12°C is the lower edge of what most people consider possible for shorts. Not comfortable for everyone, but not impossible either — particularly if the sun is out and you're moving.
What 12°C actually feels like
At 12°C with no wind and full sun, solar radiation can add 4–6°C to the feels-like temperature. You end up around 16–18°C on exposed skin. That's manageable if you're walking or cycling. Stand still in the shade and it drops back quickly.
Wind makes the difference most at this temperature. At 25 km/h the feels-like at 12°C drops to around 7°C — that's genuinely cold for bare legs.
| Scenario | Air temp | Feels-like |
|---|---|---|
| Sunny, no wind | 12°C | ~17°C |
| Overcast, no wind | 12°C | ~11°C |
| Overcast, 20 km/h wind | 12°C | ~7°C |
| Rain, any wind | 12°C | ~6°C |
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Who wears shorts at 12°C?
People who have acclimatised over winter, or who run and cycle regularly, often manage fine at 12°C in shorts. Cold adaptation is real: if you've been exposed to cold consistently, your threshold shifts down. Someone coming straight out of a warm house will feel it much more.
The honest answer
For most people, 12°C in shorts is only comfortable when it's sunny, calm and you're physically active. Sitting still at a café terrace at 12°C in shorts is going to be cold. The moment clouds arrive or wind picks up, put the long trousers on.