I've learned that they are made for people with normal sized heads. So unless it's larger than normal or made of some elastic material, the hat usually doesn't make it into my collection.

Columbia Whirlibird Watch Cap Beanie

FEATURES:
Not really any features to speak of. It has a small Columbia logo embroidered on the front, but that's about it.



FIT:
It's super stretchy, so you can put both hands on either side of your head while wearing it without worrying about having room. It also comes down low enough to cover your ears, so there's no worry about them getting cold.





CARE:
- Hand wash cold
- Dry flat
- Do not wring or twist
- Reshape
- Do not iron
- Do not bleach



OVERALL:
I'm not sure where I got this or how long ago, but I love it. It works for running and for casual wear, so it is versatile. I may look like a thug or a bank robber when I wear it, but I like how well it fits and keeps my head just the right temperature.



Penthouse Knits Wool Hat

FEATURES:
No real features to speak of other than it's made from a wool blend so it gets mighty itchy if you wear it for a while. But then again, it keeps your head super warm too.



FIT:
A bit small. It barely comes down low enough to cover my ears. At least to cover them well enough to keep them warm, but the trade off is that it keeps my head very warm. Which means my ears don't really get cold. It's also stretchy enough to fit my head and allow for some extra room.





CARE:
- Hand wash



OVERALL:
This is the warmest of the hats in my collection. And since it's so old (probably 20 years old or so) and since it appears the company is out of business, it'll be hard to find something like it. But with wool still out there for die-hard outdoor-types and variations of wool-like material available (like bamboo and Alpaca fur), you can still find something warm enough to match the heat of this hat. I typically reserve this hat for below freezing days or cold and rainy days because it retains so much heat. Even when soaked through from a heavy rain, it'll still make my head sweat. The only downside is that it will itch like crazy.



Saucony DryLete Skull Cap

FEATURES:
Not really any features to speak of. Hats aren't too exciting like that. But it does come in ViZi-PRO and has some reflective logos, so at least somebody may see you out there.



FIT:
Snug. Not as tight as the Saucony headband, but tight enough that it won't come off. And it's snug enough that you could probably wear it under a bike helmet or some other headgear if needed. And with the curved edges, my ears are covered up just fine.





CARE:
- Machine wash cold with like colour (their spelling, not mine)
- Do not use softeners
- Remove immediately
- Do not bleach
- Line dry
- Do not iron
- Do not dry clean



OVERALL:
Oddly enough, it was raining yet again when I tested this hat. Starting to wonder if running in the rain is going to become a theme of mine. Anyway, it fit nicely. Not too tight, not too loose, but if I had to pick a side, I'd say just a hair on the too-tight side. I was a little surprised at how well it performed in the rain. I had my wool hat as a backup all ready to go and I didn't need it. For the first six miles of my run in the rain (it varied from light to heavy rain with temps in the 40s) my head was warm. It wasn't dry by any means, but it was warm. Around the six mile mark (just over an hour running) I started to notice the wind pick up and I could feel it a bit on my head. It wasn't bad, but I'd say anything more than two hours in the rain, especially if there's wind, and I'd consider packing a backup just to make sure you stay warm for the duration.



MEASUREMENTS:
I've mentioned it a few times already, but I'll make it clear again. I have a big head. For those in the know, I wear a size 7 3/4. That means my head is roughly 24+ inches around. Closer to 25 inches if I include my ears. So size matters to me a lot. You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like.

Product Review - Headbands

First, I'll apologize for the photos you're about to see here. They include my head and face (often times looking drowsy or angry), so consider yourself warned.

Second, this review will be broken down into two main categories: hats and headbands. This portion will cover the headbands while an upcoming review will go over the hats. If you don't already know the difference, a headband is only going to cover your ears leaving the top of your head exposed. In my case, that means my receding hairline is exposed. A hat will cover the top of your head and, hopefully, your ears.

Headbands

I have two headbands that I run with. I've never been a fan of headbands until this year, so they're still a new concept to me. I've always avoided them because I have a giant head (more on that later) and I'm still a bit self-conscious about my hair-loss. But this year I decided to forget about fashion and go with function. So even though I may look like I have a rubber band around my head, at least my ears are warm.

That's about all the headband keeps warm too; your ears. So I recommend using them for those cold days that aren't too cold. Call it chilly, call it cool, you'll know when it's the right temperature when it's too cold we wear a regular hat and too warm to wear a winter hat. One final tidbit of advice, headbands are easy to peel off as a layer. With a winter hat you have to hold it or find a pocket to stash it in. With a head band you can loop it twice around your wrist and keep on running. It's what I've seen countless women do with their headbands and I never understood why. Now I do and it's because it's smart.

Saucony DryLete Headband

FEATURES:
Um, other than the ViZi-PRO color and some small reflective logos, there aren't really any features to speak of. The seams are a bit odd though, as they break the headband into three main parts. Just put the tag in the back and you'll be fine.





FIT:
Small. For me at least. I've popped several seams on this in an effort to not only get it on my giant gourd of a head but to also make it fit comfortably. So instead of a boa constrictor on my head, I just have a loose elastic feel.





CARE:
- Machine wash cold with like colour (their spelling, not mine)
- Do not use softeners
- Remove immediately
- Do not bleach
- Line dry
- Do not iron
- Do not dry clean



OVERALL:
This headband by Saucony is small. Smaller than I need it to be. In fact, if you look in some of the photos, you can clearly see the seams I have ripped from just putting it on my head. And if you can't see, I've ripped a lot them. The headband still works though, it still keeps my ears warm and allows my head to sweat as my body warms up. It's a nice, thin material that does a decent job of wicking sweat away from your eyes. When the time comes to shed this layer, it fits great on your wrist and, best of all, it's still highly visible in it's ViZi-PRO color.

Reebok Cold Weather Running Headband

FEATURES:
Like the Saucony, not really any features to speak of. The bright green/yellow portion is in the back, so drivers should be able to see you, but it doesn't compare to the visibility of the ViZi-PRO.





FIT:
Much better fit and much more coverage. No boa constrictor feel and no headaches after an hour of use.





CARE:
I've since removed the tag and labels with the care instructions, but I wash it like the Saucony headband. Cold water, gentle cycle, Sport Wash detergent, and hang dry.



OVERALL:
This headband is a bit larger than the Saucony and a bit warmer. Since it's made of a fleece-like material, I expected it to be warmer but it was even warmer than expected. The band is also wider and covers more of your head than the Saucony. Maybe this adds to it's increased heat, I don't know. But I would compare the heat from this headband to some of the lower end winter hats out there.

Measurements
I've mentioned it a few times already, but I'll make it clear again. I have a big head. For those in the know, I wear a size 7 3/4. That means my head is roughly 24+ inches around. Closer to 25 inches if I include my ears. So size matters to me a lot. You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like.