Packing for San Francisco!

Old Apr 2nd, 2013, 09:59 AM
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Packing for San Francisco!

This summer, I'm headed off to a Pre-College Academy of Art University Program. I'll be living in San Francisco from June to August, I'm incredibly confused on what I should pack, considering I've only been to San Francisco twice and I come from an extremely hot desert town.
So, any suggestions?! ): I'll also be sharing a dorm, so I don't exactly want to take too too much. (Shoe suggestions are also appreciated!)
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Old Apr 2nd, 2013, 10:30 AM
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If you are living on the Pacific side of the city, expect it to be damp and foggy and chilly. On the Bay side, it can be quite warm. Not desert warm, but not cold and miserable.

In fact I like cold foggy weather, but I don't live in the desert. I live on a cold foggy island.

Specifics: fleece jacket, goretex rain jacket, layers under. Something warmer than flip flops for your feet. Socks for sleeping.
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Old Apr 2nd, 2013, 10:54 AM
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We once froze at a baseball game on July 5th, so I'd suggest layers. Outer layer should be waterproof; fleece is pretty essential because it's light but warm. For shoes, any kind of sneakerish thing should be fine. You may be able to wear shorts and fli flops occasionally, but don't bring much of that kind of thing.
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Old Apr 2nd, 2013, 11:00 AM
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Ditto what's been said (and I've lived and worked here for 40 years). Although your waterproof jacket doesn't have to be Goretex (I've never owned any).

Young people here wear shorts and flip flops year round, even when I think it's way too cold to do so. Shorts, flip-flops and a fleece jacket or windbreaker seem to be the way to go.

Agree that most of the time you'll be wearing running shoes, even when you're not running.
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Old Apr 2nd, 2013, 11:01 AM
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Oh, and jeans when you're not wearing shorts. Zip-up sweatshirts.
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Old Apr 2nd, 2013, 11:50 AM
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If you come from a hot climate you probably won;t want any shorts - but you never know - you can get a day in the 80s.
I've been in August several times and if wa often in the high 50s and misting/drizzly.
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Old Apr 2nd, 2013, 12:17 PM
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When I saw the title, I expected a discussion about stuffing a sock in one's trousers.
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Old Apr 2nd, 2013, 12:36 PM
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San Francisco has a 3-4 day weather cycle in the summer. It will be warm for 1-2 days, follwed by a like amount of cool to cold days.

Every summer you will see tourists in shorts with Alcatraz sweatshirts because they are freezing.

It warms up in SF from September to mid-October.

The weather cycle has to do with the hot Central Valley sucking all the cool air from the Bay Area. The Bay Area is replenished by ocean temperatures, which aren't really warm at all.

You'll hear the sound of foghorns at night throughout the City.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2013, 03:29 AM
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Rastaguy! I didn't know that! Great info!
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Old Apr 3rd, 2013, 01:22 PM
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Ditto what sf7307 said as regards to what many young men wear in SF. Many young women wear short skirts and ballet flats or flip/flops. I typically see shorts on tourists or non-SF residents (and yes, if you live here long enough you can tell) during the summer.

The thing is it can go from sunny and warm to foggy and drizzling in the course of a day, or from one side of town to the other. So if you are in the Mission, you may see shorts and flip flops and in the Haight you will see jeans and fleece jackets!! And if you leave town, you can experience even more extreme weather swings, between the coast and away from the Bay. I mean 30+ degree differences. So layers. And bring a lightweight leather jacket for at night!!
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Old Apr 3rd, 2013, 02:28 PM
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>

Once, we left the Avenues (59F) to go to a rodeo in Livermore (109F). 50 degrees difference within about 45 miles! That's the largest temperature gradient I've experienced in the Bay Area.

to the OP: Just err on the side of warmth and bring mostly jeans, slacks, a mid-weight warm jacket, a sweatshirt, a hoodie, cardigan(s), sweater(s) in addition to some t-shirts (long-sleeved ok), sturdy shoes -- and maybe a pair of shorts, tank-top and sandals for the warmest days (if they materialize). The Mission district will normally be the most reliably warm area during the summer. Usually, not always, in the summer there will will be low clouds or fog until lunchtime until it pushes back to the immediate coast, and then it will start drifting in again by late afternoon. So mornings are chilled followed by relative warmth (70F or so) and then more chilling (50s - 60s) as darkness sets in. There are a few rare prolonged heatwaves in the City but they are rare. July 2006 anyone?
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