Tips for staying warm on college tours: BRRR!

College Search & Lists
, , , , , ,
21

I can’t remember where you’re coming from, but as a Californian touring schools in Chicago and St Louis in February, I was COLD. There was lots of walking outside, both on the school tours and touristing around a bit in Chicago. My D had boots, but not winter boots and her feet were freezing even with wool socks. Plus there was icy snow on the ground and at the very least you want waterproof shoes. I DO recommend long underwear, especially if there’s any kind of wind. Also, Uniqlo has inexpensive winter coats that are very smooshable into suitcases. If I hadn’t found a drastic markdown at REI I would have gone with Uniqlo. I remember my D and I ducking into Target for cheap hats and gloves as well.

Perhaps I sound like a wimpy Californian and I’m okay with that. But why suffer on a college tour if you don’t have to? My D ultimately chose to go to college in Chicago and the weather hasn’t diminished her enthusiasm at all. She wears her long parka from REI, but rarely if ever wears her winter boots. But I think Chicago hasn’t had much snow this winter or last (Chicagoans can correct me if need be).

3 Likes
22

I have fleece socks that I can wear under boots or even in shoes (just make sure they are not tight fitting). They are very warm, and not very costly.

23

So I grew up in the Upper Midwest, spent lots of winter vacations in cabins and sometimes even tents (thanks to the Boy Scouts), and so on.

The #1 thing to understand is being wet in the cold is by far the biggest danger. And the mistake a lot of people make is bundling up for the cold outdoors, then going inside somewhere warmer and sweating, and then going back outdoors. And that is a recipe for getting really cold.

OK, so layers is good advice for multiple reasons, including because you can then go up or down in layers as you move through different temperatures so as to avoid overheating and sweating. But then you have to actually do that! Take off coats, hats, scarves, and gloves, open up layers, sometimes even take off footwear, that sort of thing. Be proactive, don’t wait until you are hot and sweaty already, do it as soon as you move into a warmer situation and adjust your clothing to match.

Note even outside, exertion, sunshine, all this can start you overheating and you want to try to prevent that, or end it immediately, if possible. Maybe open up your jacket or take off your hat proactively. If you are quickly too cold, put it back on. But better to stay dry and then go up in layers than get wet and try belatedly to go down in layers.

I think having this concept in mind helps choose garments as well. Wool is handy because it stays warm even wet, so that is part of why people recommend wool base layers and socks (which presumably you can’t take off, and might sweat into despite your best efforts).

For other layers, think about being able to open them up or take them off and on easily. Zippers are a marvelous technology. Oversized pockets for hats and gloves.

Boots you will struggle to get on and off are not so handy–lots of people get sweaty wet feet indoors and then freeze their toes when back outside. Even just being able to slip the heel off when, say, sitting in a warm info session can help keep your feet dry for when you head back outside for your tour. That sort of thing.

5 Likes
24

Here are the fleece socks I own.

https://www.amazon.com/Acorn-Mens-Womens-Versafit-Fleece/dp/B008DVYAI6/ref=asc_df_B008DVYAI6/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312670521117&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7933164932986045406&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003198&hvtargid=pla-569729248494&psc=1&mcid=03c9b1ffd5133203a2505d6e02ac4eab&gclid=CjwKCAiA_aGuBhACEiwAly57MTIKf8OMo8Bn727v3nv9Iy3ExKB8K9r_0puGtWAjej4XnXWgFHKNTxoCenwQAvD_BwE

1 Like
25

I agree about checking wind and humidity levels in addition to temp. Also depends on how much of the tour is spent outside at the particular school. I would treat a tour that is primarily outdoors for 1+ hrs differently than you would if you were simply out running errands or even being a student outside for 10-15 min between classes.

I lived in Chicago for 12 yrs as an adult, and yet upon returning for tours, somehow I froze, thanks in part to a long-winded tour guide (1.5 hrs) in the morning, and a hotel room the night before that was too cold and I didn’t realize till morning, so I was starting out the day cold. It was in the 20s but there was humidity and of course wind; perhaps that snowstorm that delayed our flight should have been a clue. I was wearing a fleece, a non-down puffy jacket, and insulated shell, but it may have been my feet. I think I had on wool socks with a waterproof moc type of shoe, but it wsn’t enough. Highly recommend wool socks but also footwear that will block the wind. Hat, and ideally, mittens. S was cold in the jacket he wears for skiing, maybe due to a footwear issue (running shoes are designed to release heat). If I had a do-over for that particular day, I would have bought some sort of insulated bootie for myself and brought windproof mittens rather than simple fleece gloves.

Can’t really control for that flight delay, tho ending up wiht 4 hrs sleep sure didn’t help. I found myself having to suppress the reflexive “it’s #$%^& cold” muttering to myself throwback to pre-kid times. Maybe I am just old and soft now, making liberal use of heated seats and even heated steering wheel, such that I rarely dress properly in the dry cold where we live.

26

Add me to the chorus of dress in layers for the outside walking tour. Fleece tops are great and a hat and scarf are a must. Hand warmers are very inexpensive. I not only have a pack of them but also a little gizmo that doubles as both a hand warmer and a phone charger. Remember your cellphone battery will lose power faster in the cold. I also recently bought new inexpensive totes boots that I wear when I walk to/from ski slopes. They are comfortable, waterproof and warm.

27

A fellow sports parent showed up with one of those at a game, and within two weeks most of us had them as well. Very handy.

28

Yep!! I bought mine a few years ago from Eddie Bauer. Here’s an inexpensive one from Walmart, and the low boots I bought (short boots are easier to pack and these are light and they have zippers on both sides. Very handy)

IMG_8426
IMG_84261172×1895 216 KB

IMG_8427
IMG_84271179×1304 141 KB

3 Likes
29

I was so much more miserable in Savannah last summer than I’ve ever been up here!

3 Likes
30

THIS. This is my biggest concern. I’ll be fine – we’ve spent Christmases in Iowa and do go skiing in places like Utah from time to time and so we actually have a fair amount of smartwool base layers, Darn Tough socks, fleece neck gaiters, warmer gloves/mittens, hats (even Beard Head balaclavas – google them…) stashed away. The one thing my son doesn’t own is a long insulated coat. Since I was coincidentally in the area’s largest thrift store yesterday, I did browse the coat racks to see what was available (not much.)

I think our strategy will be winter hiking boots with wool socks, a thin long underwear layer under jeans for the coldest weekend of the trip (in MN), and fleece/down jackets layered under windproof outer layers for the windiest portions of the trip. Ski hats/warm gloves/handwarmers just in case. I’m honestly most concerned about Minnesota – Ohio looks warmer and Pennsylvania/NY warmer still.

(And now I’m thinking that the obvious thing to wear for our Macalester tour is, in fact, the Viking beardclava. Mwahaha…)

1 Like
31

My son has NEVER owned a “long” insulated coat. Just jackets. Never froze, and went to college in Boston.

4 Likes
32

Mine either. Guys wear mostly jacket length and add the long underwear for extremes or serious amount of outdoor time.

2 Likes
33

I’ll be the one in the Viking hat and beard. My son will be the one who is beet red over his gaiter and hanging out as far aware from the Viking as possible.

1 Like
34

This sounds perfect. I think you’ll be fine. Buy some packets of hand warmers, and know that hot drinks after your tours will be something to look forward to. It sounds like a great adventure, make the weather part of the adventure :slight_smile:

2 Likes
35

After writing this (and ordering bigger long underwear for my ever-growing string bean boy) I checked the weather again now it’s projected to be a full 20 degrees warmer than the previous forecast on the day we tour Macalester. That’s normal winter. We can cope. Still – perhaps others will find this advice useful.

2 Likes
36

I hope you’ll report back with your thoughts --not just about the weather, but the schools, too! You’re visiting a couple that we won’t get to anytime in the near future, but that D25 is considering.

1 Like
37

Yes, I’m planning to write a full report for the “colleges that went up/down/stayed same” mega thread and will also update on my earlier threads asking advice. I love reading about other people’s college tour/selection sagas – the more color the better. So, stay tuned!

6 Likes
38

I’m interested in hearing how your tours go. And taking notes in case it is super cold in Maine in mid-March.

39

At the rate we’re going, I don’t think it will be cold in Maine mid-March. I think the lowest temperature I’ve seen at our house is 8 degrees. Most years, we’re well below zero for a lot of nights. It was in the low 50s last Saturday. Blech.

1 Like
40

I would:

  1. Take coats/jackets with hoods (in addition to hats)
    2.Stop by at Costco or Walmart on the way and get hand/toes warmer (put toe warmers on top of toes). The ones that are air activated.
1 Like