You get off the Red Line at Jackson, climb the stairs, and the wind off the lake hits you like a wall. Your shoes are soaked from the slush on campus this morning. You have a meeting in 20 minutes. Sound familiar?
If you’re a student with an internship downtown, winter in Chicago is a whole different game. You’re not just walking to class. You’re moving between campus, the train and the office, and you need to look okay in all three. So here’s how to actually survive it.
1. Let the tracker plan your exit
The Red Line runs late in the cold. Check the CTA app before you leave so you spend your time inside, not on the platform. Five minutes less outside makes a big difference when it’s minus 10 with wind chill.
2. Layer smart, not big
One huge puffer looks strange in a lecture hall and even stranger in a meeting room. Go for a thin base layer, a warm sweater or fleece, and a slim jacket that blocks wind. You stay warm outside and you can take layers off when you walk into a hot office.
3. Cover the parts that freeze first
Ears, fingers and neck. A simple beanie and touchscreen gloves go a long way, so you can check the tracker without taking your gloves off. A scarf in a plain color works on campus and at work.
4. Win the war against slush
Every corner downtown has a slush puddle that is deeper than it looks. Waterproof shoes or boots are the one thing you should not cheap out on. Wet socks at 9 AM means cold feet until you get home.
5. Keep a small emergency kit in your bag
Dry socks, lip balm and a phone charger. Cold kills your battery fast, and you don’t want a dead phone when you need to call an Uber.
6. Know when to call the Uber
Some days the walk from the train is just not worth it. Set aside a small Uber budget for the worst days of the month. Think of it as part of your winter plan, not a fail.
7. Go underground with the Pedway
Downtown Chicago has a network of underground walkways that connect train stations and buildings in the Loop. A lot of interns don’t even know it exists. Look up the map once and you can skip some of the worst wind tunnels.
The bottom line
Chicago winter is not going anywhere. But with a few smart habits and the right layers, you can show up to class and to work warm, dry and looking like yourself. Next up, check out our guide on which materials actually keep you warm without looking like you’re going on a hike.