Dressing for a winter commute
 

Soooo, what do you guys dress when commuting via public transport in winter.

Do you freeze your butt off in regular work clothing and a coat/hat/gloves on top.

Do office workers dress more casually in winter?

Do you travel to work in thermals/ski trouser and winter boots and then get changed into regular office clothing at work?

If you travel to work wearing regular clothing in your car, what emergency gear do you keep in your car for breakdowns etc?

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

Downtown Toronto I wear trousers, boots, gloves, decent coat and a hat and simply changed footwear when reaching the office. For the most part it did the job

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

How long/how far is your commute? On foot, bus, train?

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

25-30 mins on streetcar(tram) and bus, with a change in the middle. It's all about that windchill, there were days when I wish I had more wind resistant bottoms on

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

Last year I supplemented my usual polo and jeans combo with a Patagonia down sweater jacket (puffer'ish type jacket), plus when really cold a hat and gloves. Footwear was, if there wasn't snow and ice, my usual merrell shoes, or when the white stuff and ice arrives, my columbia winter boots.

my department is very casual, so there's no need to change clothes. I do on occasion switch from the boots to shoes, but didn't bother last year.

I do have a Canada Goose "expedition" coat, and in previous years I have worn that. I might look seriously stupid walking along with the hood up, but I'm warm and toasty :D
I didn't need to wear it at all last year, so it's either testament to the Patagonia, or that the winter was milder, and I think that's the real reason.

Commute wise, it's either an hour, with 98% on the GO Train, with 5 to 10 minutes of walking at either end, or a 20 minute streetcar ride, with 5 minutes walking either end.

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

Commute wise, it's either an hour, with 98% on the GO Train, with 5 to 10 minutes of walking at either end, or a 20 minute streetcar ride, with 5 minutes walking either end.

What? I guess it depends on which woman you spent the night with, eh? :p

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

I refer you to my profile picture!!!
Heavy coat. And on really cold days snow pants that either go over my work clothes or over tights and then I'd change at the office.
I kept a wardrobe of skirts etc at work for changing into

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

I had a knock-off Canada Goose that was too warm for the subway. Depends how long you're likely to be out waiting for a bus.

I found a lighter winter coat, winter boots and most importantly a good hat that covers the ears to be sufficient.

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

I have silk long johns and tops that I wear under my clothes on the rare occasions when we venture from "banana belt" to places where it is -30 or -40C

I've found those, plus dress pants (I don't like jeans), sweater and down jacket along with hat and gloves have been perfect, even when commuting by bus or walking to work or whatever.

The advantage is that they are light enough that I never felt over warm inside a house or office, unlike thermal underwear.

The long johns and tops are similar to what my OH's family wear in the nothern community where they live and out on the ski slopes.

I buy mine from Lands End because they wash and last well, but you can find them in many places.

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

Cheeky sod! But you're *nearly* correct. I live in Oakville and take the GO train into Toronto. My girlfriend lives in Toronto and so when spending time downtown I'll take the streetcar to the office.

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

That's the problem I have with my CG, it's too damn warm unless it's at least -20 or colder out.

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

Coat, boots, gloves, snow pants, hat. If it's very cold, scarf and earmuffs, too.

Waiting three hours for a bus with windchill around minus forty, you're pretty much getting into Scott Of The Antarctic territory.

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

My experience is that you are much more likely to be dealing with icy sidewalks than snow ............ most cities and towns manage to clear the streets and sidewalks very quickly after snow, unless they have had a real dump. The snow will be piled up at the edges of the sidewalks, the gutters and corners and you often have to "plough" your way through that.

But you need boots or shoes with good non-slip soles.

We had great fun this past winter watching the young ladies in their ultra-fashionable leather boots with very high heels trying to maintain their balance on the ice.

You also have to remember that salt or salt mix is commonly used on sidewalks and roadways to melt the ice, and this stuff can damage leather boots ............. so you may end up buying one or more pairs of boots every winter.

I usually have 2 pairs of boots .............. one ankle height that I use here and a much warmer knee high pair for when we go to colder climes.

OH wears his hiking boots in winter with an extra pair of thick socks for warmth, and finds that these give him excellent grip.

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

When I worked downtown my commute included the GO train plus a 20-25 minute walk. On the coldest days I would wear work clothes, then a knee length quilted coat, ski pants over the top of work pants (if really cold thermals underneath as well), gloves with sheepskin mittens over the top, woolly hat with hood over the top of that, plus scarf around neck and another one around lower part of the face and snow boots. I never felt cold, too hot occasionally but never cold.

Re: Dressing for a winter commute
 

Wow, thats quite bundled up :thumbup:

I have to confess to being somewhat in denial of the obscenity that is a Canadian winter so I go outside in just a winter coat and normal shoes, and try and find the closest parking space :lol: :o