<p>Hey all!!! I've decided to attend McGill this coming fall. I'm from California so i'm REALLY new at this whole Canadian winter thing. It sounds like I have to take a class to know what to look for in a good winter coat. Does anyone have any advice for a clueless California gal like me? </p>
<p>Thanks a lot in advance! ^_^</p>
<p>1) get a long coat. its really important to have a coat that goes past your hips (i'd say about knee length is best)</p>
<p>2) make sure it has a hood</p>
<p>3) make sure its filled with Down</p>
<p>4) make sure its wind proof. the worst part of winter is the wind.</p>
<p>other than that, buy leggings/long underwear, good winter boots (invest in these), a few hats, gloves, scarves, and tons of layers.
if you do that, you should be fine.</p>
<p>Honestly, I prefer a fur coat during the winter. IMO, it keeps one warm and is quite soft. However, since most people these days tend to have issues with wearing fur, I would have to agree with beatlespwr's suggestions, get a long coat with a hood and wear lots and lots of layers. </p>
<p>Just a note, wait until you get to Montreal before you buy your coat. The things that pass for winter coats in Californian stores will prove to be expensive pieces of junk come December. Once you get there, you can find tonnes of good, cheap coats at the Armee du Salut (Salvation Army) thrift stores.</p>
<p>Nothing will prepare you for a Canadian winter if you're from Cali. This winter was particularly bad. It gets cold enough here to freeze the snot in your nose and that's not an exaggeration.</p>
<p>Long undies.
Boots, but for God's sakes, do not buy Ugg boots.
Earmuffs or toque <---learn what this is.
Gloves, think ones.</p>
<p>As for a coat, buy one in Canada. I can't imagine anything from California being able to withstand a real winter.</p>
<p>I think people are over exaggerating, a good wool coat, a toque, a scarf and gloves you should be fine and for the ugg boots I have no idea all the girls I know where them I have no idea if they are actually warm but they'll get ruined by the end of the winter for sure.</p>
<p>Yes, there is some exaggeration but you do have to be prepared. Buy the winter stuff once in Montreal (as mentioned, whatever you need you can find there), you'll have plenty of time. The other piece of advice is dress up gradually. Don't put everything all at once the first time the "cold" feels uncomfortable, because it'll get colder and your body will have a harder time adapting if you bundled up as much as you could already.</p>
<p>If you have control over the temperature of your living quarters, the same applies, don't jack up the heat the minute it gets chilly outside. Put on a sweater and save on your heating bill...</p>
<p>Some very good advice, it starts to get cold towards the end of January. I would suggest wearing multiple layers instead of a big coat. A toque and a scarf are a must, it's mid-April and I'm still wearing my scarf. They are forecasting more snow starting tonight into tomorrow 4-6 inches of snow.</p>
<p>wow... thank for all the advice! Now i feel more ready for my first Canadian winter. And don't worry, I'm won't get ugg boots.</p>