Mailmen Explain Why They Wear Shorts All Year Round — Even in the Coldest Weather
Rain or shine, snow or sleet, there’s one thing almost everyone notices when their local mail carrier makes their daily rounds: they’re almost always wearing shorts.
It’s one of those small but curious mysteries of everyday life. Why would someone spend hours walking through biting winds, heavy rain, or even snowstorms with bare legs? Is it tradition? A postal service requirement? Or simply a matter of comfort?
Recently, a viral discussion online finally gave everyone the answer — straight from the mail carriers themselves.
A Viral Reddit Thread Sparked the Debate
The discussion began when one curious Reddit user asked the question many people had wondered for years:
“Why do mailmen wear shorts all year round, no matter the weather?”
The post quickly took off, attracting hundreds of responses from current and former postal workers around the world. Theories flooded in — from supposed uniform policies to superstitions — but as it turned out, the real reason was surprisingly practical.
The Practical Side: Walking Keeps Them Warm
The first and most common response from mail carriers was simple: they wear shorts because they get hot.
While it may seem counterintuitive to anyone bundled up inside on a cold winter morning, postal workers spend hours walking outdoors, often covering tens of thousands of steps a day. All that movement generates a lot of body heat.
One mail carrier explained:
“Current postie here — it really is just because it gets hot doing the job. One of my routes is up in the hills, so when the wind’s bad, I’ll wear trousers. I made the mistake of not doing that once and ended up with windburn all up my legs! But for every other round, I’m in shorts pretty much all year.”
Another echoed the same logic, saying that comfort and temperature regulation are the main reasons for their choice of attire:
“My boyfriend is a postie, and whenever I ask him about the shorts, he says that he stays warm because he’s walking all day. Jeans are too uncomfortable when you’re doing 30,000 steps a day. He wears joggers occasionally — but that’s once in a blue moon.”
Comfort Over Conformity
While most people associate winter wear with layers and thermal leggings, mail carriers find that too many layers can make their work harder. Between bending, walking, carrying heavy mailbags, and pushing trolleys, mobility is key.
As one Redditor put it:
“It lets your legs breathe. Even in cool temperatures, it can get warm when you’re walking so much. Plus, when it rains, your legs can dry faster than trousers ever can.”
It’s an argument that makes sense. Long pants not only trap sweat but also stay wet for much longer once soaked — while bare legs dry off in minutes. For a job that doesn’t stop for the weather, practicality often beats fashion.
Rain, Wind, or Snow — Shorts Still Win
Surprisingly, even those working in harsh conditions admitted that shorts were still their go-to most of the time.
In colder climates, posties adapt their outfits with layers on top — heavy jackets, gloves, waterproof coats — while keeping their legs free for movement. The trick, they say, is keeping the core warm. Once the upper body temperature is maintained, the legs naturally follow suit due to constant activity.
One postal worker described the logic perfectly:
“I wear shorts all year unless it’s icy. You can always throw on a waterproof jacket or thermal top, but long pants just make you feel sticky after 10 minutes. My legs have pretty much gone numb to the cold anyway!”
The Postal Pride and a Bit of Tradition
Of course, not all mail carriers are purely practical — some say wearing shorts has become a badge of honor within the community.
One user recalled a long-standing challenge among postal staff that turned shorts-wearing into a friendly competition:
“When I worked as a postie years ago, the depot had a running bet — everyone paid £1 a week into a pot, and whoever lasted the longest wearing shorts into the winter got to donate the winnings to a charity of their choice.
By January, it was down to two die-hards trudging through the snow. In the end, it was declared a tie, and the pot was split between them.”
It’s the kind of lighthearted camaraderie that defines the profession. Despite grueling routes and unpredictable weather, postal workers find humor and pride in their resilience.
The Science Behind It: Adaptation and Circulation
Physiologically, there’s also a valid reason many mail carriers don’t feel the cold like the average person might. Regular exposure to cooler temperatures and constant movement trains the body to adapt.
Walking several miles daily increases blood circulation, especially in the lower body. As a result, legs stay warm even when temperatures drop. Over time, many postal workers report that they barely notice the cold anymore.
Dr. Michael Firth, a physiology researcher specializing in thermoregulation, explains:
“When the human body engages in repetitive movement, like walking, it generates heat through muscle activity. Those muscles act almost like internal radiators. For mail carriers who walk for hours, that constant heat keeps them far warmer than someone standing still in similar weather.”
So while passersby may shiver just looking at them, the mailmen in shorts are often far more comfortable than they look.
Uniform Policies Vary, But Freedom Wins
Interestingly, uniform regulations in many countries’ postal services — such as the UK’s Royal Mail or the United States Postal Service — do allow flexibility.
Mail carriers can typically choose between trousers or shorts as long as they comply with color and branding guidelines.
That freedom has helped shape the culture of “posties in shorts.” For many, it’s a small way to assert independence within an otherwise structured job.
One former postal worker shared:
“It’s not an official rule or anything. You just wear what works best for you. Shorts make the job easier, so most of us go with them. People assume we’re freezing — but most of the time, we’re sweating.”
Public Reactions: From Curiosity to Admiration
Whenever the topic resurfaces online, it sparks a mix of amazement and humor from the public. Social media users have called it “legendary dedication” and even “postal bravery.”
One Twitter user joked:
“Posties in shorts are built different. It could be minus ten, and they’re still out there like it’s July.”
Others, though, now understand the logic behind the look — and many admitted they’ll never see their local mail carrier the same way again.
“I used to think it was stubbornness,” one commenter wrote. “Now I realize it’s just common sense. They’re walking heaters!”
More Than a Job — It’s a Lifestyle
The consistent appearance of mailmen in shorts has become a quiet symbol of endurance and routine. Every day, they step out into unpredictable weather to make sure everyone receives their letters and parcels — a reminder that consistency often trumps comfort.
It’s also a reflection of how people adapt to their environment. Whether you’re a postal worker or not, there’s something universally relatable about the idea: when you’re used to facing the elements daily, you stop noticing them as much.
For posties, shorts are simply part of the uniform of resilience.
So, Why Do Mailmen Wear Shorts All Year Round?
After hundreds of firsthand accounts and decades of speculation, the answer is surprisingly simple — and perfectly sensible:
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They get warm while walking.
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Shorts dry faster than trousers.
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Comfort and movement matter more than appearance.
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It’s become part of the postal culture.
Whether it’s summer heat or winter frost, mail carriers continue to do their rounds with unmatched dedication — and yes, bare legs.
Because for them, it’s not about fashion. It’s about function.
Final Thought
So the next time you see your local mail carrier trudging through the rain in shorts, don’t assume they’re crazy or immune to the cold.
They’re simply professionals who’ve found the most efficient way to do their job — staying comfortable, keeping pace, and getting your mail delivered no matter the weather.
And if that means shorts in December? So be it.
They’ve earned it.
Adrian Hawthorne is a celebrated author and dedicated archivist who finds inspiration in the hidden stories of the past. Educated at Oxford, he now works at the National Archives, where preserving history fuels his evocative writing. Balancing archival precision with creative storytelling, Adrian founded the Hawthorne Institute of Literary Arts to mentor emerging writers and honor the timeless art of narrative.