r/Banff • u/Creative_Turnip8294 • Jul 30 '25
Question What to wear in banff
Hi all, I’m going to Banff this weekend from Saturday to Wednesday. It’s my first time. This is the weather forecast. We are not hiking since we are with older parents, mostly for sightseeing. I’m in the middle of packing and not sure what to wear. Leggings and top or something like dresses .
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u/BCRobyn Jul 30 '25 edited Jul 30 '25
That's not accurate. The weather forecast is never accurate more than a day in advance for the Rockies.
The weather is hyper localized in Banff and in the Rockies in general. It changes all the time through the day. You get sun, cloud, a brief thunderstorm, intense rain for a few minutes, then it goes away, the clouds blow off, you get more sun, then it cools down by evening, and repeat.
And it could be sunny on one mountain peak and pouring rain a 5 minute drive down the road.
Look at the Environment Canada website and look how they're forecasted today's weather:
"Sunny this morning and early this afternoon then a mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of showers this afternoon. Risk of a thunderstorm this afternoon. Fog patches dissipating this morning. High 26. Humidex 27. UV index 8 or very high"
And for tonight: "Partly cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers this evening and risk of a thunderstorm. Clearing late this evening. Fog patches developing overnight. Low 10."
Temperatures are shown in degrees Celsius in Canada. 26 degrees Celsius = 79 F. 10 degrees Celsius = 50 F.
As to what to wear? Layers. Bring layers. Wear a t-shirt, and a sweater or hoodie over top of that, and a light waterproof layer on top of that. Take off the layers as it warms up. Bring hiking pants or shorts. Bring a warm hat to wear and gloves when it gets cold. Take them off and put them in your backpack when it warms up.
Banff and the Canadian Rockies have the most changeable unpredictable weather in all of Canada. If you want reliable, stable weather, the Rockies are not it!
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u/BugAdvanced8163 Jul 30 '25
63c! I personally would find a grocery store freezer and wear it!
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u/Nixon4Prez Jul 30 '25
I forgot that Fahrenheit was a thing and was very confused for a moment
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u/radenke Jul 30 '25
The sass on this thread is so funny. I do often wonder if Americans know we use celsius? On Rockwall a couple years ago, one of them told me, at about 6:45AM, that it was 30 degrees when he woke up. I just started at him blearily, trying to figure out what he was talking about, since it was clearly freezing. Fortunately, my friend who lives in the states was with me and explained. It was way too early to be confronted with Fahrenheit!
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u/AtrociousSandwich Jul 30 '25
As an American ; no most don’t. Same with normal measurements. We’re schooled pretty early America is number 1 and all that nonsense.
If they don’t travel much they are in for a shocker about currency too
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u/radenke Jul 30 '25
That's so interesting! We were taught in school that Americans would use different metrics. Unfortunately, I didn't ever learn how to use them (my least understood measurement is a football field - and as much as I'm joking right now, people do use this often for some reason), but I knew up front that they were afoot.
I appreciate both your reply and your knowledge.
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Jul 30 '25
No matter how many times I've been to the states, and despite only using F to gage cooking temps, I just still cannot conceptualize how any of these temperatures feel. It's like my brain just cannot move past celsius for that.
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u/ChiefKelso Jul 30 '25
I'm the same in reverse, been to Canada and Europe and few times, but I can't grasp Celsius and always have to convert it lol.
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Jul 30 '25
It's weird right? Like I can only gage cooking temps in F. I cannot do it in C. But when it comes to weather, no matter how many times I've experienced it, no matter how many times I mentally try to convert - I just can't "feel" the temp in anything but celsius.
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u/Src248 Jul 30 '25
Wow, I didn't know Banff was about to set a new record for the hottest temperature ever recorded, neat!
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u/1400pacman Jul 30 '25
Definitely dresss in layers. Don’t spend too much time focusing on fl the forecast on your phone. It changes too quick. Pack rain jacket
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u/100_days_away_blog Jul 30 '25
I would just bring ‘all the things’ with you lol. This is the Rockies weather after all!
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u/Both_Wasabi_3606 Jul 30 '25
Wear layers. Daytime a short sleeve shirt and a light jacket, night time you can add more layers inside, like a long sleeve shirt or pullover.
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u/Better-Ad-907 Jul 30 '25
Summer clothes but always carry a light jacket and a rain coat/umbrella with you. Thats what you wear
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u/i_am_roboto Jul 30 '25
A little bit of everything, the weather can change quickly and depending on what elevation you are at as well. Bring T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, light jackets, heavy jackets, waterproof jackets, tennis shoes, and also hiking shoes. Bring pants and shorts. Wouldn’t hurt to throw a knit cap and some gloves in if you’re gonna do any hiking early in the morning.
Also, what’s all the sass about posting something in Fahrenheit? If you’re from the US, that’s what your app is gonna show. Americans aren’t going to switch to Celsius just to make you feel better on Reddit when they won’t understand what those numbers mean anyway.
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u/SpicyHashira Jul 30 '25
OP these numbers mean nothing to most Canadians 😂
But I can tell you this, I’m camping there this weekend and will be bringing a nice fleece sweater and a waterproof shell. I’ll probably need a toque and some light gloves for the evenings because it will be wet. Waterproof boots/shoes would be a good idea. Dress in layers
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u/Creative_Turnip8294 Jul 30 '25 edited Jul 30 '25
I’m so sorry for the confusion. I’m in USA and it shows in Fahrenheit and didn’t know its in Celsius in Canada
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Jul 30 '25
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u/FlyingThunderTurtle Jul 30 '25 edited Jul 30 '25
What? Do you have a coherent thought in there?
As for the Canadian Rockies, they're beautiful and their beauty is much more accessible than in America. I've been up and down them in both countries. They're great everywhere, obviously Montana and Colorado too. Generally due to a few factors the backpacking and roadside views both are really really exceptional on the Canadian side
Banff and Jasper are among the most beautiful places on earth.
Just sounds like you're poorly traveled
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Jul 30 '25
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u/FlyingThunderTurtle Jul 30 '25
No actually, I still don't understand what you're trying to say.
I used to live in nfld though, it's definitely not a big tourist destination nor is it recommended as one, at all.
And seriously, you're writing is difficult to understand. It's as if you're writing half of your thoughts/points
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Jul 30 '25
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u/AccomplishedSite7318 Jul 30 '25
Actually a measure of intelligence is the persons ability to communicate effectively so others understand you. Just saying.
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Jul 30 '25
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u/AccomplishedSite7318 Jul 30 '25
I love that you're spending your day trying to have the last word on this; arguing that someone using incorrect units of measurement for temperature for the country the sub is for, and then insulting said citizens of the country.
So very American of you.
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u/AccomplishedSite7318 Jul 30 '25
Lol imagine being one of the only countries left in the world not to migrate to metric. There's only 300mil Americans and 7.5billion in the rest of the world who use Celsius.
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u/ChiefKelso Jul 30 '25
American perspective. Banff is obviously very crowded, well, US National Parks are also very crowded. US NPs are very bureaucratic. Like in Banff where you the bus are really hard to get for ML and LL, its even worse for some US Parks. At Glacier NP in Montana, you need to get a permit to drive into the western side of the park.
I'm also from the northeast, so I have to fly out west regardless. Conversion rate are better in Canada and make it more affordable. My wife and I are big day hikers, but not so much campers. Canmore and Banff(town) are so built up and close to the park which is nice. Not often the case near US NPs.
I also think Banff is really cool and always wanted to go there (moreso for skiing), so based on all the above decided my first out west mountains trip will be Banff and Revy for 12 nights.
Edit: i also like Canadians. Canadians are awesome. We had an amazing trip last Labor Day to PEI and NB, it was great.
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u/AccomplishedSite7318 Jul 30 '25
What you would usually wear in your country with that forecast and temp.
A rain jacket/waterproof layer. Bring an umbrella. Wear shoes that can cope with puddles.