I am driving from California to Georgia next week. Looking at the weather along the way, I see it is going to be in the 80s, but also raining. I’ve never experienced this. Humidity never really gets above 40% where I live.
Any tips on how to beat humidity in the southern states? Am I just going to have to deal with being perpetually… moist?
31 comments
When you find a way, patent that shit.
The same thing you wear any other time to stay cool. Light and breathable clothing.
When you go outside you’re going to sweat your ass off and there isn’t really anything you can do about it
Shorts, t-shirts, flip flops. You can’t really beat the humidity, but it is early in the year for when it gets bad.
I think about the best you can do is wear athletic clothing that wicks sweat. Beyond that, stay in the A/C and drink plenty of water if you can’t.
80 degrees and humid isn’t really that bad. Wait for the upper 90s and humid.
Here’s my tip.
You won’t beat the humidity.
Stay inside if you are uncomfortable in sweltering, muggy, overwhelmingly oppressive sticky heat.
Otherwise, wearing light, breathable clothing is for the best.
[A vented shirt](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71K+-qV8A0L._AC_UL1500_.jpg) (note the horizontal vent flap across the shoulder blades) and a pair of cargo shorts (Camo colored for extra street cred). Breathable shoes. Basically anything that will facilitate air flowing against as much of your skin as possible.
As little as possible while still remaining decent (in whatever way you and the law defines that).
As a Seattle native who has spent significant time in CA and Houston. 1. Accept the fact that you will be hot and sweaty simply walking to your car. I recommend you keep a sweat towel in your car. 2. If you wear glasses consider contacts, the fog is real. 3. It rains hard and a lot almost every day in the afternoon. Unless you have a rubber rain coat, which will be unbearably hot, rain coats don’t work. Get an umbrella. 4. Showering 2+ times a day is a thing.
We don’t have special clothes down here. Wear as few clothes as possible while still meeting the prevailing societal expectations of whatever you’re doing.
It just makes things feel hotter and stickier. Stay hydrated, dress comfortably, you’ll be alright.
If you’re female, sundresses are popular for a reason.
If you’re a guy, light and breathable clothing.
Stay hydrated, stay out of the sun. A cool shower before bed helps and feels great. You might actually have a midday shower too. But yeah, you just deal with it.
Everyone’s covered the light, wicking clothes aspect; I just wanted to remind you that if your wipers on on, your headlights should be on (it’s the law in some states). Enjoy the drive!
https://www.rei.com/blog/camp/best-clothing-for-humidity
Agree with everyone- light clothes and forget about beating the heat & humidity. It won’t happen.
One other thing to remember is a light sweater for inside. The AC will really cool things down and I’m often cold inside.
80s is shorts weather, all the way. Keep a rain jacket handy, and a pair of pants for nighttime.
I live in a valley with hot, humid summers. Loose fitting shorts are a must when it’s hot. Tank tops or lightweight button ups are perfect. Twice a day showers are a must.
You can’t beat humidity. Accept the moisture.
Wicking underwear are your friend but….yeah the south during the warm months mostly just means damp for everyone.
Oh and off. Definitely wear off.
All good advice here. But when it comes down to it, you’re not making it comfortable, just less uncomfortable. Learn to embrace the suck
>Any tips on how to beat humidity in the southern states?
lol
Looking at the weather for Atlanta next week, except for rain, it’s not going to be terribly humid—even for someone not used to humidity.
I hope you enjoy yourself and try to enjoy the drive!!!
Everyone covered most things already but I’ll add to bring extra toilet paper and baby powder to avoid swamp ass
The humidity isn’t really brutal till your in the 90°+ range and since everywhere has a/c you’ll definitely be fine. Now if you’re gonna stay long enough for the warm weather to set in then yeah dress lightly wear plenty of deodorant and avoid going outside because you’re body will be instantly soaked like you just ran a marathon if you do.
You can’t beat the humidity – it’s a feature not a bug. You gotta adapt to it.
Natural fibres: cottons, linens, silks, hemps, bamboos – stuff that *breaths* and absorbs perspiration . And looser fitting clothes.
NO DARK COLOURS – all light colours
Drink twice the water you usually do and use extra salt on your food – you’ll need the electrolytes
Use sunscreen – that Sun will rip the hide right off of you
Always park your car in the shade if you can. Always walk in the shade if you can.
Wear a straw hat with a wide brim
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is allergy meds. If pollen messes with you normally here in Georgia it will destroy you. For example a coworker from Wisconsin came down to Georgia the other week and had to take a day off due to his allergies just shutting him down.
Extra underwear. I’m not joking. Pack 2 pairs a day, and don’t be afraid to change that shit out midday. Pack a ziplock and put the nasty pair in there if you’re out and about. It’s a lifesaver to change at like 1 or 2 pm if you’re out and about all day.
The 80s ain’t even shit. The 90s + humidity is where true misery begins.
Blousy, vented shirts are good. Your scalp vents a lot of heat so consider a short haircut. A brimmed hat is good to keep direct sun off you. Just make sure it too is vented or you’ll trap that head heat in.
The real MVP for hot weather, especially when humidity interferes with the evaporation of your sweat to cool your bod, is cooling your neck. They make special products for this but honestly cutting up some old tee shirts is about as good. Keep a cooler or large thermos full of ice water and soak your strips of fabric in there. Pull one out, squeeze out the excess so it’s wet but not dripping excessively, and loosely wrap it around your neck. Cooling off the arteries that supply your brain is a real life hack for hot weather. Your brain is far more sensitive to overheating than the rest of your body. Everything else can operate fine at much higher temps, but starting at about 101 your brain starts to go into distress mode. That’s what triggers the sluggishness, nausea, and general suffering. That’s your brain sending you alarm signals and throwing every lever it can to either cool you off or get you to stop moving and generating more heat. And when you get into a cooler place, the rush of pleasure you feel is your brain saying “awww yeah that’s the stuff, let’s stay here.”
Keep your noodle cool and you will be much more comfortable, and you will probably sweat less also. Keep several such rags so you can change them out. I’ve also done a more extreme version in *extreme* hot weather, where you lay out some ice cubes in a cloth and roll it up into a kind of icepack bandana, and tie that around your neck. You have to be in more extreme hot weather though because if you’re not fighting extreme heat, that shit can give you the brain freeze.
Source of expertise: I have spent years working landscaping jobs and working in an un-air-conditioned warehouse standing next to a 425 degree belt dryer, in torpid Dixie summers. As someone with a below-average tolerance for hot weather to begin with. Also spent four years living in a cheap old rental house with no AC, again here in the South.
Another thing – when you take a break to cool off, strip off your clothes and lay down with a fan blowing on you. Even when it’s hot and humid, strong air movement across as much skin surface as you can get will cool you faster than just sitting in air conditioned, but still air.
Stay hydrated, don’t eat heavily (digestion is actually a metabolically intense process and it generates waste heat just like exercise).
It is also currently full-fledged allergy season in Georgia and will continue to be bad for the next month or so. If you have ever had issues with allergies to tree pollen, you should start taking a daily meditation before coming to Georgia. The trick is to build up your defense before exposure. As far as dealing with humidity, less clothes and more showers…and put lotion on in front of a fan.
Especially if you’re driving, wet wipes are a lifesaver. Sometimes you’ll be out for a few hours, and will just need to quickly refresh yourself. I visited New Orleans for a few days back in August, and I’m glad I brought them.
Gentleman in the south wear a close fitting cotton t-shirt under their starched and laundered dress shirt. the t-shirt absorbs and wicks sweat off the body, while the starched and laundered dress shirt remains wrinkle free and stands slightly off the body to release the sweat in the t-shirt.
Goldbond
Your welcome
Listen, when it comes to managing the gross feeling: if the top even gets NEAR your armpits, it’s a no-go. Frankly, I’d rather wear a loose long-sleeve than a tight-on-the-pits short sleeve in this weather