During the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games, musicians performed in the rain. It was a striking reminder that weather affects instruments, bows and playing conditions.
Temperature and humidity can influence both a bow stick and its hair. Understanding these effects helps you protect your equipment and maintain a more consistent playing feel.
1. Temperature changes
High temperatures can affect wooden components and soften some rosins. Cold conditions can make wood and fittings more vulnerable to sudden stress and can harden rosin.
What to do: keep your bow in a stable environment and avoid direct sunlight, heaters, hot vehicles and extreme cold.
2. Humidity and bow hair
Natural horsehair absorbs and releases moisture. In humid air it can lengthen and lose tension. In dry air it can contract, become overly tight and be more prone to breakage.
What to do: monitor the humidity in your case, loosen the bow after playing and never force the screw if the hair will not reach the correct tension.
3. Travel and altitude
Travel can expose a bow to rapid changes in temperature, humidity and pressure.
What to do: loosen the bow before travel, keep it protected in its case and allow it to acclimatise before making fine tension adjustments.
4. Rosin performance
Warm conditions can soften rosin and make it feel stickier. Cold conditions can harden it and reduce grip.
What to do: apply rosin gradually and test the bow between applications. Avoid adding a heavy layer to compensate for a temporary climate change.
A more climate-stable option
Carbon-fibre sticks and Coruss Hair are generally less affected by changing weather than wooden sticks and natural horsehair. Coruss Hair is designed to limit changes in length and tension caused by humidity, helping provide a more consistent response. It is still important to store and handle every bow carefully.