Hello everyone, new to the forum and College Confidential. I have posted a question on other sites but didnt quite get what I needed. I came hear as I had other questions that were easily found by the search feature. I wanted to find alternatives to regular winter coats and i did. Fleece jackets. I already have a lot of them, some windproof some not. Like the LL Bean windproof hoodie, and a Duluth Trading fleece hoodie (like the Denali but windproof and very water resistant) that can easily be worn in cold temps, wind and some rain. When I went to our college for Decision day it was maybe in the teens with wind and I had the LL Bean windproof hoodie and a North Face Chimborazo hoodie and i was plenty comfortable. Now I just got a North Face Denali, and I am wondering how do you layer this in order to stay warm in winter? I am thinking of using it not for the coldest days (Thats what the Patagonia R4 and the windproof fleeces are for) probably in the 30s or so. I know you cant just wear the Denali alone and I know that this has been talked alot. I have just never seen people say what they are wearing underneath just that they are wearing the Denali in 20 degrees. I dont see how it would keep you warm without layers. So that’s my question, what to wear underneath the Denali for winter weather. I am familiar how water repellent it is, so id imagine wearing it in snow would be ok. I know you cant wear it in heavy rain even though I went for a hike the other day and stayed dry(Thats another story). So, I have gone towards the plusher kind of fleece to wear underneath the Denali or others for warmth but dont know which one to get. I was thinking the Mountain Hardware Monkey man 200 jacket, Patagonia R3 or R2? I mean i could wear the R4 but that’s way overkill or is it? I mean over time i would imagine the plush fleece wear the backpack straps would go would look worn. I also have few cotton sweatshirts, im that type that would prefer fleece over cotton any day. But I do have a couple of them that have the college name/logo on it. I am leaning toward the R3 but would that be to warm for walking class to class and inside? I wouldn’t think just a sweatshirt underneath would be enough? Thanks for your help in advance, hopefully your not bashing your head off the keyboard saying “Oh no not the Denali question again” LOL.
Just get something fur/leather. Animals live outdoors, they have to stay warm.
Fur/leather huh? Great idea only i dont think anyone else will have a fur coat on campus.
I wear a cheap softshell jacket ($30 on sale) to block the wind and rain/snow for slightly warmer temps. When it’s cooler, I add a fleece jacket underneath (Columbia, $35) or just a sweatshirt. That combo kept me warm and dry for 5 years of winters in Boston (and this past winter was ridiculous).
Anything you want.
Why not just wear a winter coat/jacket if u are so worried about being cold? That’s what they’re there for.
You do realize you’re just walking several steps from heated building to heated building, and not leading an expedition to the South Pole? The kids at my children’s schools up north don’t even bother wearing a winter jacket.
Just looked them up… all those jackets are also crazy expensive!
Ive found alot on ebay that are authentic and decently price. I have a waterproof Columbia hooded jacket that I could use but that was for when the days are really rainy where a fleece wouldn’t make sense. I should of just asked my sister LOL, I honestly never knew just how many fleeces she has. I did see Columbia has the Steens on sale for $35 on amazon. Darn, the first time i bought one of those it was $60! I think that’s even better, lighter and cheaper. I did find a older LL Bean trail model fleece for like $20. I have a pullover in medium but dont wear it as it doesn’t fit to well.
I would be way too warm wearing the Denali and the R3, even the R2, unless it was below zero. Some people would be cold wearing that in 40 degrees, cold tolerance varies a lot.
Unless you plan on being outside for a long time, it’s not a big deal what you wear. A hat, gloves, and some sort of jacket will be enough. For rain or wet snow you could always just wear a raincoat over a fleece.
If it was below zero, i would be wearing either the Wind Challenger or the R4 but its nice to know i can wear it in that temp. I dont get cold that easily either. Thinking one of my lighter fleeces for underneath for most days. Most of my fleeces do ok in snow (R4, Wind Challenger, Wind wall) but rain is a problem for fleece obviously as Ive experienced before. I think if it were wet snowt id wear the windproof ones, in my view they shed alot of water.
We’re on Long Island-- last winter included 6 or 7 days with enough snow to close local schools.
My kids are always warm enough with a Lands End jacket. They’re temperature rated.
As far as what to wear under: layers are your friends.
You can google what skiers/cold weather people wear, but here are the basics:
An under layer – say a cotton T shirt.
A cotton T or turtleneck
A wool sweater
A jacket
That combo will keep you warm through most storms, provided you keep the rest of your body warm as well-- remember a hat, gloves, warm socks, waterproof boots.
But keep in mind, you don’t have to be outside long-- really just for a 10 minute walk from one place on campus to the next. So you could lose a few of the layers I mentioned and still be fine.
Get a real winter coat (if you live near an outlet center the Columbia outlet is the bomb). The buildings will be heated and trust me, you’d much rather have one layer to take off than two or three, especially if it’s raining/snowing and your layers are sticking together. If you’re really insistent on using the lighter jackets you already own and layering, invest in some thermal shirts so you don’t have to take off that layer, you can just roll up the sleeves if you’re too warm when you’re inside. Or wear a hoodie and hope your school’s heating system doesn’t feel like you’re sitting in the actual furnace (like mine often does).
I go to school in an area that is pretty frequently below freezing from November to about mid-March, so my warm clothes game is strong.
I do have a real winter coat, 1 for the fire department which is the best, a ski coat, and carhartt jacket. After getting my class scheduled i think the Denali and a lighter fleece underneath would be best. I also have a couple of Henley as well.