What to do when you are unsure about the weather
Short answer: Dress for the coldest part of the day and take a layer off when it gets warm. That works in both directions, while a missing layer does not. It is the simplest rule when the weather is hard to read.
The rule
Start from the lowest temperature you will be out in. A layer you can take off solves a warm afternoon, while a layer you did not bring does not solve a cold evening. It is therefore safer to bring too much than too little, as long as the extra can come off and fit in the bag.
Why it works both ways
A layer you can take off gives you two options. If it is cold, you wear it, and if it gets warm, you take it off. Without the layer, you have only one option, and it rarely suits the whole day. That keeps the rule easy to follow, even when you do not know the weather.
Which layer should come off
Choose a thin middle layer that can be rolled up. It takes little room in the bag and works alone or together with something else. A thick layer is harder to bring along and quickly becomes a burden when you do not need it. See bamboo sweatshirt for men.
The exception on very hot days
On very hot days, you dress for the heat. There is no cold evening to plan for, and an extra layer just becomes something to carry around. Pick a light garment that feels airy and that you can wear all day. See bamboo t-shirts for men and bamboo clothing for women.
What to check in the forecast
Look at the lowest temperature and when it arrives. That is the one you dress for, because it is the one you cannot fix afterwards. The highest temperature you can handle by taking a layer off. So look downwards first, and then look upwards.
Why not dress for the average
The average does not exist at any time of the day. If it is ten degrees in the morning and twenty in the afternoon, it is never fifteen, and you will be cold or sweaty most of the time. Dress for the coldest and take layers off, and you meet both ends of the day instead of neither.
When the layer takes up too much room
If the layer takes up too much room, choose a thinner one that rolls up in the bag. Try packing it at home so you know it fits. A layer left in the wardrobe solves nothing on a cold evening. The best layer is the one you actually have with you.
Where to keep the layer
Put the layer in the bag or tie it around your waist, so you have it to hand when it gets cold or warm. If you have a bag you use daily, the layer can simply stay in it. Then you do not have to remember it every morning, and you have it on the day you need it.
Making it a habit
Make it a habit to think about the coldest point of the day before you leave. It takes a few seconds, and you do not need to be sure about the weather. Pick the layer for the coldest, and bring an extra one that can come off. Then you are ready, whatever the day brings.
Frequently asked questions
What should you check in the forecast?
The lowest temperature and when it arrives. That is the one you dress for, since a missing layer cannot be fixed afterwards, while a spare layer can simply be taken off.
What if the layer takes up too much room?
Choose a thinner layer that can be rolled up in the bag. Try packing it at home so you know it fits and that you actually have it with you when you need it.
Why not dress for the average?
Because the average does not exist at any time of the day. You would be cold in the morning and sweaty in the afternoon, instead of well dressed for both.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
