Getting Around Washington | Freshman Essentials

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★ Top pick · if you only buy one thing

CarryTypically $50 to $100

Waterproof commuter backpack

Used every single day

A genuinely waterproof backpack protects the laptop, the notes, and everything else your student carries through roughly 150 rainy days a year, making it one of the most useful purchases on this list.

Why it matters at Washington

A genuinely waterproof backpack protects laptops and textbooks on rainy walks, and it is one of the most-used items on this entire list since your student carries it daily.

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01.

Safety

3 picks

SafetyUsually $25 to $50

Heavy-duty U-lock

What UW Police recommend

Why it matters at Washington

Bike theft is an ongoing, documented problem on campus, and UW Police actively recommend a solid U-lock as the most effective way to protect a student's main way of getting around.

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SafetyTypically $25 to $60

Bike helmet

Cheap protection for a daily ride

Why it matters at Washington

There is no law requiring it in Seattle, but a bike is already on this list and a helmet is the single cheapest way to protect your student on Burke-Gilman Trail rides and city street crossings.

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SafetyTypically $15 to $35

Bike lights (front white, rear red, clip-on or USB-rechargeable)

Makes the dark commute visible

Why it matters at Washington

Seattle's winter sunset lands before 4:30 p.m., so a student biking home from a late class or the library is often riding in the dark; front and rear lights make that ride visible to drivers and safe.

A curator who never says “don’t buy” isn’t curating. These are the things Washington makes unnecessary.

A car

UW student parking runs about $8 a day, while the U-PASS is a flat quarterly fee that covers unlimited regional transit. A freshman car mostly sits and costs money.

Golf-size umbrella

Seattle rain is fine drizzle in a crowd of pedestrians. Locals carry a compact umbrella or none at all, so the big canopy stays home.

How we chose these 8

Every pick starts from Washington’s housing policies, residence halls, and climate. If we can’t explain an item in one sentence, it doesn’t make the list. No filler, no padding.

Read exactly how we build each list → · All Washington guides