We are hoping to come back to Alberta just after Christmas and I have been looking at gloves and snow boots in England, no one seems to know what temperature they go down to before feeling the cold.
I went to a North Face outlet near me and they said "should be ok to -3 !"
either it does or doesn't in my book
I know winters in Alberta can be cold but should I wait till we arrive before I purchase these items?
Any advice will be a great help

I found with the Columbia coats etc they are slightly cheaper over in Canada and with more choice.

When I was in NS they had a HUGE selection and I saw an amazing pink pair lol they were great, but no point in buying them for Edinburgh

Just wanted to mention that it probably doesn't help you, I would wait till I got there.

Emma

Just bought snow boots for my children and a lot seem to be down to -20, . Personally I wouldn't bother with ones with a rating of -3.

My parents are planning to buys boots here when they come over at Christmas, but I have been warned by shop staff that they may be thin on the ground by then.. I have noticed Walmarts supplies going down pretty rapidly.................and its snowing here this morning BTW !!!

Was going to ask the same question. We land in NS early January. I have had a look at Sears website and they have a large collections of snow boots - some going to -40DegC. Won't get them here so we'll just have to buy them soon after we land.

Don't think my high-heeled fashion boots with a couple of tennis rackets strapped onto the bottom will suffice

We bought ours before we left from http://www.tchibo.co.uk/

They are really good value, and kept our feet warm all last winter anyway!

They don't yet have their snow collection online yet though. (just looked)

Thanks for that. I'll bookmark it and check back again in a couple of weeks.

Just made me think....... we were worried that we would need to buy lots of new stuff because it would be soooo cold!

We have been round lots of shops looking at the top brands..... North Face, Columbia etc....... the stuff here is very similar to the good stuff back home. (I have a Berghaus three in one jacket and it is just the same as the three in ones here...... so we decided not to buy the jackets.)

As for the boots..... we went to the factory outlet Kodiak shop and bought boots which go to minus 32....... for $100 ...... for both pairs! (Oh and some thermal socks!)

Basically it is all a matter of choice....... you could buy at home but it is more to bring...... if you shop about here (even Canadian tire do stuff) you could buy here and not spend too much.)

Next purchase........ ice skates!

I should think that just after christmas they will start putting all this sort of stuff on sale so you should be able to pick some stuff up cheaper, I remember going into Wal Mart in January and picking up snow gloves for $2 per pair. A lot of stuff including snosuits are rated to -20. I have been fin with the coat I had in the Uk but have bought proper gloves and boots and now I have to puppy walk I will get some sno pants to ward off the chill and 6:30 am BBBRrrrrr and of course I wear a toque (hat to you and me).

I thought I had added my two cents worth to this topic, but apparently not. If you want something super warm for any temperatures you should get sheepskin boots. I bought some from New Zealand and I wore them when I took my granddaughter riding - in an unheated horse arena when it was 30 below, and my feet never got cold standing around for over an hour. They also look a lot better than some of those clunky things. You can buy Ugg boots on Ebay but they are pretty pricey.

Depends on how long your are going out in the cold weather for? and what your doing.

Walking th dog at dog park -20c wind chill -30c ordinary hiking boots with proper woold socks. NOT to thick otherwise you'll squeeze the air out and it's like walking bare feet.

Going to work by bus ordiary shoes and fully sports type socks, down to -50c any colder and I break put the boots incase the bus has problems and is late.

Where the snow boots when playing with the kids and sledging and the its just to stop the snow filling my shoes.

P.S wife does own a pair of boots, car to work, car to shops, car to soccer complex.

I would wait and maybe try the Mountain Equipment Co-Op, www.mec.ca. You have to be a member but it only costs $5 and they have loads of stores and lots of stuff, some of it at reasonable prices.

We're members and we don't even live in Canada yet, as we bought some bed mats from the store in Toronto before we came home to travel around Europe. Will definitely be using them again when we do get out to BC though!

Zoe M. xx

Ha Ha

Thanks for all your help & advice, think will wait till we arrive.