What to Wear for Soccer in Cold Weather: Nike Therma, Dri-FIT, and Winter Warrior Gear

For some soccer players, cold-weather matches can be a welcome change after games in warm conditions. That said, it’s important for soccer players to dress appropriately when temperatures drop.

To stay healthy, Mayo Clinic recommends suiting up in layers that provide coverage against chilly air but can quickly be removed once an athlete’s body temperature starts to increase.

Below, check out the best Nike soccer gear for chilly conditions.

• Start with a Dri-FIT base layer to wick sweat, add a fleece hoodie or pullover for warmth, and top with a water-repellent jacket in wet conditions.
• Nike Therma-FIT pants channel body heat and feature zip legs, so players can remove them over cleats.
• The Nike Dri-FIT neck warmer keeps the face and neck warm while wicking sweat.
• Firm-ground cleats like the Nike Tiempo provide the traction needed when the pitch is slippery from frost or rain.

Nike provides a range of fabric technology to support cold-weather soccer. Understanding the difference between these can help you to choose the best cold-weather soccer gear for you. Here’s a breakdown.

Nike Therma-FIT is a fabric technology that uses your body heat to keep you warm in cold weather. It’s used in some of Nike’s soccer training pants and tops.

Nike Dri-FIT is Nike’s moisture-wicking technology. It shuttles sweat away from your skin and toward the surface of the fabric for faster evaporation. In cold weather, this helps prevent sweat-soaked fabric from making you chilly.

The Nike Winter Warrior collection is a range of cold-weather soccer gear. It’s specially designed for soccer players who train in cold, wet conditions and includes the Dri-FIT Strike Winter Warrior Snood, a sweat-wicking neck and face warmer.

The best layers for cold-weather soccer gear are ultimately the ones that will keep you the most comfortable. While everyone has a personal preference, Nike specifically designed certain tops, training pants, and jackets with layering in mind. Consider these to stay warm while playing soccer in the cold.

• Layer 1 (Base): A Nike Dri-FIT top or tight-fitting underlayer to manage sweat and keep skin dry
• Layer 2 (Mid): A Nike Therma-FIT top or fleece
  hoodie for insulation, a zip-up offers easy removal
• Layer 3 (Outer): A water-repellent jacket, like the Nike Repel Hooded Versatile Jacket, or vest for rain, wind, and snow protection
• Legs: Nike Therma-FIT training pants with zip legs worn over match shorts
• Extremities: Nike Dri-FIT neck warmer, field gloves, and a beanie or headband
• Cleats: Firm-ground cleats, like the Nike Tiempo, whose TechLeather material is a good fit in wet conditions

The best soccer gear for rain will keep you comfortable and dry. That includes jackets and shells with water-repellent coating, along with tops and pants made with Nike Dri-FIT technology to wick away sweat and keep you from feeling weighed down by your gear.

While goalkeepers wear gloves no matter the weather, outfield players may also wear gloves. The gloves for outfield players can be made of soft, lightweight, padded material, according to the Football Association (FA).

The soft TechLeather material on the Nike material is a great option in wet conditions.

It may be unsafe to play soccer outside when the air temperature dips below 0 degrees Fahrenheit or if there is an extreme windchill, per the Mayo Clinic. The risk of frostbite also increases when the air temperature is below 5 degrees Fahrenheit.