Wisconsin experiences a range of weather (sometimes in the same day). As a UW student, you will walk to most places and you need to be ready for the weather. I have lived in Madison for 12 years and am excited to share some lesser-known and helpful tips.
- Jackets & Sweatshirts: Make sure you have a few jackets and sweatshirts for different temperatures.
- Coats: Get your winter coat during October so you don’t wake up to snow and not have a coat. Yes, it has snowed in October!
- Gloves: Find some touchscreen gloves so you can use your phone without taking them off.
- Yoga Pants: They are great for wearing under your pants to keep you warm, and they come in fun colors so they can double as comfy clothes or as PJs. Buy some with pockets for your phone and cards.
- Trapper Hats: Trapper hats have ear flaps. This will keep your head warm without covering your eyes. Ear muffs and ear bands are great for your EARS, but won’t keep your whole head warm. I cannot recommend these hats enough!
- Raincoats: I don’t recommend an umbrella; it’s too windy when it rains. Get a raincoat or a windbreaker. It will keep you dry and the wind won’t ruin it. (Also, you won’t poke out a fellow walker’s eye.)
- Rain Boots: You don’t need rainboots, but they can come in handy. Remember, you will be walking a lot and you don’t want to do that with wet socks.
- Bonus non-clothing item, Sunscreen: We don’t always realize how long we are in the sun. Use (biodegradable) sunscreen so you don’t get back to your dorm looking as red as our school colors.
Welcome to UW-Madison and On Wisconsin!
