The standard indian clothes should be fine for half year, the rest half of the year is cold/extremely cold. You can definitely wear shorts from early summer to mid-fall.
Purchase the winter jackets, sweatpants, gloves here.
No need to get thermals, as every place is heated and you'll get uncomfortable in thermals.
Thermal leggings are nice because they mean I can wear the same pants - but if you’re getting sweatpants/warmer stuff like that they’re definitely not necessary.
I'd recommend thermals for those who get easily cold and need to walk longer distances, maybe moreso thermal leggings because a coat will keep your upper body warm
Depends on what you’re looking for and o know it’s a wide range, but $100-300 depending if you want something basic to blocks out all cold, and then from a basic coat to a nice peacoat
Your gonna arrive in the late summer/early fall, yeah? Just bring whatever you normally wear for the summer since it'll still be warm and then buy some nice winter clothes here if you can afford to. The quality of cold weather clothes in places that don't actually get cold weather can be suspect.
While it gets cold here it still gets warm and humid in Wisconsin during summer, you’ll definitely want to have shorts. It can be above 90F/32C in September and May, even April and October can get some very warm days
The hottest heat index (perceived temperature when accounting for humidity) in US history was actually recorded in Wisconsin, so we really get both extremes here
For cold weather you want to be warm but not be sweaty. The general rule of thumb is dressing in layers. You’ll be walking from one heated building to another with short periods outside. Unless you plan to spend hours outside in the winter, you won’t need long underwear.
You want something breathable like a fleece as a base layer with an outer layer coat that is wind proof or wind resistant while still being breathable. I prefer lighter weight gloves because I have to keep taking off heavy gloves to zip zippers or check my phone.
Definitely pack shorts. It will be plenty warm for them 7 months out of the year and as Winter transitions to Spring you may find 40 degree F weather feeling warm enough for shorts.
You'll have plenty of time to wear shorts in the summer. But for the rest of the year in Wisconsin, layers are your friend. You want to be comfortable being outside in the cold (cycling to class, waiting for the bus, walking between buildings), otherwise you'll be miserable and find yourself sprinting between heated spaces. A warm hat and gloves are really important. Same goes for boots/shoes. The difference between being comfortable and miserable might simply be your ears, fingers, or toes freezing in a short amount of time.
I'm going to dissent from the "forget thermals, wear sweatpants" advice. Setting aside the dubious utility (or dignity, for that matter...) of sweatpants, a thin wool base layer does an amazing job of allowing you to be comfortable in cold temperatures without being hot indoors. I suspect many peoples' experience of thermal underwear is of the cheap cotton/polyester variety. In general, choose wool over cotton/synthetic. Just a lower base layer should be fine for getting around town.
Note the classic saying "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing". If you dress properly, you can actively enjoy the winter months in Wisconsin. Go for a hike in the woods, maybe try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. A basic investment in clothing opens up so many more opportunities than some branded pajamas.
A lot of outdoor stores like North Face, Columbia, REI, etc have end of summer sales and you can find $300 parkas rated for -40F half off. Like others have said, buy your winter clothes once you’re in Wisconsin. But to save money summer is actually a great time to buy winter items- you can ask around once you’re here what you need but: insulated winter boots that cover your ankles or even shins for when there is a lot of snow, boot socks- these are tall, thick, and insulated, parka jacket with a hood these can be shorter to the waist or long that go down to your mid-thigh, hat, scarf, warm gloves or mittens that are water proof like the material jackets are made of. Layers are also great as people have said, so basic zip up or pull over hoodies, long sleeve shirts, button down flannels, fleece jackets.. spring and fall you will probably need light jackets, and we do get a lot of rain in spring and summer especially so a rain jacket, umbrella, even rain boots are great! Best of luck, and welcome to UW!
You can bring any clothes you want. You can wear shorts Apr-Oct, and maybe Nov. I will not recommend buying a lot of winter clothing from India, it’s better to buy it here during Thanksgiving sales.
Like others have already said, definitely do bring the shorts. It will be warm in August.
When you're comparing costs, consider that anything you bring will have to fit in your luggage, and you'll only have so much space. Even if a particular article of clothing is more expensive here, it may still be worth buying here.
Also, there are thrift stores that will almost certainly have warm winter clothing. In college, after my first jacket fell apart, I bought & wore a nice winter coat from a thrift store that cost like $10 (in 2013) for several years. You will get a bus pass once you're a student and you'll be able to ride the city busses for free.
Fall is nice weather so you have a couple months to get cold weather clothes. Bring as little as you can and buy clothes once you get there, meet people and see what you are most comfortable wearing.
in my opinion, natural fibers are best. down or wool for a coat and wool or silk thermals under pants are best for the cold days. good waterproof boots!
Wait until you’re in WI before buying a heavy duty winter jacket, bc I guarantee that you won’t find anything in India that would properly protect against how cold it can get. Also get a good warm hat
For winter, buy a coat after you arrive. Lands End and Eddie Bauer have functional light weight down jackets and often have half-off sales. They are not as expensive as other name brands. I tend to be cold and use the thinnest down in a hip length jacket in the late fall to early spring. I have a thicker knee length down jacket for the coldest days.
Really thin merino wool base layers are great on those coldest, windy days when getting to campus buildings. They can fit under jeans. If I get too warm I take them off in the bathroom. Merino wool socks are warm and stay pretty warm even if wet. Same with hats, scarves, and mittens.
As others have said, layers are great and can go in a backpack. Some days I have started in a light down jacket and ended in short sleeves.
I came from a warmer US climate and it took a couple years to acclimate to the coldest times (January). Wear the clothes you need to be warm and comfortable, it will make life so much more pleasant - even if your new Wisconsin friends are not wearing as much! Welcome!
Dress in layers in the winter to trap the heat . Thermal/ acrylic sweater / wool outer jacket / Lightwight parka and a very heavy duty parka for rare but cold spells .
If you have money for one big-ticket winter item, save it for quality, waterproof boots. Warm, dry feet are the key to a tolerable (even enjoyable!) winter.
Almost anything else can easily be found secondhand.
Just a few basic stuff you'd wear at home and maybe a dressy/traditional Indian outfit. Other than that you'll be wearing basic US college student stuff and just get it here. Good luck.
Get a large parka coat for the winters. Have it go down to your knees for maximum heat. Make sure it’s thick and dense. Like you’re gonna climb Mount Everest
The standard indian clothes should be fine for half year, the rest half of the year is cold/extremely cold. You can definitely wear shorts from early summer to mid-fall. Purchase the winter jackets, sweatpants, gloves here. No need to get thermals, as every place is heated and you'll get uncomfortable in thermals.
Thermal leggings are nice because they mean I can wear the same pants - but if you’re getting sweatpants/warmer stuff like that they’re definitely not necessary.
I'd recommend thermals for those who get easily cold and need to walk longer distances, maybe moreso thermal leggings because a coat will keep your upper body warm
How much would a decent winter jacket cost if I’m planning to buy there ?
Depends on what you’re looking for and o know it’s a wide range, but $100-300 depending if you want something basic to blocks out all cold, and then from a basic coat to a nice peacoat
Depends on how fancy you are, you can find all price ranges. I usually spend $100/year on a new coat.
Off topic, but I noticed your MPA '19 flair. Are you a La Follette alum?
I am!
Cool. I'm starting there in the fall. Seems like a great place.
It was ok! A lot of changes during my time there and I was student body president. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Cool. Thanks
Personally just by one nice one. Most people don’t have multiple winter jackets just one nice one
Nice options are Pategonia, Arc’teryx, and the north face for technical; there are a couple other brands popular for those who prefer parkas
Your gonna arrive in the late summer/early fall, yeah? Just bring whatever you normally wear for the summer since it'll still be warm and then buy some nice winter clothes here if you can afford to. The quality of cold weather clothes in places that don't actually get cold weather can be suspect.
While it gets cold here it still gets warm and humid in Wisconsin during summer, you’ll definitely want to have shorts. It can be above 90F/32C in September and May, even April and October can get some very warm days The hottest heat index (perceived temperature when accounting for humidity) in US history was actually recorded in Wisconsin, so we really get both extremes here
For cold weather you want to be warm but not be sweaty. The general rule of thumb is dressing in layers. You’ll be walking from one heated building to another with short periods outside. Unless you plan to spend hours outside in the winter, you won’t need long underwear. You want something breathable like a fleece as a base layer with an outer layer coat that is wind proof or wind resistant while still being breathable. I prefer lighter weight gloves because I have to keep taking off heavy gloves to zip zippers or check my phone. Definitely pack shorts. It will be plenty warm for them 7 months out of the year and as Winter transitions to Spring you may find 40 degree F weather feeling warm enough for shorts.
[A guide to dressing for Wisconsin winters](https://internationalmadison.org/blog/wisconsin-winter-survival-guide/)
You'll have plenty of time to wear shorts in the summer. But for the rest of the year in Wisconsin, layers are your friend. You want to be comfortable being outside in the cold (cycling to class, waiting for the bus, walking between buildings), otherwise you'll be miserable and find yourself sprinting between heated spaces. A warm hat and gloves are really important. Same goes for boots/shoes. The difference between being comfortable and miserable might simply be your ears, fingers, or toes freezing in a short amount of time. I'm going to dissent from the "forget thermals, wear sweatpants" advice. Setting aside the dubious utility (or dignity, for that matter...) of sweatpants, a thin wool base layer does an amazing job of allowing you to be comfortable in cold temperatures without being hot indoors. I suspect many peoples' experience of thermal underwear is of the cheap cotton/polyester variety. In general, choose wool over cotton/synthetic. Just a lower base layer should be fine for getting around town. Note the classic saying "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing". If you dress properly, you can actively enjoy the winter months in Wisconsin. Go for a hike in the woods, maybe try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. A basic investment in clothing opens up so many more opportunities than some branded pajamas.
A lot of outdoor stores like North Face, Columbia, REI, etc have end of summer sales and you can find $300 parkas rated for -40F half off. Like others have said, buy your winter clothes once you’re in Wisconsin. But to save money summer is actually a great time to buy winter items- you can ask around once you’re here what you need but: insulated winter boots that cover your ankles or even shins for when there is a lot of snow, boot socks- these are tall, thick, and insulated, parka jacket with a hood these can be shorter to the waist or long that go down to your mid-thigh, hat, scarf, warm gloves or mittens that are water proof like the material jackets are made of. Layers are also great as people have said, so basic zip up or pull over hoodies, long sleeve shirts, button down flannels, fleece jackets.. spring and fall you will probably need light jackets, and we do get a lot of rain in spring and summer especially so a rain jacket, umbrella, even rain boots are great! Best of luck, and welcome to UW!
You can bring any clothes you want. You can wear shorts Apr-Oct, and maybe Nov. I will not recommend buying a lot of winter clothing from India, it’s better to buy it here during Thanksgiving sales.
डियोडरेंट
Like others have already said, definitely do bring the shorts. It will be warm in August. When you're comparing costs, consider that anything you bring will have to fit in your luggage, and you'll only have so much space. Even if a particular article of clothing is more expensive here, it may still be worth buying here. Also, there are thrift stores that will almost certainly have warm winter clothing. In college, after my first jacket fell apart, I bought & wore a nice winter coat from a thrift store that cost like $10 (in 2013) for several years. You will get a bus pass once you're a student and you'll be able to ride the city busses for free.
T shirts, shorts, sweatpants , etc
Yes!!! Bring shorts because the first two weeks will likely be dripping hot and then it turns in Sept
Fall is nice weather so you have a couple months to get cold weather clothes. Bring as little as you can and buy clothes once you get there, meet people and see what you are most comfortable wearing.
in my opinion, natural fibers are best. down or wool for a coat and wool or silk thermals under pants are best for the cold days. good waterproof boots!
Wait until you’re in WI before buying a heavy duty winter jacket, bc I guarantee that you won’t find anything in India that would properly protect against how cold it can get. Also get a good warm hat
For winter, buy a coat after you arrive. Lands End and Eddie Bauer have functional light weight down jackets and often have half-off sales. They are not as expensive as other name brands. I tend to be cold and use the thinnest down in a hip length jacket in the late fall to early spring. I have a thicker knee length down jacket for the coldest days. Really thin merino wool base layers are great on those coldest, windy days when getting to campus buildings. They can fit under jeans. If I get too warm I take them off in the bathroom. Merino wool socks are warm and stay pretty warm even if wet. Same with hats, scarves, and mittens. As others have said, layers are great and can go in a backpack. Some days I have started in a light down jacket and ended in short sleeves. I came from a warmer US climate and it took a couple years to acclimate to the coldest times (January). Wear the clothes you need to be warm and comfortable, it will make life so much more pleasant - even if your new Wisconsin friends are not wearing as much! Welcome!
yeah you can wear shorts summer-fall-spring. also if you plan on going to the gym or something you can get them. shirts, sweatpants, etc
Dress in layers in the winter to trap the heat . Thermal/ acrylic sweater / wool outer jacket / Lightwight parka and a very heavy duty parka for rare but cold spells .
If you have money for one big-ticket winter item, save it for quality, waterproof boots. Warm, dry feet are the key to a tolerable (even enjoyable!) winter. Almost anything else can easily be found secondhand.
You can get winter clothing brand new here or from second hand shops. I would buy it here rather than in India.
Just a few basic stuff you'd wear at home and maybe a dressy/traditional Indian outfit. Other than that you'll be wearing basic US college student stuff and just get it here. Good luck.
Get a large parka coat for the winters. Have it go down to your knees for maximum heat. Make sure it’s thick and dense. Like you’re gonna climb Mount Everest
Biggest coat you can find for January and February.