I will be visiting Zurich from Los Angeles for the first time in late December and plan to do some day trips as well. My cold/snow/rain wardrobe is quite limited. I have wool sweaters and thermal shirts/underwear, but I'm concerned about appropriate footwear and coats for winter conditions...
Do I need waterproof snow boots or are normal water resistant boots ok? I'm planning to take a pair of water resistant leather boots from Cole Haan and another pair of Tretorn rubber rain boots.
Does my coat need to be waterproof or is water resistant fine as well? I currently have a water resistant Abercrombie parka.
I would really appreciate any other advice on how to stay warm and dry, and if there are any specific boots or coats that would be good for Zurich's weather.
There's not usually a lot of snow in Zurich so normal waterproof shoes should be fine.
Otherwise: layers!!!! You're likely to be too hot more often than too cold as every train, shop and restaurant is heated to about 25°. Make sure you can easily peel yourself and you'll be fine.
You don't really wear "normal winter clothing" in SoCal...
Bottom line:
- I lived most of my adult life around Zurich and cannot recall a winter that was so bad that I had my thermal underwear on (outside of skiing...). Its typically barely freezing in the city. (No idea what that is in stupid US units, but I am talking about the temperature where water turns into ice...). Warm socks, normal jeans/ long trousers and as DB said ideally some layers for the upper body topped by a raincoat is perfect.
Regarding the layering, is a parka-length coat ok or will it be overkill? Should I wear a shorter, waistline puffer type jacket instead? And when indoors, is a wool sweater ok or will even that get too hot?
Does it rain heavily? Because my leather boots and coat are "water resistant", not "waterproof" (like a rubber rain boot or coat), and I've been reading there is a difference between the two.
With the caveat that in my 19 winters here no two have been alike:
Rain is far more of an issue than cold. Keeping dry is paramount.
Bring a waterproof, i.e., Goretex, uninsulated shell type coat. Whatever length you feel comfortable in. I'd go for parka length just to keep the rain off my legs while still allowing me to be active.
Add in layers as DB suggests. A cotton t-shirt, flannel shirt, fleece, a combo or all of the above temp depending. On truly cold days I put on a thermal layer and add the down lining to my shell coat... but there have only been a handful of those truly cold days in 19 years. Most of the time that level of insulation is way overkill. For a holiday here, I'd simply get the waterproof outer coat and cotton, flannel, fleece layers.
Puffer (down) coats are IMO too warm for most days. And IMO, wool sweaters are way too warm in the typically over-heated Swiss buildings.
Hat, gloves, good walking shoes or boots. Warm socks.
Even my So Cal sister (who over a few decades seems to have forgotten her Chicago upbringing) survived wearing the above.
Don't invest in a heavy or insulated coat - really, you'd likely end up miserably over-heated as you get active or go in and out of buildings.
Waterproof, then layers for warmth will do the trick.
ETA:
Freezing is 32.
ETA 2:
Don't forget the scarf!
(Keeping the neck wrapped is a very Swiss thing. At the first breeze, even in summer, scarves come out. )
I would say water resistant leather is good enough for shoes. I haven't owned any waterproof shoes despite living in some very wet/cold places, just try and not stand in the puddles for too long.
Of course the problem with waterproof is once the water gets in it takes an age to get it out again.
I often think in winter why the Swiss tend to overdress so much, I have the same feeling in Sweden "Yes we can handle the cold easily and are used to it" by the time it starts freezing they often dress up in a way that would make a polar bear envious.
There have been sunny days over the years in Zürich where I am happy wearing a T Shirt. But then again, I am from Yorkshire.
But, as others have said, some thin layers, a warm coat, scarf and hat. It get's noticeably colder by the lake but I have rarely found it very cold here in town. We're not in the arctic circle.
IMHO rubber boots are often counterproductive in cold weather. Your perspiration cant' escape, which makes your socks/feet wet from the inside. This in turn causes you to lose much more warmth and results in cold feet.
You will not feel warm with wet, and thus cold, feet. Doesn't happen.
Ahaaaaaa but you were obviously not around in January 1963 when for six weeks the Lake of Züri froze over and everyone walked from Horgen to Meilen instead of going by boat. The Seepolizei Züri had little motorised scooters which swished across the ice. Temperature outside our office window in that month was minus 33 - now that's COLD@!!@!!!@!!!!
Thanks for all of your advice and apologies for the late reply I'll make sure to pack a few options to layer and guess I can always get something when I'm there. Southern California is not a great place to shop for winter clothes
I find jackets, pants and shoes with a Gortex or such membrane go a long way in regulating outer and inner temps and humidity. The worse condition I find is when the temps are plus or minus of 0C (32F) and the humidity is high, whereby the humidity transports the temps to and from the body. You get this condition pretty often in Switzerland, Fall, Winter and Spring.