“One thing you can say
about Oklahoma weather: if you don’t like it stick around a few minutes &
it’ll change.”
This anecdotal saying
is also true for many other locations around the globe. Unless you’ve been in
the Caribbean without access to news these past couple of weeks, you know that
Oklahoma, and in fact the entire United States, experienced a
much-colder-than-average temperature on Monday of last week. And on Wednesday of
last week there was a freeze warning! Some claimed global warming, others said
it was Mother Nature’s elaborate April Fool’s joke, but one thing we all had in
common: we shivered and brought back the long thermals.
We also experienced a
drastic temperature change on our recent fact-finding trip touring Morocco.
From raining and cool the morning in Fez, to snow on the ground by noon at the
top of the Atlas Mountains, to sweating in the setting sun on the Sahara
desert. This is not to brag about our travels but to point out the wardrobe
challenges that traveling can present. Since there wasn't a Wal-Mart around,
we made a run to the many stall of the local market to find some warmer duds. I
made myself a vow then to toss in my base layer cuddle duds for every trip, right beside my swimsuit. I
want to be Good to Go!
All these temperature-related problems can be
solved with one solution: layering. Layering
your wardrobe allows you to roll sleeves up or down, take sweaters and shirts
off (or, conversely, put on) and even some travel pants have zip-off legs,
allowing for instant conversion to shorts/bathing suit. Any coat or outerwear
should have a wind/rain proof/resistant lining. This not only protects you from
the wet, it’ll also protect your electronics like phones, cameras, etc. while
keeping you warmer. If it has a hood, try to make sure it is large enough to
cover your hat (ball cap) as this will help keep rain off of your face,
eyeglasses and even camera lens.
Cooler shirts that wick
away moisture help keep you drying, cooler and even warmer. (like magic!)
Travel shirts like those from Columbia® and other outdoor sporty brands have an
added advantage of being wind resistant and quick-to-dry. This feature can be
invaluable when traveling at the rate of a different hotel every night because
it allows you of an evening to wash/rinse in the shower, then wring out &
air dry in time for “luggage out” the next morning. And added bonuses are they
roll into tiny bundles, are lightweight and take up less room in your checked
luggage.
So, stay warm out there
or cool, fellow travelers, and keep in mind that as you travel, layering is the
best way to deal with the ever-changing weather like we’re experiencing in
Oklahoma. Remember it's never bad weather; it's just the wrong clothes.
