This is one of those questions that may not have a specific answer, but which is very often asked by novice runners.
Equipment for running in the fall is selected based on weather conditions, particularly air temperature. In most cases, fall running is not much different from summer running. And summer temperatures can sometimes be lower than in the fall.
Therefore, the division of clothing for running by season is incorrect in itself: you should look only at the thermometer and the presence of precipitation.
Shorts and tights
In hot weather such questions do not arise – even in shorts you sweat. When the temperature drops, your feet can get a little cold and you have legitimate questions about what to insulate them with, whether you need to insulate them at all, and at what temperature.
I once told you that the optimal limit for going from shorts to pants is 12 degrees Celsius. It is possible to bare the knee joints in the cold without consequences for their health, but only if there is no systematic cyclic load on them. That is, this is not our case.
The best option for lower-body clothing during the average fall is, of course, tights. Regular rains coupled with winds can quickly make the air damp and cold. If the pace of running is low, working out in shorts may no longer be comfortable.
For those who for some reason do not accept tight clothing (even though it is ideal for running), you can advise to look for running pants (for example, Kalenji in Decathlon). But you have to understand that pants provide less comfort for your legs than tights, as well as worse moisture wicking.
Sometimes jogging shorts are put on top of tights. Some for the same supposed reasons of ethics, and some because they have pockets for a smartphone and keys.
It is better to have tights in your closet and, getting rid of stereotypes, train in any cold weather in them, because that’s what they are created for. In addition, in extreme winter cold they can be worn under pants as thermal underwear.
Raincoats and windbreakers
Autumn is the rainy season, so you need to prepare for water procedures. A windbreaker jacket or raincoats made of membrane fabrics immediately comes to mind. But as we know, membranes can only work well in cooler temperatures at light temps.
In any case, of course, membrane waterproof jackets are always better than conventional fabrics (and even more so, rubberized raincoats), but really good options are not cheap.
The main requirement in the fall – is the windproof outerwear, so you can buy an ultralight and inexpensive jacket with ventilation on the sides or on the back for sweating. The firm in this case is absolutely not important, so do not overpay and take the cheapest.
Sneakers
In the fall, trail running shoes with more aggressive soles prevail in the northern latitudes because of the many wet and muddy areas on the forest trails. City sneakers for running on asphalt, on the other hand, remain the same as they do in the summer. Moreover, they continue to serve in the winter, no special shoes are required if the sole allows you to maintain a good grip on the surface.
If you are in danger of catching a cold and getting sick when your feet get wet from running in puddles, you might recommend wearing thermal socks or thin wool socks. Both are capable of losing only 20% of their thermal properties when wet. But most likely, such solutions are more suitable for winter, otherwise your feet will be wet just from sweat.
We looked at the nuances of wet weather in a related publication about running in the rain.
Headwear
Your head needs to be protected from the cold. In the deep fall it can get quite seriously blown out, and when it’s wet – especially. You can initially look for a jacket with a hood – it’s a great option for rain, but often the head in the hood is wet much faster than when running in a downpour. Regular caps and lightweight hats with some kind of windstopper work better and they are much more comfortable because they are independent items.
Gloves
When the air temperature gets close to zero, your hands start to freeze when you run because of the constant cooling by the wind currents. Any gloves that are comfortable for you will do. But there are also special running gloves. Of course, they are lighter, more comfortable and do not blow out.
The rest of the outfit
The rest of the clothing for running in the fall can include a good moisture-wicking T-shirt, running jackets of all modifications and buff (buff) – a sports tubular scarf, which options are also very diverse: from thin and weightless to winter, from fleece.
