Martyn and Wendy

I know its only August but we are starting to think about preparing for our first Winter in Calgary. What kind of clothing/footwear would be best, driving tips for winter roads, what we can expect, ive probably been over thinking things and started to panic a bit, but it would be nice to get some advice.
Thanks in advance

Flogger

You should look into getting a nice pair of gloves.

dbd33

Mittens even. Perhaps with a string so as not to lose one.

Miss Clinique

Just enjoy summer. Worry about winter when it gets here. You will have plenty of time to shop for winter clothes, winter lasts for 6 months.

MarianneCassidy

What a valid important question to ask - I was thinking exactly this! You hear such horror stories about the winter it is so important to be prepared (I'm guessing). Gloves, and mittens with string - good start but what else should we expect to purchase before winter arrives?

mandymoochops

Seeing as, unusually so for a Friday, I am neither drunk nor in a foul mood I shall attempt to answer this sensibly.

I suppose you worry about the winters because until you experience one all you hear is that it's incredibly cold.

Minus 20 and above is totally bearable (believe it or not) so it's the days of below these temps that are causing you concern.

For the bearable days - you may still want to go out and walk the dogs, take a brisk stroll etc so some big wellies (you can buy a half decent pair at Walmart rated to minus 40) for those uncleared paths will be in order. You will look at these on the shelf before the snow falls and think "I'm not wearing those i'll look like a 'tard" - then you realise everyone is wearing them and all is good!

Thermal socks or boot liners are handy too!

When I moved over I had bought a pair of cheap snow pants off of Ebay (and bloody glad I did too) the wind can get bitter and jeans just will not cut it (even with thermals on) so buy a pair of snow pants to throw over the top.

T shirt, long sleeve top, and a sweater will be good on top but a pure necessity will be a good jacket.

You don't need to spend the earth on something like Canada Goose or Spider or anything, but a decent down filled puffa jacket (one that covers ya bum!) personally I think is a must.

As the boys said - gloves, get some thermal ones or even better the sheepskin mitten type things (string optional).

Lastly the head - you may think wooly hats with the earflaps look gay as a maypole - until your ears start to drop off - seriously - everyone wears these too (I have a rather fetching one) and a scarf that you can pull up to just under your eyeballs.

If you wear too much you can always take it off - if you don't wear enough you be very cold and miserable.

All that being said on the coldest of days you will probably walk to your car, and then from the car to the store so won't even really notice what the temp is.

Spare a thought for those of us that have chores in the yard to do 365 days a year

Hope this helps - oh and the stores you can buy cheap winter gear are Walmart / Marks etc.

No point spending a fortune the first year until you experience one winter and then you can splurge on things more your style if need be

Lemi

A bathing costume. Because like most Albertans the only significant time you'll be spending outdoors between the end of November to the middle of April will be during the week's vacation you spend in Cancun some time around mid February.

On arrival you'll be constantly advised by cradles to "embrace the winter". In reality, what this actually boils down to is acquiring a huge f**k off TV and holing yourself up in the basement and watching iced-hockey re-runs for the best part of half the year. Again if you crank the thermostat up high enough a bathing costume will suffice.

Hope this helps.

BristolUK

The three in one jacket I inherited from my wife's ex does the job nicely.

The outer part can be worn as a rain jacket. The inner part is good for when it's not that cold.

Both parts zipped together seem to weigh more than their individual weights combined. It does the job perfectly for me - keeps me dry and warm.

Piff Poff

Really sensible advice from the moochoppers, we are slightly further north and only get the tail end of the chinooks so our winters are slightly colder for longer periods of time imo. Layering is the key, you don't necessarily need bulk, swapping short sleeve t's to long sleeve ones is a key too. I surrendered about 3 years ago and bought some Ugg type boots, don't like them much but boy do they keep your feet warm, last winter was their last season, so I need new boots this year - note, my dog walking boots are columbia, that I bought one summer in the sale for about $20. A car starter is desirable in the really cold temps if you don't have a garage to park in.

rich07

Although winter does last ages, the shops will sell out of winter clothes before you know it. I looked for lined trousers in January and couldn't find any. Shop early is my recommendation

snowcandy

We arrived on Jan 1 this year and buying winter gear was a challenge as there was hardly anything left. Hubby ended up getting a great jacket from Marks Work Warehouse with -35 comfort level. Me and the 3 kids went to Sportchek and got ski jackets and not a lot of change out of $600. We couln't find any adult snow pants for love nor money and I was not a happy bunny at the school bus stop in jeans and 2 pairs of tights on -35 mornings.

Definitely shop now! Costco have some great kids sets of jackets and pants for about 65 bucks and have been highly recommended, but they are selling out fast. Still haven't found any reasonable snow pants for us...trouble is winter clothing is not on your mind when it's so hot and sunny!

Greenhill

Look for outer garments that are "wind proof", well insulated and light in weight.

Boots should be insulated, waterproof and be able to grip into ice.

Also (as I discovered earlier this week) right now is a good time to buy winter gear as the stores are selling off old gear on the cheap to make room for the new lines. I just got a pair of Dakota winter/work boots (lucky to find a size that fits comfortably) for 1/3 of the price this week at Marks.

I'm almost looking forward to winter so I can wear them.

Not.

PMM

Hi

Mountain Equipment Co-Op.

snowcandy

Thanks PMM, but aren't they a bit pricey? I don't need them for skiing just walking the kids to school.

Karrie72

I live in Maine which gets pretty nippy. I would recommend the best quality down jackets and snow pants you can afford. You will find with kids that the warmer they are the longer they will stay playing outside! I love LLBean for the longevity and warmth factor. Spendy but you can pick up odds and ends at charity shops and that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Enjoy your first winter!