What kind of clothes should I buy for winter?

Question

I am moving to Kitchener it will be my first winter in Canada and I never lived in a place that snows...

Answer 1

You'll need a parka-type coat, preferably one with down in it but other fillings are fine too, and a windproof fabric outer shell is a very good idea. It should have a hood which can be closed close to your face. The parka length is good because it's long enough to keep you warm but not so long that you can't walk. Some versions of the parkas have a removeable inner lining which gives you a choice, depending how cold it is or what you'll be doing. If you're driving, always take enough clothing along in the car so you don't freeze to death(literally) if something happens and you have to walk or wait for help.

Fleece is great for warmth but does not keep out the wind so must be paired with windproof stuff. Mittens are warmer than gloves, you may want gloves to wear under the mittens. Both should have a water-resistant covering. Scarves are good for wrapping around your face. I'm very fond of earmuffs since my ears get cold easily, and I find if my ears are warm I feel warm. A woolly hat(a tuque) is good, it should be long enough to cover your ears. Boots should be waterproof, because the snow is often wet, and in cities it's often melting because of the salt they toss around. The very best snow boot is the 'snow pack' type. They're warm, comfortable,waterproof, and come up high enough that you're unlikely to get snow inside them. They aren't dressy, though---most people end up with several kinds of winter footwear for different occasions. You may want to have something to wear under jeans for warmth, such as long johns or tights. And good socks--buy thick socks with a good wool content, and buy them before the boots so you don't buy the boots too small. Your feet need a little room to move. Tight boots are the best way to get cold feet in a hurry. Turtleneck shirts are good to keep your neck warm. One of those under a wool sweater and a parka and you should be warm anytime. You'll feel like you're dressed for a moonwalk with all this stuff but everyone else will look the same.

You can spend a fortune on all this clothing if you buy the best, but you can also find most of it fairly cheaply at just about any store that sells clothing from September onwards. Wal-Mart, Zellers, etc. Try Mark's Work Wearhouse for the boots and socks, in fact you could probably buy everthing you need in that store. It may be a little pricier than some other places but their stuff is good value and well made.

Answer 2

Foot wear is important, I would suggest waterproof and lined boots, if your feet get wet and cold you will be miserable.  Also wind protection is a must, the winds can be fierc in the winter.  All of the other messages carry very good advice, read them and take their advice.

Answer 3

Most important to keep your extremities protected: head, feet and hands.  Layers of clothing for the rest, topped by a warm coat.  Beware of Kitchener's omnipresent polar bears.

Answer 4

Buy it in Canada. Better selection and better prices. Get someone to show you round the marvellous discount stores in Cambridge.

Answer 5

Hi there,

I grew up about 45 minutes away from Kitchener in London Ontario. It is not that cold there. Your best bet is to buy in Canada as things will be cheap and plentiful and you

wont have to carry them in your luggage.

The most important thing you will need is good waterproof boots as there is a lot of slush.Good brand names are   Columbia and Timberland for if you are walking a lot but there are lots of lined knee high boots to choose from as well. Rubber soles with a good tread are recommended.  Karen  was right about tight boots making cold feet. You need a little room for insulation. Normal athletic socks should be fine.  

Most people wear layers during the winter.Remember, you don't want to be too hot inside. A pair of jeans, corduroy or other heavier weight material pants ( you can even get away with a wool skirt with some thick tights if you have knee high boots, a T-shirt or button down with a medium to thick weight cotton or fleece sweater over it and a fleece lined leather or gor-tex jacket ( down filled are nice). You can find them in any department store. Columbia is a good brand for these as well. For something less sporty I would check out the malls and /or outlet stores. You may want an extra layer for your first winter as it usually takes a full run of the seasons to acclimate if you are coming from extreme heat but this is easily done with an extra undershirt. I recently moved from Arizona to Prague and had no difficulty.

You will need gloves or mittens  ( leather lined with fleece or gore-tex - mittens are warmer ), a scarf and a hat (polar fleece is a good material for these as it dries quickly). I would stay away from knitted hats and mittens unless they are lined as the holes in the knitting let in the wind and you will get get little snow balls that form on the yarn and then melt. I would get at least two of each of these so that you will always have a dry pair.  

You will not need any extra underclothes unless you are planning to spend a whole afternoon playing in the snow  ( I highly recommend it - sledding, tubing, skiing, football, building snowmen/castles etc.) If so, it is always nice to have a turtle neck, and some long underwear. Army supply stores, and camping stores are good for this.

Hope this helps.

Also, stock up on vitamin c and zinc so you stay healthy in the cold wet weather. If you dress properly you won't have to worry. The problem with the weather in Kitchener is that it is not that cold most of the time so people sometimes don't  dress appropriately. ( e.g. no scarf, no gloves - especially if you are using a car).

Answer 6

turtle neck sweaters

wools sweaters

2-3 wool hats

2 scarfs

2-3 pairs of gloves

pair of mitts(if you spend a lot of time out side)

2-3 pairs of long johns

winter jacket or 2(one short and one long like a parka)

thick socks

winter boots

and if you plan on doing a lot of out door activities like skiing or sledding you will need a ski-doo suit or survival suit

Answer 7

The fabric content is worth the extra investment.

Cashmere provides superior warmth with minimum of bulk.

Waterproof materials such as Goretex are crucial, with down lining.

Fleece is a surprising option, polyester though it may be. It is astonishingly warm. It far surpasses flannel for sleeping warmth.

And, offend though I may, NOTHING beats fur for warmth.