What's the best value bet for outdoor gear? I've bought stuff from MEC in the past but it might not be cheapest.

Also, is there a sort of exchange system in place for kids stuff? When I was a kid in Ontario we used to be able to exchange skates when they were outgrown. Is there a similar culture for clothing in Canada?

Thanks BE!

Marks Work Wearhouse is a good bet..not fancy, but functional and reasonable value. Otherwise Walmart etc will kit you out OK anyway, but often seem low on winter stock come February as they gear up to sell the spring stuff.

Play it again sports does used kids skates etc, although the local skating clubs are probably a better bet for decent quality skate swaps at the start of the season. Kijiji and craigslist too I suppose.

There are countless consignment stores for buying and selling on used kids stuff. Some of the stuff is really good. The school lost property is also a treasure trove at the end of the year, they just give all the unclaimed stuff to the St Vincent De Paul anyway, so they are happy to let us get first dibs...

Get a down jacket, 600+ fill will keep you toasty in extreme temps.

OP, to add context to the 'cold' debate, here the elementary school have outdoor play unless it is below -20. It always make me laugh to wonder what our old playground mafia in the UK would have made of that...

There's something to be said for the benefit of acclimatizing as the winter begins. Most people here don't think of -15 as cold once winter is well under way. I skied at Strathcona Wilderness Centre yesterday and they were expecting a busy day because of the warm (-13) forecast. And you can do a lot with clothes - I skied Rabbit Hill at -42 a few weeks ago (might have been painful if it had been windy though).

Surely the worst winter weather of all is freezing rain.

It's hard to believe but damp cold exists in Canada as well. -10 and 90% humidity in Ottawa tonight. It doesn't feel too cold even to this former Winnipegger who was made soft by too much exposure to the dry variety.

BTW I found this on The Weather Network:

Soldiers exposed to severe cold in climate controlled cold chambers did not find damp cold any more penetrating than dry cold, and if you consider the physics of heat transfer, the differences between the two are negligible. But why then do the majority of Canadians prefer dry cold to damp cold? One's perception of comfort or discomfort while exposed to cold air depends on several factors but let's just consider the weather conditions. Cold, dry days have usually sunny skies, high pressure and light winds - weather that is much more pleasing than overcast skies and shivering wind chill. Also soaking up sun's rays only adds to your comfort. So there's good reason to believe that you'll be more comfortable in a dry cold than humid cold, but it's not because of the difference in humidity. Of course, all this assumes one is not perspiring, his or her clothes are dry and it's not raining.

For me, the reason why I prefer dry over damp is because I have arthritis in my back... it hurts worse when the humidity is high.

Hi all,

I was wondering if there is anyone who has asthma who can tell me how the cold weather affects it. Does it have an affect at all? If so is it exteme?
I only have mild asthma but it has got a little worse over the past couple of months and the doc reckons its the cold temps - this, to me, then means that if my asthma gets worse when the temp is between -2 and 2, it will be a hell of alot worse in -30!
Do you reckon this is the case?

Thanks
Linz

Most anecdotal evidence here says that people with asthma tend to have fewer attacks once they get here.... cant comment from personal experience though.

in laws were in Vancouver from Edmonton over the hols and they commented on it feeling colder here. It was minus 40 when they left! I think perhaps is more of a case of not being used to it.

My Mum and Dad just came back to Calgary after being in the UK (hants) for 3 weeks, Dad said it felt much colder in the UK than it does here....
Personally I think that with no wind anything -15 or above is fine especially when the sun is shining

Personally I think anything under 10c is bloody cold.

Begs the question why have anything to do with Canada doesnt it?

Sigh.....

It does rather, doesn't it.

Okay I'll tolerate it down to 6, but that's it, I'm moaning after that.

I just got a pair of Sorrel snowboots and I live Vancouver.