Humidity affects how heat feels on your body more than most people realise. At high humidity, sweat doesn't evaporate efficiently — the cooling mechanism your body relies on is compromised. Shorts help, but they can't fix everything.
The heat index
The heat index combines air temperature and relative humidity to express how hot it actually feels. At 25°C and 40% humidity, the heat index is about 25°C. At 25°C and 80% humidity, it rises to around 28–29°C. That extra 4°C is felt entirely in how uncomfortable you are.
| Air temp | Humidity | Heat index |
|---|---|---|
| 22°C | 40% | 22°C |
| 22°C | 70% | 24°C |
| 25°C | 60% | 26°C |
| 25°C | 80% | 29°C |
| 28°C | 75% | 33°C |
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Do shorts help with humidity?
Yes, to a degree. Less fabric means more skin exposed to air movement. When there's a breeze, shorts help air circulate around your legs and improve evaporative cooling. In still, humid air, the benefit is smaller — but long trousers would still be worse.
Where shorts fall short
Above 30°C with humidity over 80%, no clothing choice makes the heat comfortable. The Netherlands doesn't often reach these extremes, but it happens during heat waves in July and August. In those conditions, staying out of the heat matters more than what you're wearing.
Fabric choices at high humidity
Synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon) wick moisture better than cotton and dry faster. Linen is also good — it breathes well and dries quickly. Cotton shorts in high humidity feel heavy and stay damp.