How to Dress for Winter in Boston [Video]
Five Essentials for Surviving a New England Winter
Five Essentials for Surviving a New England Winter
It’s a familiar story: you get accepted to BU and you spend the fall semester in awe of New England. The changing leaves, the river breeze, the first snowfall in December—it’s all gorgeous and you think to yourself, hey, Boston isn’t so bad!
Enter: January. That first snowfall turns into a week straight of snow, with banks of the white stuff rising and temperatures dropping until it’s negative 10 with wind chill. Walking to class becomes Surprise Extreme Cardio (who doesn’t love their wind tunnel with a side of ice skating?), and by the time you hit your first single-digit-temps day, you start to wonder, why did I ever move to Boston?
But don’t pack your bags just yet—for those of you still reeling from your first cold snap, BU Today is here to help. We’ve put together five essential items for surviving your very first (or 50th) New England winter, from gloves that actually keep your fingers warm to heavy-duty moisturizer. And be sure to check out our video of veteran New England outdoorsman Hutch Hutchinson (GRS’15), a Questrom senior lecturer, offering tips on dressing for all winter weather, from brisk days to blizzards.
And remember, folks: when in doubt, l-a-y-e-r.
Stay warm, BU!
Boots with serious traction
When the temperature drops to the single digits, it’s time for fashion to take a back seat to function. You’re going to want a pair of sturdy boots to keep you steady when the ice hits the pavement (so you won’t). Look for waterproof boots that lace up past your ankles (no rolled ankles this winter, please!) and come with a chunky sole with plenty of treads. Remember that if you’re planning to wear thick socks—merino wool strongly recommended—with your boots, you may want to go up a half size. Or, you could opt for faux fur–lined boots to keep your feet toasty from the get-go.
Look for: Boots from tried-and-true retailers like L.L. Bean or Sorel. In a pinch, Doc Martens (or similar brands) with thick socks (preferably merino wool) work, too.
Gloves that didn’t come from a drugstore or convenience store
No hate to CVS or Walgreen’s, but those thin polyblend gloves they sell by the register just don’t cut it on a cold January day in Boston. Instead, invest in a pair of thick waterproof gloves or mittens to keep your fingers warm this winter. Go for leather (or vegan leather), or look for descriptors like fleece-lined, insulated, or thermal—all will prevent your digits from freezing when it’s, uh, freezing. And if all you have at your disposal is drugstore gloves: layer, layer, layer.
Look for: Packable but powerful gloves like these from L.L. Bean or a pair of touchscreen down mittens from Eddie Bauer.
A coat that covers to your knees (at least)
There’s a reason everyone in Boston looks like a garbage bag with legs in the winter—the more your coat resembles a blanket, the better. Hey, your bottom half needs to stay warm, too! Hooded parkas that hit your knees or lower are your best bet for those frigid winter winds. Although quality jackets can come with a hefty price tag, we can’t say the splurge isn’t worth it. If you’re watching your spending, though, try secondhand or find someone with a Costco membership—there are great deals online and in warehouses.
Look for: Long, puffy coats like this REI Co-op parka or this MPG parka from Costco.
Heavy-duty moisturizer
Winter does a double-whammy on your skin, thanks to cold temps outdoors and dry, dusty heaters on full blast indoors. Keep your face happy and flake-free this season with a thicker, winter-grade moisturizer—just make sure it’s noncomedogenic. (Check out our tips for combating dry skin and maskne here.) Lips, too, can end up flakier than grandma’s piecrust, so find a good balm and use it liberally.
Look for: Products with ceramides or hyaluronic acid, like this CeraVe cream or this Neutrogena gel-cream moisturizer.
An ice scraper and shovel
Have a car? Then you’ll need a good ice scraper and snow shovel handy for those mornings when you have to be somewhere at 9 am sharp, and the four inches that fell overnight look like they’re trying to make you late. (Not today, snow!)
Look for: A double-ended snowbrush and scraper like this one from Home Depot and a shovel with a bladed edge for pushing and shoveling action.
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