MMers from the north...

hoffse · August 2015

brij2006 said:

hoffse said:

Y'all, I'm just too cheap to live up north. That's what I have determined.

Haha. Can I join you on this? It's high 60's here today. Too cold, too soon!

Definitely. I just can't believe how much all of this stuff costs! I mean, you all definitely need to have this gear. I just live in a part of the world where snow boots aren't even sold in stores because there is no point.

I have never paid more than $50 for a coat. I really only wear them 2-3 months out of the year.

vlagrl29 · August 2015

I find that winter clothing budget is much less than summer clothing. I just don't have the urge to buy much during the winter because sweaters just don't get me going like a cute summer top does.

I buy shoes at DSW because its usually cheaper and sometimes I will get a coupon on top of it. Boot socks you can get on amazon. I will buy jeans/jeggings at AE but wait until they have a sale on it. That winter coat I have - got it in 2005 and its still in great condition. The last year though I've gotten into the different kind of yoga leggings - that's my weak spot.

blondie42107 · August 2015

hoffse said:
Thanks, everybody - yeah, I don't know how "wintery" I need to be, but I really don't want to be cold. I mean, I live in Alabama and I'll be going from that to Germany with virtually no transition period. I wore jeans, a t-shirt, and flip flops on Christmas Day last year, so I think it's likely to be a pretty big temperature shift.

I also despise cold weather. I can't even tell you.

I do like those Merrell boots. They look more like riding boots, which I love, but they seem to be insulated.

Oh my goodness. I can't imagine flip flops on Christmas Day!! Lol I'll keep my snow and ice!

hoffse · August 2015

blondie42107 said:

Thanks, everybody - yeah, I don't know how "wintery" I need to be, but I really don't want to be cold. I mean, I live in Alabama and I'll be going from that to Germany with virtually no transition period. I wore jeans, a t-shirt, and flip flops on Christmas Day last year, so I think it's likely to be a pretty big temperature shift.

I also despise cold weather. I can't even tell you.

I do like those Merrell boots. They look more like riding boots, which I love, but they seem to be insulated.
Oh my goodness. I can't imagine flip flops on Christmas Day!! Lol I'll keep my snow and ice!

It was glorious

And there is always at least one weekend each year where you can lay out in a swimming suit in January or February.

vlagrl29 · August 2015

blondie42107 said:

Thanks, everybody - yeah, I don't know how "wintery" I need to be, but I really don't want to be cold. I mean, I live in Alabama and I'll be going from that to Germany with virtually no transition period. I wore jeans, a t-shirt, and flip flops on Christmas Day last year, so I think it's likely to be a pretty big temperature shift.

I also despise cold weather. I can't even tell you.

I do like those Merrell boots. They look more like riding boots, which I love, but they seem to be insulated.
Oh my goodness. I can't imagine flip flops on Christmas Day!! Lol I'll keep my snow and ice!

my last trimester (Dec-March) of being pregnant with DD I only wore flip flops, but it was a normal cold winter. LOL

dragonstarjk · August 2015

hoffse said:

als1982 said:

It's not exactly MM but we waited until we got overseas to buy coats for our most recent trip to Norway. IMO spending a little more (considering the exchange rate difference in England where we got them) was well worth only having to travel back with them. Flying with a coat is a PITA! And for significant deals on boots and coats here in the US, you'd likely need to wait until late February/early March.

That's an interesting idea about buying a coat once we get there, and that's something we need to think about.

Yeah we may not score a great deal on boots in time, but I'm hoping Black Friday might help us out a bit...? Maybe not though. Seems like many of the "boots" sold down here are for fashion, rather than function.

I was going to say--whatever you do, buy functional, comfortable boots; not boots that are 'cute'. They won't keep your feet warm and they will be uncomfortable as all get out for walking around in.

dragonstarjk · August 2015

As pps said, winter clothing items really should be thought of as an investment. Yeah, they are expensive, but 1) they are a requirement (sad face) and 2) good quality gear will last years and years.

H and I enjoy shopping at Cabelas, but you can price shop and I can sometimes find the same thing on Amazon for cheaper. So I'll pick out what I want and then order it online.

I did find my current puffy winter coat at Kohls one year and it is soooooo warm! No idea how it would pack. I would probably check into getting a Columbia system for traveling because they have the 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 coats that I think would be handy; they probably wouldn't squish as well as a puffy coat though.

For gloves, I like a Thinsulate or fleece lining and leather outside. If you don't want to be cold, the two most important things to keep warm are hands and feet, IMO. Whatever you do, you should definitely choose FUNCTION over FASHION. I've worn plenty of pairs of gloves and mittens that were super cute and practically froze my fingers off! If you don't look like a ridiculous bundled up snowman like the little kid in 'A Christmas Story', you're probably not doing it right :-D

hoffse · August 2015

thanks, everybody. I had fun looking at all of this last night (drove H crazy).

I'm thinking the Columbia 3-in-1 system or something similar is probably the way to go. It sounds like temperatures that time of year can have a huge range, and we don't want to have to bring like 3 different coats to cover all possibilities. I like that the 3-in-1s provide a wider temperature range. The outer shell is also waterproof, and I think that's very useful too. Northern Germany and Belgium are both damper climates.

Costco also has a down vest for $18 that should pack down to almost nothing. So I think we will each get one of those too so that we have some added flexibility if it's much warmer or colder than expected. That won't be as expensive or bulky as taking a second coat.

Still figuring out shoes, gloves, etc. I am convinced that stores don't sell winter boots down here. I was looking at winter boots online last night, and I have never seen many of these!

I do have a pair of felt-lined leather gloves. Would that be ok? I'm not sure what H has. He's missing part of a finger, so he always has trouble with gloves.

bridejl · August 2015

dragonstarjk said:

As pps said, winter clothing items really should be thought of as an investment. Yeah, they are expensive, but 1) they are a requirement (sad face) and 2) good quality gear will last years and years.
H and I enjoy shopping at Cabelas, but you can price shop and I can sometimes find the same thing on Amazon for cheaper. So I'll pick out what I want and then order it online.
I did find my current puffy winter coat at Kohls one year and it is soooooo warm! No idea how it would pack. I would probably check into getting a Columbia system for traveling because they have the 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 coats that I think would be handy; they probably wouldn't squish as well as a puffy coat though.
For gloves, I like a Thinsulate or fleece lining and leather outside. If you don't want to be cold, the two most important things to keep warm are hands and feet, IMO. Whatever you do, you should definitely choose FUNCTION over FASHION. I've worn plenty of pairs of gloves and mittens that were super cute and practically froze my fingers off! If you don't look like a ridiculous bundled up snowman like the little kid in 'A Christmas Story', you're probably not doing it right :-D

I have a Columbia 3-in-1 coat and it's amazing. Keeps me nice and warm during winter travel (went to NYC with it in January) but it's not bulky so it travels well. And I use the fleece separately from the rain jacket a lot. Definitely recommend it. Although it's not cheap, if you can find it at a store with a coupon it's not too bad, and it can be used for so many weather situations, it's worth it.

formerlyGDaisy09 · August 2015

hoffse said:

Y'all, I'm just too cheap to live up north. That's what I have determined.

now you understand why I love my LLBean rewards CC so much

brij2006 · August 2015

bridejl said:

dragonstarjk said:

As pps said, winter clothing items really should be thought of as an investment. Yeah, they are expensive, but 1) they are a requirement (sad face) and 2) good quality gear will last years and years.
H and I enjoy shopping at Cabelas, but you can price shop and I can sometimes find the same thing on Amazon for cheaper. So I'll pick out what I want and then order it online.
I did find my current puffy winter coat at Kohls one year and it is soooooo warm! No idea how it would pack. I would probably check into getting a Columbia system for traveling because they have the 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 coats that I think would be handy; they probably wouldn't squish as well as a puffy coat though.
For gloves, I like a Thinsulate or fleece lining and leather outside. If you don't want to be cold, the two most important things to keep warm are hands and feet, IMO. Whatever you do, you should definitely choose FUNCTION over FASHION. I've worn plenty of pairs of gloves and mittens that were super cute and practically froze my fingers off! If you don't look like a ridiculous bundled up snowman like the little kid in 'A Christmas Story', you're probably not doing it right :-D

I have a Columbia 3-in-1 coat and it's amazing. Keeps me nice and warm during winter travel (went to NYC with it in January) but it's not bulky so it travels well. And I use the fleece separately from the rain jacket a lot. Definitely recommend it. Although it's not cheap, if you can find it at a store with a coupon it's not too bad, and it can be used for so many weather situations, it's worth it.

All of this. I've had 3 of them, but each one has lasted me 3-4 years. Also used it when I traveled all around Europe. Great to stuff in a backpack or to wear just parts of when the weather changed. And yeah, rainy gloomy Scotland it worked perfect. Some of the new ones, the hood rolls up into the neckline. That's a nice feature.

You can also check Kohls and JCPenney. They occasionally have them down to around $140-160, then you can use a coupon on top of that.

hoffse · August 2015

Any reviews on the 3-in-1 jacket from LL Bean? They are having a sale on both their men's and women's 3-in-1 jackets, and they're about $50 less than Columbia right now. Plus the LL Bean lifetime satisfaction guarantee is pretty rockstar.

I've just noticed that everyone is recommending Columbia for that type of jacket, and I'm wondering if their product is that much better than other companies?

Sisugal · August 2015

LL Bean generally has good quality for the money. I have purchased many items from them, but not this particular one. I would give them a try.

dragonstarjk · August 2015

Honestly, when I say Columbia I am referring mostly to the type (3-in-1) than to the brand. I just always know them as Columbias. It's like calling a box of tissue Kleenex

If LL Bean has what looks like a good quality coat for a good price, I'd go for it. Especially if it has a lifetime guarantee! Just make sure it's rated for the temperatures you'll be experiencing.

hoffse · August 2015

Yeah, everything LL Bean sells has that guarantee.

I got one of their book bags in 3rd grade. I used it until I graduated law school when the straps finally ripped. I called to order another one and told the customer service rep about it, and he had them send me a new one for free. Monogrammed and everything. He actually apologized because they didn't carry the color anymore. They even sent me a check to cover the cost of shipping my old one back. It was nearly 20 years old, and they still replaced it.

Their customer service is really stellar, I just don't order a ton from them because we have no stores nearby to try stuff on. Coats should be fairly easy to size though.

I think we're going to do it. They're rated to be plenty warm, and I think it's a fair price for that kind of coat. We can't really expect rock-bottom prices given the time of year.

formerlyGDaisy09 · August 2015

hoffse said:

Any reviews on the 3-in-1 jacket from LL Bean? They are having a sale on both their men's and women's 3-in-1 jackets, and they're about $50 less than Columbia right now. Plus the LL Bean lifetime satisfaction guarantee is pretty rockstar.

I've just noticed that everyone is recommending Columbia for that type of jacket, and I'm wondering if their product is that much better than other companies?

My sister has used the 3-in-1 from LLBean as her ski/rain/fall coat for the last 10 years...I don't think it keeps her quite as warm as it used to, but that happens.. I'm still rocking an LLBean ski jacket from 15 years ago.

formerlyGDaisy09 · August 2015

hoffse said:

Yeah, everything LL Bean sells has that guarantee.

I got one of their book bags in 3rd grade. I used it until I graduated law school when the straps finally ripped. I called to order another one and told the customer service rep about it, and he had them send me a new one for free. Monogrammed and everything. He actually apologized because they didn't carry the color anymore. They even sent me a check to cover the cost of shipping my old one back. It was nearly 20 years old, and they still replaced it.

Their customer service is really stellar, I just don't order a ton from them because we have no stores nearby to try stuff on. Coats should be fairly easy to size though.

I think we're going to do it. They're rated to be plenty warm, and I think it's a fair price for that kind of coat. We can't really expect rock-bottom prices given the time of year.

Not quite everything LLBean sells has a lifetime guarantee, if you have the receipt they'll take anything back, the lifetime guarantee applies to anything that has their LLBean logo on it....so they won't take back something like smartwool (that you could buy plenty of other places) without a receipt, but if says LLBean on it somewhere they stand behind it.

in my experience with them they send return shipping lables with all their orders, so if something doesn't fit, just send it back. their newer free-shipping on everything policy is pretty stellar too. Honestly I don't think I've ever made a bad purchase from LLBean.

hoffse · August 2015

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

hoffse said:

Yeah, everything LL Bean sells has that guarantee.

I got one of their book bags in 3rd grade. I used it until I graduated law school when the straps finally ripped. I called to order another one and told the customer service rep about it, and he had them send me a new one for free. Monogrammed and everything. He actually apologized because they didn't carry the color anymore. They even sent me a check to cover the cost of shipping my old one back. It was nearly 20 years old, and they still replaced it.

Their customer service is really stellar, I just don't order a ton from them because we have no stores nearby to try stuff on. Coats should be fairly easy to size though.

I think we're going to do it. They're rated to be plenty warm, and I think it's a fair price for that kind of coat. We can't really expect rock-bottom prices given the time of year.

Not quite everything LLBean sells has a lifetime guarantee, if you have the receipt they'll take anything back, the lifetime guarantee applies to anything that has their LLBean logo on it....so they won't take back something like smartwool (that you could buy plenty of other places) without a receipt, but if says LLBean on it somewhere they stand behind it.

in my experience with them they send return shipping lables with all their orders, so if something doesn't fit, just send it back. their newer free-shipping on everything policy is pretty stellar too. Honestly I don't think I've ever made a bad purchase from LLBean.

Ah thanks for the clarification. That makes sense. I guess all of the stuff I've bought from them over the years has their label on it!

Honestly, when I called in about my book bag I was more than willing to buy a new one. I just wanted the same color, so I was calling to see if they were going to be bringing that color back anytime soon. I had certainly gotten way more value out of it than the $30-$40 my parents originally paid for it. But when the customer service rep heard that the strap had ripped, he insisted on sending me a new one for free. I was extremely impressed!

I ordered a jacket for H this morning. I'm still deciding on a color for me. If we can get 10 years out of them I will be more than satisfied.

formerlyGDaisy09 · August 2015

hoffse said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

hoffse said:

-SNIP-

Ah thanks for the clarification. That makes sense. I guess all of the stuff I've bought from them over the years has their label on it!

Honestly, when I called in about my book bag I was more than willing to buy a new one. I just wanted the same color, so I was calling to see if they were going to be bringing that color back anytime soon. I had certainly gotten way more value out of it than the $30-$40 my parents originally paid for it. But when the customer service rep heard that the strap had ripped, he insisted on sending me a new one for free. I was extremely impressed!

I ordered a jacket for H this morning. I'm still deciding on a color for me. If we can get 10 years out of them I will be more than satisfied.

they did the same thing for my dad when his well-loved hiking boots literally fell apart after 15 years, so impressive. they even offered to replace our dog's blanket when she chewed a hole in it.

I would bet you'll get at least 10 years out of the coats, my ski coat that I've had for 15 years has been used and abused for 15 winters, it definitely doesn't keep me as warm as it did at first (it's poly-fill not down) but it still works for milder days (keep in mind I live where winter is November-march/april).

MommyLiberty5013 · August 2015

hoffse said:

Y'all, I'm just too cheap to live up north. That's what I have determined.

We spend a few hundred bucks on winter gear here in MN, but we only need AC for a month or so out of the whole year. I wager a guess your AC costs way more than my parka and boots!!!

formerlyGDaisy09 · August 2015

MommyLiberty5013 said:

hoffse said:

Y'all, I'm just too cheap to live up north. That's what I have determined.

We spend a few hundred bucks on winter gear here in MN, but we only need AC for a month or so out of the whole year. I wager a guess your AC costs way more than my parka and boots!!!

but how much does your heating bill run you?

brij2006 · August 2015

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

MommyLiberty5013 said:

hoffse said:

Y'all, I'm just too cheap to live up north. That's what I have determined.

We spend a few hundred bucks on winter gear here in MN, but we only need AC for a month or so out of the whole year. I wager a guess your AC costs way more than my parka and boots!!!

but how much does your heating bill run you?

Shhhhh we don't speak of those. It's still summer. ;-)

hoffse · August 2015

Yeah I think utility bills probably cancel each other out.

Our August electric bill just came in and it was under $300. July was too. Our A/C runs from about the end of May until the end of August, with a few hot days during the shoulder season.

Winter costs are very low, except for maybe 6 or so weeks. We have shoulder seasons from the end of March until the end of May and then again from the end of August until late November/early December.

vlagrl29 · August 2015

give me a gas bill any day over the AC bill. AC seems to get more expensive every year.

als1982 · August 2015

hoffse said:
Yeah I think utility bills probably cancel each other out.

Our August electric bill just came in and it was under $300. July was too. Our A/C runs from about the end of May until the end of August, with a few hot days during the shoulder season.

Winter costs are very low, except for maybe 6 or so weeks. We have shoulder seasons from the end of March until the end of May and then again from the end of August until late November/early December.

Holy cow!! Our electric is $54 and gas is $68, both set on an equal payment plan. Granted our house is small and we have a new HVAC system but our house is still old and drafty. We run AC at 68 from early April through the end of September. And then heat November through February. Typically March and October we need neither.

Xstatic3333 · August 2015

Very late here, but...

We buy all our winter gear on sale, usually at outlets. I'm most comfortable in waterproof hiking boots for my day-to-day. Columbia, L. L. Bean, Merrill, etc. are all good brands. Mine are Asolo-they're a bit pricier but I use them for actual hiking a lot in the summer, as well as field work at my job. They've last about 6 years now.

My favorite winter coat solution, as others have mentioned, is a puffy, black, fitted down coat with a hood that goes down to my hips. It's light and comfy, but because it is black it works in more formal situations. The only time it won't cut it is in a cold rain. I have a North Face shell I use on those days, bought on very deep discount 10 years ago but still works awesome. My black coat is Patagonia which is a great brand, but I'll never pay full price for their stuff. We have an outlet near us where we can get Patagonia at mega-discount, or else I'd never be able to afford it.

Smart wool socks were a great idea. We get ours "slightly irregular" from LL Bean outlets.

Another store that stands by what they sell is REI. H has returned things there that are close to a year old but developed some sort of structural problem beyond normal wear and tear. They're expensive to start, but can have good sales from time to time.

Target is great for cute, cheap hats and scarves. They should have their winter stuff online soon, if not in stores near you.

hoffse · August 2015

als1982 said:

Yeah I think utility bills probably cancel each other out.

Our August electric bill just came in and it was under $300. July was too. Our A/C runs from about the end of May until the end of August, with a few hot days during the shoulder season.

Winter costs are very low, except for maybe 6 or so weeks. We have shoulder seasons from the end of March until the end of May and then again from the end of August until late November/early December.
Holy cow!! Our electric is $54 and gas is $68, both set on an equal payment plan. Granted our house is small and we have a new HVAC system but our house is still old and drafty. We run AC at 68 from early April through the end of September. And then heat November through February. Typically March and October we need neither.

Is your heat gas or oil?

Our gas bill has been around $16 the last 6 months. No oil, but we have gas heat.

I haven't done the payment plan thing. I think our electric would average around $100-$120 if we did that, but I kind of like having some months feel like "freebies."

We heat/cool around 2300 sq ft. The house was built in the 1950's and all of the windows are original.

hoffse · August 2015

Not going to lie, 68 for me is pretty cold too!

My office building cools to the mid-60's. The A/C in our building is either ON at full blast or OFF. Nothing in between and no way for individuals to control their own temperature even though there are thermostats every few offices. The thermostats are basically fake to make us feel like we have some control. It's so stupid. I have run my space heater every single day this summer because I'm constantly freezing.

formerlyGDaisy09 · August 2015

hoffse said:

als1982 said:

Yeah I think utility bills probably cancel each other out.

Our August electric bill just came in and it was under $300. July was too. Our A/C runs from about the end of May until the end of August, with a few hot days during the shoulder season.

Winter costs are very low, except for maybe 6 or so weeks. We have shoulder seasons from the end of March until the end of May and then again from the end of August until late November/early December.
Holy cow!! Our electric is $54 and gas is $68, both set on an equal payment plan. Granted our house is small and we have a new HVAC system but our house is still old and drafty. We run AC at 68 from early April through the end of September. And then heat November through February. Typically March and October we need neither.

Is your heat gas or oil?

Our gas bill has been around $16 the last 6 months. No oil, but we have gas heat.

I haven't done the payment plan thing. I think our electric would average around $100-$120 if we did that, but I kind of like having some months feel like "freebies."

We heat/cool around 2300 sq ft. The house was built in the 1950's and all of the windows are original.

see our electric bill averages out to about $100/month (higher in the winter because it's dark from 4pm to 7am, so we just use more lights, and also high in the summer because of the AC (keep the house at 76 during the day and cool to 70 at night). so excited for this to change with our new solar panels.

we budget $1500/year for propane, which runs the heat and our hot water. thermostat is set at 60 during the day 68 during waking hours we're home, and 66 for sleeping. we heat/cool about 1500 sqft. I'm also excited for our new windows to make a difference in our yearly heating costs!

bridejl · August 2015

hoffse said:

Not going to lie, 68 for me is pretty cold too!

My office building cools to the mid-60's. The A/C in our building is either ON at full blast or OFF. Nothing in between and no way for individuals to control their own temperature even though there are thermostats every few offices. The thermostats are basically fake to make us feel like we have some control. It's so stupid. I have run my space heater every single day this summer because I'm constantly freezing.

@hoffse, you're not alone! I share an office with my colleague and her heater is always on. I also keep a fleece here....that I've worn most of the summer (we're a casual office). I just hate cranked ac in the summer.

MMers from the north...

Re: MMers from the north...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards