<p>Is there anything wrong with Weatherproof brand stuff?</p>
<p>thumper1, she actually wants boots , but can't seem to find some that she likes.
I wouldn't dare pick them out for her !</p>
<p>An addition to the cold weather gear discussion - If you are the type of person who gets really cold or has to walk long distances in frigid weather, the absolute warmest hat is the kind Elmer Fudd wore when he was hunting. Rabbit fur lined ear flaps coming down on the side.
Men's</a> Anchorage Hat - 22317</p>
<p>Both of my kids rarely wear their down jackets and boots except to when they go skiing. They seem to consider it a point of pride to wear fleece for the entire winter. Though my older son does wear a completely ridiculous fleece hat that he got as a promotion for a computer game when he was about ten years old. I really would leave it up to your kid to decide if he needs a warmer outfit.</p>
<p>I've been in Boston over thirty years now and have raised three darling, practical New Englanders and I have to tell you, they have never owned any NorthFace. I'm not sure why. I've offered to buy it for them and their feeling is why pay that much when you can get the same for a lot less at LL Bean or other stores. It has become a point of pride for them now, I guess...or maybe they are afraid of the teasing they will receive from the other siblings if they do break down and buy an item or two. I do think you definitely need a good pair of boots and warm socks in addition to the wintry wear. Maybe my kids are different, but they don't care what they look like, they just want to be warm and they want their feet to be dry :) Boston winters can be tough and the wind is brutal.</p>
<p>When you say the jacket has a zip out down lining, does that include the arms? H has an old Columbia jacket where the lining is just in the torso, but not the arms. Without the lining it's no more than an insultated shell and not warm enough to be outside for extended periods of time on really cold days, even with the lining. Having to do the multiple layer thing every time you go out is possible, but not necessarily the most convenient thing if that's the case.</p>
<p>Roshke: Jacket lining includes the arms. In fact he has been wearing the liner as a jacket by itself during the early fall. He does have boots, but will he wear them is another story. </p>
<p>I am getting some great ideas. More fleece and good socks.</p>
<p>do not buy your kids llbean jackets. they may seem nice, but they are super dorkey looking. LLbean is what parents and grandparents wear. Go to REI or EMS store or online and buy a storebrand(still fantastic from these stores) or northface or mountain hardware or marmot or patagonia jacket.</p>
<p>My son has a coat from LL Bean. It's okay to be a dork in engineering.</p>
<p>Grandma spoke with S today. She's concerned as he still sees no need to buy a jacket. Once the cold really sets in if any of you Bostonians see what appears to be a life sized statue of a kid in sandals, t-shirt and shorts, Starbuck's in hand, frozen in place near a T-stop, it ain't art, it's my son....</p>
<p>4trees, I think somewhere at a bus stop in Cambridge there will be a similar statue of a female... My D refused to take any of her sweaters which H brought to her when he went to Boston for a visit. She still likes them, but she thought they were "too warm" for Boston. We live near Seattle :eek:!</p>
<p>I agree with all who say that when winter hits hard, fashion is the last thing people think about. When snow falls here in Seattle, folks who do not own any ski clothing (like H and I) look like this:</p>
<p>German</a> prisoners</p>
<p>So there is an REI store in Boston? That's encouraging.</p>
<p>Kids can always borrow clothes from those who know Boston better. And this is strictly a freshman year phenomenon - by the time sophomore year rolls around, they know better! Sometimes, depending on how hard a November/December we have, kids come back from winter break fully equipped!</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>LLbean is what parents and grandparents wear.>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>It depends on the kid. DS had an LLBean jacket that HE picked out in high school. He loves the thing. The zipper finally broke and we offered to get him a different jacket. He wanted a new zipper in that LLBean jacket. The LLBean winter jackets (some of them) look exactly the same as the REI and EMS brands...there's just a different logo.</p>
<p>Thumper, if he takes it to Bean's they will put a new zipper in it for a modest charge, or possibly even for free. They did last year for my favorite jacket, which I have had since 1994!</p>
<p>Actually Consolation...the "modest cost" which didn't include shipping back and forth was $25 for Beans to do the zipper. We took it to the local drycleaner's tailor who put a new one in for $15 (no shipping required).</p>
<p>Columbia jackets aren't THAT great for lots of walking outside and windy places. It's not really all that wind-proof unless you do more layering in order to make it more windproof. I'm glad that, after 5-7 years, the zipper broke and now I can go out and get a new parka! Woot!</p>
<p>But I really do need something that's windproof as I'm in Michigan and I've heard that Ann Arbor gets nasty winds here... Suggestions?</p>
<p>Thumper, I have the advantage of living about 20 minutes drive from Beans, which clearly makes a difference! :) In my case, they also replaced two pockets for that price. And the zipper they put in is a heavyweight one that will stand up to another 14 years of use, I think. I haven't had great luck with going through the dry cleaner's repair people. Yours is likely better.</p>
<p>I do agree, if you are totally decked out in Bean, you will look like a dork, but an occasional item or two adds up to being smart (and warm), IMHO. Younger DD bought a pair of low slip-on Bean boots and loves them. They keep her fee warm and dry and she thinks they are so dorky, they are cute and stylish. Anyway, two tv weathermen are predicting some snowflakes in the Boston area within the next twenty-four hours, and so, it begins!</p>
<p>A fleece is fine for the early part of the winter especially if you layer but when you come back from Christmas break you will need a down coat-fleece isn't as good in the snow or when there is snow/rain/wind. You need boots-both my girls have Merrills which are really great-also Timberlands and duck boots are good, even if not the most fashionable. After one winter, you won't care so much about a fashion statement-just want to be warm and dry. Welcome also to the world of long underwear, scarves and gloves. You need some kind of water-repellent snow gloves if you plan to play outside and if you will ever need to clean a car or shovel, if you end up living off-campus.</p>
<p>Can a wool pea coat substitute for a down jacket if you wear warm things underneath?</p>