Smokey

It's true that the weather will get a little warmer but I've just been out to finish my Christmas shopping and its officially minus 39 or thereabouts. My hands and feet are sooooo cold. If we're lucky it'll go upto around minus 5 (and I can';t believe I've just said that :scared: )

So can I ask for some serious suggestions on socks/shoes/gloves/mitts/ear muffs etc that actually work. It's my feet I'm more concerned with than anything so is there a particular brand I should be looking for or a certain type of material?? I'm going to be doing a lot of walking this winter so I could really use some help on what to look for please!

Rich_007

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=340682

Hi, see prior post, link above. Sorry, you mentioned feet only but here's generics. Thinsulate stuff is good eg gloves hats. Gloves, I had some thinsulate gloves but just bought 'Hot Paws' gloves that they are far better, cheap-ish too, $14 I think. Gloves which can be driven with, these usually have a piece of material on the palm and fingers for gripping steering wheel. Hat with flaps down over ears, nice. Goretex is good for boots, used as inner lining to stop wet, retian heat and lose dampness from inside, tho there is a newer supposedly better material out now [name??]. Need proper winter boots. Make sure enough space for thick socks, to ensure comfort. Socks, same, get really thick proven insulated socks. I got 'Ducks Unlimited' really thick ones and they are great. Clothing, well layers is always the rule, but need layers of good quality for those kinda temps. Hoods that cover the face and wrap around the side to ease wind chill. Insulated 'pants' make a hell of a difference. Most of this stuff has utilitarian use too, can be worn round town, doing hardcore sports, walking, gardening, socialising etc.

Personally if you have a decent budget for some good kit go get advice from a proper outdoor shop from people that actually get out and do stuff, such as skiers boarders and climbers, you'll tell if they know what they talk about if you ask about protection from wind chill, eind speeds, moisture protection, wicking etc. Avoid advice of some blimpy shopfloor geek who never touches cold air, they'll check the price tag and sell you any old toss. Again, my personal opinion, I have some Columbia and North face stuff which is fantastic, comfy, no sweaty-induced cling even when layering, beats any fashion design kinda stuff hands down. Had a 'fashion coat' with a kevlar inner lining and the new stuff I got this year is way better. Some places around towns where there is a serious hardcore ski or baord vibe will sell 'last season' or 'clearance' stock at cheap prices, which is ideal for the novice or someone wanting warm wrapups. They just wnat to make room for new stock, so screw the scenesters, they can pay the hot prices for their hot new looks. Save $$$.

Good luck, this cold weather stuff is serious business not to be taken lightly esp if you're not used to Canadian temps (most Brits will admit they aren't and will pass on their winter survival tips) but if you are fixed up properly the temps you mention shouldn't stop you from doing your daily deeds.

As they say there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. (Scandinavian saying I think, Norway maybe ?).

Rich.

Cowtown

And learn about frostnip and frostbite - the dangers, the treatment and when to call in professional medical help.

Rich_007

And contact lenses struck to frozen eyeballs is no fun either
Or 'tear-twist', when the tears at the corner of your eyes freeze and you gotta pull them off sideways :scared: that is a nasty business.

Rich.

Judy in Calgary

To add to the good advice that Rich_007 gave you......

Mittens are warmer than gloves. If you must wear gloves, the warmest ones I've found are the kind that people wear for skiing, the ones that are insulated with Thinsulate.

As far as caps / beanies go, I find that the ones made of boiled wool are warm. If you're outdoors for an extended period of time, a balaclava is useful. Then, on top of that, pull the insulated hood of your parka over your head. If the parka is worth its salt, the hood will form a tunnel that extends out some distance beyond your face. That helps with the wind to which Rich_007 referred.

For sheer warmth, I like Sorel boots. Every member of my family has a pair that is similar to the Blizzard model. The felt lining has incredible insulating properties. If the outer boot is still in good shape and the felt lining has packed it in, you can buy a new felt lining.

All of us bought our Sorel boots at Mark's Work Wearhouse in Calgary. I see you have a branch in Swift Current.

One thing I should warn you about our Sorel boots that are good down to -40 deg C is that they are not comfortable for extensive walks. They are not very flexible. Maybe someone else can tell you about a boot that is both warm and comfortable, but I have not yet found one.

I have found that, for covering fairly extensive distances in winter, cross country skiing is preferable to walking. There also might be merit in snow shoeing, although I have not tried it.

I was going to recommend Mountain Equipment Co-op as a source of excellent winter clothing, but an Internet search reveals that the nearest branches of MEC are 8+ hours from you, in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg. However, Mark's Work Wearhouse also has excellent gear.

Hope that helps.

jcexit

Kodiak from Canadian Tire. They're rated to minus 40 C. They keep my feet warm and over the years I have walked miles in them. Best of all they keep my feet warm when I'm standing still.

MarkG

Yeah, those are the ones that my girlfriend bought for me when I was over for Christmas two or three years ago, and they worked well. Of course as it turned out the temperature was ten degrees above zero on Christmas day and didn't drop to minus forty until New Year's Eve .

Smokey

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the prompt, helpful responses....time for a quick fleece....um, er, spend

hot wasabi peas

And if anyone opts to wear a balaclava, try to remember to take it off before you pop into a shop, or worse, a bank!

Souvenir

I have some hand-knitted Newf mittens that are pretty damn good. One pair are trigger mittens; the other are regular mittens but have tufts of wool sewn inside (very warm but you're a bit limited in what you can do with your hands). I also have a pair of work gloves from Home Depot. They are not massively warm but do provide a barrier between skin and metal that has been chilled to minus 30. And you can pick things up. I would not have been able to do any DIY last Winter without them.

I've heard that Sorel snow boots are good but, frankly, my Mal Mart cheapies have served me pretty well. It's also useful to have a pair of Timerland-style boots. Thick wool socks are a must.

My down jacket came from The Gap, of all places. It's windproof, waterproof and I have to get it off within seconds of going inside or I faint.

Winter gear doesn't have to be bulky. I have a sweater that my wife got from a sports shop. I think it's actually a thermal running vest. It's 100% synthetic, weights next to nothing and is extremely effective.

Denim is useless in the cold. Baggy cords are far better (nobody cares what you look like in Winter).

snodog

Best thing I've found for your feet are mukluks. Incredibly comfy - bit like being outside in your slippers - except your toes are toasty and it was -30 at the time.

I got mine from Steger in Minnesota (i have no affliation except as a satisfied customer etc)

Smokey

First time I've smiled for a while as you've just counjored up a classic scene of your hands being sooo cold they're unable to get the zip open as you fall flat on your back fainting with sweat running down your face

As noone cares what I look lioke winter or summer I'll have a look in wally-mart for something other than denim.....it'll be something different for my 'extensive' wardrobe

dozzzzy

Anyone know where you can buy large size winter apparel, specifically shoes/boots and trousers(pants), my feet, well the whole of me, ain't the daintiest out there, and I really struggle to find stuff, getting better very slowly - but that's another story. Most of my previous wardrobe came from US Internet sites and George Richard shops in Vancouver and Halifax, trainers/shoes courtesy of New Balance in Vancouver.

Regards

Dozzzzy

Small rant about New Balance. I do like their trainers and walking shoes, very comfortable and they are also made in my size(15/4E). Very convenient. Four or five years ago, while I was in Vancouver, I found a New Balance store and bought my first pair. Great, at the time I was told that this model was made in the UK, so when I came to replace them, 18 months later, I contacted New Balance UK headquarters and asked where in the UK I could get a new pair. I was told by the Head of European Marketing that this model of shoe was indeed made in the UK, about 30 miles from me, but they did not sell it in Europe only in Aus, USA and Canada. I asked if they could give me the name and web address of a retailer in Canada or the US that could supply this shoe to me and was told "NO". Canada and US New Balance stores are not allowed to ship out of jurisdiction, normally that means they are not allowed to ship out of state/province. When I asked why they could give no answer that I found sensible or intelligent. In the end I had to get my friend in Vancouver to trundle down to the store, buy the shoes, then ship them to me, most inconvenient.

As an aside these shoes have a loop-round style fastening instead of the last eyelet. I manged to break one of these and when I approached New Balance UK to try and get a suitable replacement they told me as the shoes aren't sold in the UK they cannot send me the spares. How stupid can companies be, my mind is boggled at the stupidity and jobs worth attitude.

MapleDragon

Marks work warehous have some fantastic socks. extra durable in the areas most likely to wear out first (the heel and toes).

Only downside is that theyre $12 a pair. well worth it though.

Souvenir

How much

What are they, cashmere?