Coming out of lurkdom to say "Yo!" & ask a few cold weather running gear n other stuff q's......

I'm about to embark on running a marathon in Nara, Japan in December & then hope to do some light running in the US whilst we drive from LA-Chicago in mid/late December. Getting the right gear that'll fit into my small luggage is the key..

We don't have real cold in Perth & my only experience running in coolish weather(around 0C) when i was in Geelong (Near melbourne) in June & froze my poor hands n upper body. If i'm moving quickly enough, just shorts are fine in cool weather for me. Top part of the body is the issue...

I've had a peek around the lovely TE shop but am totally lost on what to buy ..I'm concerned a base layer will be too bulky in the end. I'd like a vest or something like it but nothing zip up as every zipper on a zip up vest i've ever bought hits my face and proceeds to annoy me...

I can't try the clothes out on a run here as it's approaching summer . All those wet, chilly & windy long runs have paid off in the events i've done over "winter" so i'm happy.

Any suggestions? I'll do some more forum searches for some answers...


Thanks