Hi everybody

Need some advive about buying winter clothes and what level of protection do you really need .. also wheres the best place to buy them ?

Today we went to Marks works wear ? and they had boots in there rated to -40 c , surelly these are over the top ... We are in Calgary , had some snow the other day and was a bit chilly but nothing I havent felt back home in Wales. I see some people still walking around in T Shirts !!!

Can someone advise us on whats pratical , dont want to step out the house looking like im going to the North Pole but dont fancy getting caught out either.

How cold does it really get ?

You could quite feasibly get -40C in Calgary...maybe not very often, but it could drop that low. Even at -20 you'll be glad of decent rated snow boots. We had about a week of -35ish last winter here in the BC Rockies.

Relax - it is not as bad as everyone makes out - plus we have the chinooks that raise the temperature up by about 30 degrees in a few hours!! I moved in December 06 from New Jersey and there were some minus 20 days when you did need to wrap up or stay in, but on the whole it is fine. But then my husband thinks I am permanently menopausal so I could be giving you false info!!!! Point to note, my heating has been broken for 3 days I just realized yesterday - so maybe you should not take much notice of me LOl

www.ec.gc.ca

follow the links to climate norms for Calgary.

You're not going to the North Pole. In a very real sense, you're already there. Moreover, no-one gives a shit about how you look.

It can get so cold, you get snotsicles and your tears get slushie.

Still, I lived last year in Calgary and never once wore boots and I walked a couple of miles almost daily as I had no car. I wore fuzzy warm socks and trail/approach shoes. Not once did my feet get cold. The boots that I bought still have their price tags on them.

Thermals (long undies), warm coat, mits, scarf, socks and toque and you're good - more if you're out of the city, away from amenities (aka blizzard kit).

After a week at minus 34, minus 10 is t-shirt weather.

Climate Normals 1971-2000 for Calgary

You can check daily temperatures both high and low plus precipitation with the link below.
Actual daily weather information for January 2007 note the months and years can be changed by changing same in the boxes at the top of the table.

Yes, but it's not winter yet.

if you're going to be out in the weather, i.e. standing at bus stops, walking for miles or just playing out in the snow then yes, you do need warm clothing. If your car is warming up in the garage and you park in an underground car park at work then you prob don't need to wrap up so much.
It's funny here, you can get a -10 and sunny day and feel quite warm in the sun but a -10 cloudy day is quite cold. You have to remember to wear layers though as the temp fluctuates.

Jo

If you are likely to be out working in -35 or below for any length of time, you may want that level of protection. Personally, I have been here two years now, and my coat I bought in BHS before I left is fine, sometimes I even wear a sweater or fleece underneath ..... in VERY cold weather!

Get some good gloves, thick soled shoes, warm socks and a hat and scarf though. You just need to keep the wind off you unless you are going to be standing around in it for hours.

I love my car though, it has a good heater and heated seats are a boon on those arctic mornings!