Walking around campus during the winter can be . . . shall we say . . . less than fun.  It’s often slippery, cold, and windy.  It also seems like everything you wear gets drenched whenever it snows.  This is because college is different; you are constantly walking in between buildings to get to your classes.  You need the right gear to make it through your day without getting cold and drenched.  This is why we’ve put together a list of the four most essential pieces of clothing for getting through winter on campus.

Photo from buffalostate.edu

Snow boots.  Your best friends will be snow boots when it gets to be really snowy.  We suggest picking boots that are not only waterproof, but also have a warm lining and have treads on the bottom so you don’t face plant on your way to class.

A waterproof snow jacket.  Like we said, it seems like every time it snows on campus, everything you wear seems to get wet.  This is why a warm, waterproof snow jacket is a great idea for getting through those cold, snowy days.

Gloves.  Gloves are pretty much a give in, however, we don’t just recommend any gloves.  We specifically recommend getting gloves that have some sort of traction so that you’ll still be able to use your phone while you’re wearing them.  It can be a pain if you have to make a phone call and you have to remove your gloves.  The best thing is to either find gloves that just naturally work well enough so that you can still use your phone, or find gloves that can do that (they actually make them, which is cool).

A hat.  Like gloves, a hat is kind of a give in.  However, we really recommend a thick knit hat that will cover your ears.  This way you won’t get that searing pain in your ears that you get when it’s really cold and windy outside.  This will also prevent you from getting too soaked when it’s snowing out.

While some of this stuff may seem like a no-brainer, prepping for your trek across campus can sometimes feel like a science that you have to learn and perfect.  It really comes down to what is going to keep you the warmest and the driest when it gets really nasty outside.