Dress a family for Swedish Summer

I am sharing my top tips for dressing adults and children properly in Swedish Summer, including the favorite products we wear. Our family of five relocated from tropical Florida in the Southern United States to Northern Sweden several years ago, and we were not prepared for everything we had to learn about dressing according to the seasons. The advice I share here is information that I wish I had known when we first moved here. 

We wear summer clothing in Sweden in our region between May and August where temperatures sit between 60 to 75 Celsius, depending on the weather conditions that day. We tend to have more vibrant sunshine than not; however, it’s possible to experience a rainy, overcast summer too.

We are a fairly active family, so my considerations are based on the fact that we spend time outdoors, whether walking to the grocery store or hunting for mushrooms and berries in the forest. At the bottom of this post, I share our favorite summer clothes, comfy footwear, and necessary accessories to help you survive the varying temperatures and weather conditions. 

Still feeling sad from winter? Read this blog for tips on beating the winter blues in Sweden.

Table of Contents

Build Clothing Layers for Proper Body Insulation

The number one most important thing when dressing for Swedish summer is building layers of clothing on your body. This consists of one to three layers to protect yourself as outlined below. If water (think: cold rain) penetrates your base layers, you risk hypothermia. The goal with layering is two-fold: 

1. To insulate yourself against the cold temperatures, and 
2. To keep yourself dry from the elements.
   

Build clothing layers in a Swedish winter climate

1. Start with wearing your normal clothes, like shorts, a short-sleeved shirt, and sandals or sneakers with socks
2. Building on that layer should be a light jacket or vest. 
3. Finally, consider wearing or bring uninsulated rain gear or an umbrella. Ideally, it should also have a wind-blocking element and a hood. If you’re going to be outside in the rain, then I highly recommend adding a pair of uninsulated rain pants. 
4. To protect yourself from the sun, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunblock.
5. Bring a swimsuit when you go out. It’s not uncommon to spot a lake and dive in for a cool dip!

Adjust Clothing and Footwear for Rainy Days

Walking to the store at 20 Celsius is a different activity than running through a rain storm at 10 Celsius. The weather can change rapidly, so make sure you are ready and not caught in the cold. For me and the kids, that means having an extra umbrella around, sunblock, and a towel.

FAQ about Dressing for Swedish Summer

What kind of warm clothes should you use in Swedish Summer?

You’re usually able to dress comfortably in “normal” summer clothes in Sweden, if the temperatures are above 20 Celsius. I recommend always having a vest and rain coat on hand in case it gets windy or starts to rain. The sun is also nearly constant during this time of the year, so wear sun protection like a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunblock.

For young children, we recommend having a rain jacket with rain pants and boots to protect them from the elements in case of a storm. 

Where do you buy Summer clothes in Sweden?

Our favorite stores to shop for Summer activewear clothes are Stadium and for boots and sneakers are Scorett. Both of these stores have locations all over Sweden, and offer limited repair services if parts of the purchase are damaged like a zipper going off track or a small tear in a rainsuit. 

Scorett works with brands like Björn Borg, Echo, Canada Snow and Polar, both of which offer cold temperature ratings on their boots (to as low as -40 Celsius).

Conclusion to Dressing for Swedish Summer

I hope my tips for dressing adults and children properly in Swedish Summer are helpful. Like I said, learning to dress properly in the northern climate took some learning and adjusting, but it’s totally doable. Certainly, it makes experiencing the beautiful season a lovely time.

If you like this Swedish content, then check out these related blogs:

1. Family-friendly Activities in Sandviken, Sweden
2. 1-Day Travel Itinerary to Gävle, Sweden
3. Tips to Survive the Winter Blues in Sweden
4. Cost of Eye Glasses in Sweden
5. Cost of Preschool in Sweden
6. Tips for Dressing for Swedish Winter
7. Tips for Dressing for Swedish Spring
8. Tips for Dressing for a Swedish Fall
9. Canada Snow Noel Winter Boots + Integrated Snow Cleats

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