Walking through the weather

Weather is most people's biggest walking hesitation, but most weather is more walkable than it looks from the warm side of a window. Here's what to know.

1. The right shoes are step one.

Waterproof shoes (any decent pair, not specialty gear) make rain a non-event. Insulated boots make a 25°F walk perfectly comfortable. Non-waterproof shoes are often the real problem people blame on weather.

2. Cold weather is a layering question, not a temperature question.

A light shell over your normal layers extends your comfort range a long way. The "dress like it's 15°F warmer" rule from biking applies here too — you'll warm up within a few blocks. Cover your ears and hands; everything else takes care of itself.

3. Light rain is fine.

A waterproof jacket and a hood handle the typical drizzle that stops people from walking. An umbrella works for steady rain on a calm day; in wind, a hooded shell is better.

4. Hot weather is about pace and hydration.

On 90°F days, walk slower, take a water bottle, stay on the shadier side of the street, and consider a hat. Pre-9 AM and post-7 PM hours are usually perfectly walkable even in summer.

5. Know your bail-out options.

Real bad weather — sleet, lightning, dangerous heat — is the right time to take the T, take a rideshare, or stay home. Walking should be a default, not an obligation. Knowing the bail-out option in advance makes you more willing to start.

One last thing

Most "the weather is bad" conclusions are made by people standing inside dressed for inside. Take a 5-minute walk to the corner and back before deciding it's a no-go day; the answer is usually different than expected.