What to Wear for Winter in Syracuse

graphic by lillian su

It’s getting real cold outside and real toasty in the lecture halls. The rain has been pouring down and the wind is whipping, not to mention that it’s SNOWING now. We hate to say it, but winter is basically here and we can already foresee ourselves slipping on the promenade. 

Don’t know what to wear? Jerk has the definitive guide on how to dress for SU’s endless winter weather.

First things first: do not just grab a Canada Goose coat and a pair of LL Bean duck boots and assume you’ll be set for the season. These items will make you look like a basic bitch and they definitely aren’t the only things you’ll need to survive the winter.

Now, onto the basics: coats and parkas. These are not the same thing, and we recommend you have both. A coat is pretty warm ,about hip-length, and may or may not be waterproof. They’re perfect for when it’s 35-50 degrees out, but not for when the wind chill makes it feel like -10. You’re coat doesn’t necessarily have to be waterproof, but make sure it’s at least water resistant and blocks some of the wind. 

Parkas are for when it’s freezing cold. If you’re busting out your parka when it’s above 40 degrees, your coat isn’t warm enough, and neither is your parka. You don’t need to be spending mad money on a Goose, but if you’re getting a super cheap parka, you’re going to be cold all winter. You need a parka that covers your thighs, is windproof, waterproof, and has a hood. Having a hood is, and we cannot stress this enough, IMPORTANT. Carrying an umbrella in the snow and freezing rain is not the move. All an umbrella does is make your fingers feel like they’re gonna freeze off, and the wind will probably turn it inside out and break it anyways. 

Almost as important as the jacket is the footwear. No matter what the U100 guide told you when you toured the university, they do not do a good job plowing or shoveling the snow. As comfortable and trendy as bean boots are, good luck if you try to walk down the promenade in those. You need something with a heavy tread so you don’t bust your ass. Hear us out- we suggest Timberlands with some warm socks. There’s styles in both men’s and women’s sizes that are way more interesting than the super basic Timbs every guy seems to own, and still have soles with a ton of traction. Sorel boots are also a good option, especially for keeping your feet warm.

Finally, don’t forget what you wear under your outerwear. Layers are a necessity. Don’t be that freshman wearing your hoodie with no shirt underneath when it’s 10 degrees out. Jeans with rips are cute, but they’re going to lead to some exposed skin, so we’d check the wind chill forecast before wearing those out. Also, make sure you’re wearing something that covers up your neck area, whether it’s a scarf or the neck of your hoodie or a coat that zips up high. Nothing is worse than cold wind blowing down the neck of your jacket.

If the winter is really unbearable and no amount of layers or beanies can save you, go abroad second semester (there, we said it). Skip the snowy mess entirely and don’t worry about any of this. But, if you’ll be on campus like the rest of us, use this guide to stay warm in the ‘Cuse tundra. To all our SU winter warriors: good luck out there, and try not to freeze your asses off!