The Canada Goose brand is ridiculously expensive and unnecessary. Hordes and generations of people have survived northern New England winters without spending anywhere near $1000+ on a winter jacket. We’re financially comfortable but I wouldn’t dream of spending that kind of money on a coat for my kids - or myself. It flies in the face of yankee frugality. If you have the $ and you wish to spend it that way, feel free to do so but never feel obligated to do so. Most students won’t.
I honestly suggest waiting until you are on campus in the fall to make those kind of decisions. It isn’t going to be cold right away. When it starts to get chilly, you can always add layers as it often will be cold during the morning and evening but warmer during the days. That will buy you some time to check out what some of the options are, see what fits your personal taste, and make some purchases before the cold weather sets in. Online shopping is wonderful or many kids will shop if their folks come up for family weekend in October.
@KentuckyMomma:: Some brands of down puffers will have ratings…like 600, 800, etc. with the higher number meaning more insulation. Others may have a temperature rating. As so to what people above say about layer…they are correct. I have a light fleece that I wear under the down puffer and if I need wind or precipitation protection put a Goretex shell over it. That set up, with thermal underwear, etc. keeps me warm in even single digit temps. Hats and gloves are key as well.
I am pro Barbour coats as well, though mine haven’t lasted as long as PhotographerMom’s. Note that they can be re-oiled and repaired. I’m on my second one, and it probably needs a new lining after 7-8 years or so. I prefer the longer Beaufort model, and what I like about it is that it looks fine with jeans but also works with a suit. Note that they are also not cheap ($300-$500 depending on style). I waited to buy my girls Barbours until they were fully grown AND there was a crazy sale at Bloomingdale’s on some styles…they love them.
I totally understand the idea of waiting until they get there, but I’m that frugal mom who watches the clearance racks. I know our Dicks store had some serious clearance for winter wear around this time last year.
@KentuckyMomma we bought our stuff on clearance this time last year and left everything winter at our house until DS came home for thanksgiving break. He was told to leave some room in the suitcase to haul the winter stuff back. He did fine until then with a few fleece pullovers & a rain jacket. As a matter of fact, he still had tags on almost every pair of pants we bought him when we visited the last week in February. Sigh…nothing like the down jacket, shorts and soccer slides look! 8-|
Don’t overlook the importance of good socks! It sounds silly, but really good socks can make all the difference in the world. My kids are partial to SmartWool socks, but many outdoor outfitters will carry similar brands. For footwear our family swears by Bogs, as they can function as both snow and rain boots, but they’re not the most stylish option. ITTA with all previous posters who discussed the importance of layering - you may want to look for moisture-wicking thermal underwear layers for extra warmth on the most bitter cold days.
Both REI and EMS have had some great sales lately - picked up a $350 North Face winter coat for around $100. We’ve had good luck with REI, in particular - if it’s good enough for people who go winter camping up north, it’s probably going to be fine for a walk across campus.
From what I’ve seen, many brands do not provide specific temperature ranges because what is warm enough for one person may leave another feeling cold. Some brands do provide temperature guides, but it seems like any rating scale would be at best a rough measure.
Regarding fill power, I believe that’s a measure of how much loft (fluffiness) down has. Higher fill power equals higher fluffiness and higher warmth for a given amount of insulation. But while fill power speaks to the quality of the down insulation, it doesn’t speak to the amount of insulation in the jacket. A lower fill power jacket could be warmer than a higher fill power jacket, but it will likely weigh more if it is to be equally warm, as you’ll need more insulation to achieve the same amount of warmth. For synthetic insulation, I usually see the amount of insulation provided by weight, i.e., the number of grams insulation.
I think it’s helpful to read reviews and look for cemments about relative warmth from reviewers who live in New England, Canada, or some other cold location.
@momof3nyc I agree about the socks!!! Socksaddict.com sells smartwool socks at very low prices. We are hooked (even in Texas) and use their running, cycling and fashion socks! They keep your feet warm and dry!
You can totally tell we are from NE. SwimKid doesn’t have a hat/gloves/scarf, no thermals, and just some normal cotton socks. And don’t worry @buuzn03, SwimKid wears his soccer slides or slippers to class even in the winter!
Thermals and wool socks are great for winter hiking and skiing but I’d be concerned about overheating wearing that stuff on a typical day on campus. Remember you are going in and out of buildings all day. Many buildings will be older and often overheated. Layers you can take off and on work well - shirt, sweater or fleece, jacket, nano puff, etc.
@dos: Smartwools are great and come in lots of different styles and weights. Remember that wool breathes AND is less prone to getting infected with stank. (I think that’s a scientific term, btw.)
@doschicos smartwool makes a phd sock that I wear all summer long when I run. My feet don’t get sweaty. They are the best socks I own. My husband also uses these wool socks when competing in IronMan…they breathe great and are so thin, they do not get too hot. So various weights would work. (Note…this ad was not paid for by smartwool)
Haha @ChoatieMom- so true! In middle school, there were always those boys who wore shorts even though it was snowing and was 10 below
In terms of warmth: from my experience, generally the thicker the coat appears to be the warmer it is. Also, look for down coats/puffer coats: those tend to be the warmest.
For layering, I would recommend getting a thermal and also a nice vest!
I agree with ChoatieMom on brands, even though I have cited a few. Don’t buy brands because they are popular…buy them because they represent quality.
FWIW, I think LL Bean stuff is a little bland (for teens). The qualities that make their pieces timeless also make them a little bland. Though they are tryings to style things up a little with their Signature line. The classic rubber soled boots however defy category.
LL Bean has a new Open Doors Collection which has a very Patagonia look to it.
Ok, to you Smartwool lovers, I’ll let you wear wool socks indoors but I’m standing firm on thermal underwear unless you are spending extended time outdoors. No thermals indoors, unless indoors means an ice fishing shack.
FWIW some department stores have huge sales on winter coats etc. going on now. I recently got my D a mid-lenght Calvin Klein down jacket at Lord and Taylor for around $75 (with coupons). Similar looking Canadian Goose coats sell for close to $1,000 and other than the logo I can’t tell the difference (and D is very happy).
@doschicos…no thermals for me…the closest I get to that are my yoga pants…and that’s work clothing! I do, however, have a full length hockey mom coat that has served a dual use of walking through NE in a winter month…
