How to Dress For the Cold

The weather changes from fall to winter can be drastic. To me, it happened so suddenly, I had never seen snow in my life before coming here. Growing up in Dubai, UAE, the climate was always warm. In Dubai, there are only two seasons: summer and less-hot summer. After surviving this long, I’ve learned many ways to dress for this climate. This is your definitive guide on how to dress for the cold and where to shop.

Layers, Layers & Layers

The most important concept when dressing for this climate is layering. I highly recommend wearing 2–3 layers every time you go out. One layer alone is not enough. I once made the mistake of walking to the gym wearing only a hoodie in the snow—horrible idea. It was 0°C (32°F), the wind was blowing heavily, and I wasn’t layered properly. I thought, “It’s only a 5-minute walk, I’ll be fine,” but I was very wrong. After two minutes, I immediately turned back home to put on more layers. You need a base layer, which can be a T-shirt or a sweater, a second layer, which can be a hoodie (preferably thick) or another sweater, and finally, the final layer, which can be a jacket that protects you from the wind, such as a puffer jacket or windbreaker. Thermal jackets are a plus. It’s usually not the cold itself that’s the issue; the wind makes it feel even colder, so you must protect yourself from it.

Accessories 

Although accessories aren’t as essential as layering, I highly recommend some form of head protection—especially for your ears. If you tend to get cold easily, consider investing in a thick beanie that complements your outfits. It keeps your head and ears warm, though it may mess up your hair a bit.
Wearing gloves is also a great idea, as fingers get cold very quickly in the snow. I recommend thick gloves with touchscreen capability so you can use your phone without taking them off. If the temperature drops below 5°C (23°F), you should absolutely wear a neck gaiter, gloves, and a beanie—the wind will freeze your face.

Playing Sports

As an athlete, there’s nowhere in the world where I won’t work out or play a sport. When I play soccer in the snow, I always make sure to wear gloves and a beanie. It’s impossible to run and play comfortably in such cold weather without them. A neck gaiter also helps a lot.
If I play soccer outdoors without a beanie or gloves, my ears start to hurt terribly, and my fingers begin to tremble—ears and fingers are small and get cold fast. Make sure to warm up properly for at least 5–10 minutes before any physical activity. Your body will be stiff from the cold, so warming up helps prevent injury.
RIT also offers many indoor spaces for sports, so you don’t have to play outside. Snow makes the ground extremely slippery, especially for soccer.

Where to Shop

There are numerous places near RIT where you can shop for winter clothes, and occasionally, pop-up shops are held on campus. My top picks are Burlington, Marshalls, and Amazon.

• Burlington is my personal favourite because of its great prices. They sell name-brand clothing with amazing deals. I bought a Dick’s jacket for $20, three beanies for $9, and winter gloves for $11. The variety is great, but items may run out since it’s an outlet-style store.
• Marshalls has, in my opinion, the best winter boots. You must get proper winter boots to walk through thick snow during December–February; otherwise, your toes will freeze.
• Amazon is a convenient option since it sells everything. I recommend it especially if you don’t want to go out.
• Tip: RIT students get Amazon Prime free for six months.

Closing Note

The cold is just one obstacle to having a fun and active life at RIT. Layering up can help you stay warm and prevent you from freezing in the cold. There are always 100 reasons not to do something, but you only need one reason to do it. So go out there, and don’t let the cold stop you.