How to prepare for the weather? Suggestions?

<p>@kp24- You guys closed school for wind chill? This winter we went to school with three straight days of windchill exceeding -40.</p>

<p>Yeah, we did. The schools HAVE to shut down if it reaches -20 in my school district, it’s in their code or something. They wouldn’t have closed otherwise, I’m sure.</p>

<p>Thank you for these posts. We are looking at Marquette, and coming from New Orleans. </p>

<p>BIL teaches at UMich and says that son will have a hard time adjusting to the “AGONIZING COLD!”</p>

<p>kp24, your so lucky. My school doesn’t even cancel with it is -20 windchill. Last last winter (2007), other schools canceled for three days due to windchill but we still went to school. =(</p>

<p>I guess this is the consequence of going to a private college prep school (not boarding). Not everyone rides school buses and school buses pick people up at their houses so no waiting in a group or walking to school. Grrrr. I wish we canceled school when there is a low windchill</p>

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<p>That’s too funny. It’s just not that bad, I’ll admit that by the end of January, global warming starts to sound like a good idea, but winter just makes spring seem that much more glorious.</p>

<p>Shoes - I strongly suggest a pair of LL Bean Gumshoes with the thinsulate lining. I have lived in Michigan my entire life, and those Gumshoes get me through almost the entire winter, except right after a big snowfall. They will keep your feet warm and dry and the are still comfortable when it gets warmer.</p>

<p>Last year my thin, little South Florida daughter who had never seen snow before went to U Mich. Here’s what she said, “Mom, nothing you could have ever told me would have prepared me for winter here.” (I’m from the Midwest originally).</p>

<p>That being said, she got through the winter just fine…though she was happy to come home on breaks to “thaw-out”. Here’s the gear that kept her comfortably warm in the worst AA had to offer: Full-length Northface coat, long underwear (buy it early since it became hard to find after December), Northface boots, a good pair of gloves, and wearing lots of layers. I found a great store in Palm Beach Gardens that sells all the winter gear you could possibly need (on sale if you’re lucky like we were!) She also found that a pair of rubber rain boots was useful when the snow started melting.</p>

<p>Overall she didn’t mind the Michigan weather and enjoyed the changing seasons. I’m sure you’ll be fine as long as you make sure you have the right gear.</p>

<p>So any suggestions (brands) for winter footwear for guys? Also, the guys just wear jeans during the winter? What pants do guys wear for playing in the snow?</p>

<p>People don’t usaually play in the snow… It’s cold and wet :(</p>

<p>colmomto2,</p>

<p>When you get to campus got to Bivouac on State St. or MooseJaw on Main, they’ll be able to set you up with footwear. </p>

<p>As for playing in the snow: jeans, hat, gloves and a couple of sweatshirts should do, (yes, all at once).</p>

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<p>No snowball fights? Gee, my DS will be very disappointed. He’s only seen snow a couple of times. How about when you guys go snowmobiling? Don’t jeans get wet with all that snow and sleet and slush? There’s nothing worse than walking around all day in cold, wet, heavy jeans. I was trying to find out what brand of boots guys wear on campus so DS won’t stick out like a snow newbie. (We are from the deep south and don’t have snow.) Any brand more popular than the others?</p>

<p>I’m not too observant of what other people are wearing, but I’ve never seen any guys wearing boots. They’re completely unnecessary as far as I’m concerned - the only place you need to walk is on the sidewalks, which are generally well plowed.</p>

<p>Snowball fights are plentiful; Pioneer kids just don’t know how to have fun <___<</p>

<p>As for men’s boots, a pair of Timberlands wouldn’t be out of place and would keep your feet warm if you decide to walk in the snow…</p>

<p>I’ll second what Kastsm said about not needing boots. I get around during winter just fine without boots. The only possible reason you would need them is if for some reason you have a strange urge to walk directly through the snow instead of staying on the sidewalks.</p>

<p>First of all, although Ann Arbor has long and cold winters, they are manageable. I grew up in Abu Dhabi, where our summer highs hover well over 110 degrees (with close to 100% humidity and a heat index often climbing over 120 degrees) and our winter lows almost always well over 60 degrees. I had never seen temperatures lower than 50 degrees until I went to Michigan. My first two winters in Michigan (1992 and 1993) remain among the coldest winters on record. Even then, I adapted just fine to the cold winters of Ann Arbor.</p>

<p>As for boots, they are indeed no required. However, one will not always walk on clear sidewalks. Most students will have to walk over deep snowy patches from time to time and having shoes that cover well above the ankles does not hurt.</p>

<p>^^^I never thought that that part of the world would be so humid in the summer.</p>

<p>Abu Dhabi is an island and it does not rain from mid April until mid October, so you can imagine the humidity that builds up!</p>

<p>It doesn’t seem fair, little rain and high humidity!</p>

<p>That is why the humidity worsens over the course of the summer. Between mid august and late september, the humidity here is horrible!</p>

<p>Are there any brand footwear that carry wide sizes? My son has a flat wide foot. I doubt boots will be comfortable for him anyway.</p>

<p>As for playing in the snow, son is anxious to make snow angels! And to find a girl who will make them with him. What a romantic!</p>

<p>So I’m anticipating a lot of rolling around in the snow, so need some waterproof stuff, both footwear and clothes!</p>