Moving to a cold climate

Okay, so I'll be moving to MN pretty soon, and the heaviest clothes I own are two zip up hoodies, which is fine because I'm in Florida. What kind of jackets (how many) and sweaters should I get ? Also what are some boots that can be worn in a blizzard ? Keep in mind that I'm only 16 so nothing crazy expensive.

Buy a thick parka, you won't regret it. Something like an n3b snorkel parka is a great investment. You may want a more "stylish" wool coat too for warmer days but when it gets really cold you won't regret owning a good parka.

price wise, timberland and northface are ur best friend.

Originally Posted by TowleY

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price wise, timberland and northface are ur best friend.

What?

I'll give you a pass on the Timberland, but Northface? You're paying a 30% premium for half the quality in the technical market.

To OP: It has been below zero for days at a time in MN this year. Get a few pairs of midweight wool socks (Smartwool are nice, merino breathes great and the blend adds strength/resists pilling). Get a pair of lightweight wool long johns (again, Smartwool is a great choice, but they're expensive...something like an REI synthetic will work too). Get a wool stocking hat. Get a pair of mittens (way warmer than any gloves...wool liners in a leather "chopper" are the best). Get a wool scarf.

As far as jackets go, a parka's great but you'll need something lighter weight for fall/spring too. Layering under a more lightweight shell keeps you just as warm and may be cheaper.

Instead of Northface, check out Arcteryx:

http://www.arcteryx.com/mens.aspx?ty...&cat=Insulated

http://www.backcountry.com/store/sub...s-Jackets.html

goretex lined boots

some sort of waterproof shell

some sort of medium-weight down liner jacket

good gloves, again I like goretex or windstopper


If you are going to traditional menswear route you will need to layer upon layer of wool.

Originally Posted by nyf

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What?

I'll give you a pass on the Timberland, but Northface? You're paying a 30% premium for half the quality in the technical market.

To OP: It has been below zero for days at a time in MN this year. Get a few pairs of midweight wool socks (Smartwool are nice, merino breathes great and the blend adds strength/resists pilling). Get a pair of lightweight wool long johns (again, Smartwool is a great choice, but they're expensive...something like an REI synthetic will work too). Get a wool stocking hat. Get a pair of mittens (way warmer than any gloves...wool liners in a leather "chopper" are the best). Get a wool scarf.

As far as jackets go, a parka's great but you'll need something lighter weight for fall/spring too. Layering under a more lightweight shell keeps you just as warm and may be cheaper.

Going to have to disagree. I live in the Northeast and am often in Colorado skiing and I love all of my North Face clothing. For my baselayers I use Patagonia but that's really just an aesthetic choice. Almost all of my backcountry ski gear is North Face and as far as prices go, they really aren't anywhere near as expensive as you can get for that kind of gear.

Originally Posted by Ludeykrus

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Instead of Northface, check out Arcteryx:

http://www.arcteryx.com/mens.aspx?ty...&cat=Insulated

http://www.backcountry.com/store/sub...s-Jackets.html

Arc'teryx is even more expensive than North Face.

Check out EMS's house brand. Not necessarily stylish, but I wouldn't call North Face or Arc'teryx stylish either. My ski jacket is EMS and is warm and still completely waterproof after three seasons. I also got a 600 fill down jacket from EMS for about $30.

Arc'teryx is infinitely better than North Face, imo. I wouldn't call it stylish but it is one hell of a good product. As for what you need, just go for a shell with gore-tex and you can layer with it appropriately

I'd get a goose-down parka, I think I've seen nice ones at department stores for $400-500. Parkas are in style.

Originally Posted by Chrispy

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Arc'teryx is even more expensive than North Face.

Yet the quality-per-dollar is much higher than TNF. Value. Quality. Pleasure.

I've also heard good things about Spiewak and Nau, though I've never handled either personally and I'm not seeing any really thick jackets on Nau's website.

How cold?


Nothing really thick is actually needed, unless you live in a bigger city or somewhere where you have to be outside most of the time, unless you move up there, it gets bearable with medium thick coats, etc. I lived in -60 windchill weather in Iowa with just a windbreaker for about 5 years

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i would recommend north face but i also have a wool spiewak coat that is really warm. .

nice co flo avy also. .. .. funcrusher plus is classic

Go to Burlington Coat Factory and get some 3/4 length coats, and gloves and hats. Trust me you'll need them.

PS. wool socks.