What to wear on the bus and train
Next, see when your bus or train is coming.
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The bus and the train are heated. The cold part of a transit commute is the time you spend standing still: the wait at the stop or on the platform. When a bus comes every 20 minutes, or runs late, that can be 15 or 20 minutes at an open stop on a winter morning. Dress for the wait, and the rest of the trip takes care of itself.
1. Dress for standing still.
Walking warms you up; waiting at a stop doesn't. A jacket that's fine for a few blocks can leave you cold by minute ten at the stop. Below about 35°F, plan your clothes around the wait.
2. Layer in three parts.
- Base: a long-sleeve layer of wool or synthetic fabric. Cotton holds the cold once it's damp.
- Middle: a fleece or a warm sweater. This is the layer that does the work while you wait.
- Outer: a warm coat that blocks the wind. Wind at an open stop or an outdoor platform feels much colder than the forecast.
On the coldest days, wear thermal leggings or long underwear under your pants. Legs get cold fast when you stand still.
3. Cover your hands, head and feet.
- Gloves or mittens. Mittens are warmer; touchscreen gloves let you check the next arrival without taking them off.
- A hat over your ears, plus a scarf or neck gaiter.
- Wool socks and boots with thick soles. The cold comes up through the sidewalk.
4. Plan to open up on board.
Buses and trains can be warm. A zip-front fleece, a scarf you can tuck in your bag and a coat you can unzip keep you comfortable on board, and you arrive without overheating.
5. Shorten the wait.
Check the live arrival time in the Transit app, Google Maps or on mbta.com before you head out, and time your walk to reach the stop a couple of minutes ahead of the bus. If your stop has a shelter, wait inside it, out of the wind.
Rain and heat
A hooded rain jacket works better than an umbrella at a busy stop and on a crowded bus. On hot days, bring water and wait in the shade or the shelter.
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Related guides
What to carry on the bus and train
One bag that keeps your hands free, your fare within reach, and room for the layers you take off. Plus how carts, strollers and bikes ride along.
Your first bus ride — what to expect
Step by step from finding the right route to walking off at your stop, with paying and transfers in between.
Walking through the weather
Most weather is more walkable than it looks from the warm side of a window. The shoes, layers, and bail-out plan that get you out the door.