MEAGHAN: Since 2014, Tracksmith has celebrated the grind of winter training with No Days Off (NDO), a call-to-action to recommit to running through winter. No one loves the bleak, dark depths of January and February, but, it’s made a little better with the right gear.
The NDO collection features Merino Wool and includes all the winter running essentials: a jacket, turtleneck, tights, cap, and mittens– for both men and women. As you probably know by now, merino wool is a magical fiber– temperature regulating, moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and quick drying.
I tested the NDO Jacket and tights, while Thomas tested the NDO Jacket and NDO Mittens.
The NDO Jacket is a hooded Merino-bonded softshell that can be worn on the coldest of mornings. It features two zippered pockets and a bright white reflective band across the back. It’s comfortable, warm and gives you the reflectivity you need without going full-out November Project neon. While I didn’t feel like I had quite the full range of motion for my arms, I absolutely love everything else about it.
Pair this jacket with a Tracksmith base layer or turtleneck and those dark, 20-degree mornings don’t seem quite as bad.
THOMAS: I got to try out the NDO Jacket with the reflective strip and the mittens. I have the classic NDO jacket and it is one of my favorite cold day jackets. The secret is the thickness of the material. It keeps the wind out without feeling like a plastic shield.
The new NDO jacket feels heavier than the OG and has some added structural elements to offset the stripe of reflective material on the back. One of the new things is an interior chest pocket that is just the right size for a credit card, keys, or your favorite energy gel. The jacket sits right on the waist with a generous hood.
The softshell bonded to the 100% Merino Wool liner will keep you off the treadmill on the coldest of days. With the jacket’s thermal properties, you can get away with less layering too. I, like Meaghan, would recommend the Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer, a personal favorite of ours. She even stole one to wear around casually. Reach for the NDO jacket on the colder days when you need more than a windbreaker.
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MEAGHAN: The NDO tights are equally comfortable and warm. These are not your super-tight compression tights, they’re soft and stretchy and oh-so-comfortable. Designed with Tracksmith’s signature waistband, you don’t have to worry about them slipping down mid-run. And like the jacket, the NDO tights feature a reflective sash on the front right thigh and back left calf for added visibility.
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THOMAS: I also got the NDO Mittens. I received a pair of XL, and I am more of a medium, but the beautiful thing about mittens is the air heats up around the fingers so a little extra room didn’t hurt for testing purposes. It is a two-layer mitten, water-resistant shell with a Merino wool layer and a soft lighter nylon-elastane blend fleece interior mitten. I wore them together every time I used them.
These are bangin’! The runs I wore these on all started off frigid, and a mile in is when my hands really start to freeze up. Not in the NDO mittens. I stayed comfortable and warm, and as the run progressed my hands were able to sweat a little and have the sweat absorbed by the softer interior layer. Every finger stayed toasty.
MEAGHAN: While Tracksmith gear will cost you a pretty penny, it will also last you year after year. You can pick up any of these items by using the shop link below.
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