Pack a Warm Jacket for Spring

Your post gave me a laugh because of a memory it gave me from last year. We were on a river cruise in late May that started in Amsterdam. We made friends with an Australian couple and I met them for a bike ride one morning. Temperature was in the 60's and they arrived shivering in puffer jackets and jeans while I had on shorts and a light jacket. They'd left home with the temperature in the high 80's while we left home with temps in the 50's...shorts weather.

Two years ago in late April, early May we had sunny 60's & 70's. We were so lucky. Imagine Keukenhof sunny and nearly 80. But our day at the WW1 Battlefields in Belgium was so cold with wind and rainy/sleet that I couldn't focus on what our local tour guide was saying. She never batted an eye at the miserable weather!

That's really too bad, and yes quite funny, Allan. On MAY 3rd we sat under an awing at an outdoor-only cafe here in Uppsala, (45 min train ride north of Stockholm for context), wearing what I would call my 'South of the Alps' winter down coat to my knees, heavy rain pants, wool socks, wool headband & gloves. It was drizzling & we were the only people there. The Swedish STAFF complimented us on handling the bad weather! (So you know it wasn't good!)

Wet cold is somehow colder!!

There is a reason why the Dutch invented speed skating.

Your post made me smile too!

I’ve been in Paris for 3 weeks arriving April 15. About the 2nd day when I headed out the guy at the Reception desk said…”It’s chilly, you probably need a jacket”. Poo, I thought….I’m from Idaho and the sun is out. Well, I froze my bee-hind off while sitting in a garden and yes, wore my puffy vest the next few days. Then it got up to the high 70’s and I was wishing I’d packed capris. Now it’s started raining, is chilly and back to puffy vest weather.

BTW, those I’ve scoped out as locals are back to wool coats, lol.

I brought the puffy vest because a few trips ago I was arguing with myself on the way to the airport and my dear Sis-in-law finally said…take the vest! So yes, I bring the vest every time along with the rain layer.

And THIS is why when someone asks about the weather in “X” location it’s impossible to give a coherent answer!

Made me smile also. I was there the first week of April and there were a few days where I wore long sleeves, my packable down coat AND my raincoat - and a knit hat would have been welcome. But there were also some glorious days of sun, like the day I went to Keukenhof. :)

That's a great reminder not only for spring, but for Fall to make sure you have a couple of clothing items if weather turns out warmer. Which happened to me when visiting Scandinavia in mid September in 2024. I had a heatwave during my 4 days in Copenhagen and had to wash my only 2 short sleeve shirts and light pants nightly because they were soaked in sweat. I wish I had some bermuda shorts (I'm not a dress type person) as locals were all getting refuge in the canals and I had to roll up my pants to soak my feet. From 82F in Copenhagen (which felt much warmer) I went to 50F in Norway (which felt much colder!) and I was prepared for that.

Thanks for the reminder!

I’ve gotten to the point that I almost always travel with a “cold weather” pack I’ve made (except for those obvious warm weather trips).

It’s in a zippered bag and contains a pair of fingerless gloves, a scarf, a pair of tights (I mean the ones that are like nylons and pack small, not an pair of leggings), 1 pair of wool socks and an undershirt. It doesn’t take much room but can be helpful if the weather unexpectedly turns. I generally keep it packed and ready to go with my other travel stuff.

I started doing this after I took a trip and really miscalculated the weather for April. I was cold!