What to purchase before moving to Fairbanks? (Nenana: buy, storage)

[NatureCoastFL]

Dont forget about beaver sports and the sportsmans warehouse. I know they are on the opposite side of town, but they were my two favorite stores when I was there. I got a great fleece bacalava there for 14.95. It was one of the best things I had bought for the cold, really helps keep you face warm when its -40 out.

Home - Beaver Sports

Sportsman's Warehouse - Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Reloading, Gift Bar, Outerwear, Footwear

[akRosie]

Originally Posted by hawaii718

We are flying in (too cautious to drive) and....

Oh.. that's really too bad! In a 4yr old Mazda B2600i, I drove from Anchorage to Florida Jan '96 (leaving at -30 below when we drove through Tok!) and from Florida to Fairbanks Jun '97 - just me and my dogs - and I wouldn't trade either trip for a million bucks! Unless of course I could use that million bucks to fund another corner-to-corner road trip!

Maybe ya'll can drive out to the ower 48 when you relocate next time!

[akRosie]

Oh - and even though it does - yes it does - get seriously freaking cold here... it's not like that all the time. I don't even own a real winter coat or good boots. I weart a hoodie and a windbreaker all yr 'round minus summer, and I wear crocs on my feet all yr round, even in the winter! I have a coat that's good till about zero for at most an hour, and boots that will let me from wherever I might go into the ditch to the nearest house/store/road and I just keep them in the truck for emergencies. I don't spend a lot of time outside in the winter time - so I just don't need stuff going from a warm house to a warm truck to a warm [wherever I'm going], and back again! Yes - I know that sort of makes me a freak - being I'm from MI originally I might just be that I'm thick skinned and hot blooded - I don't know - but my point is as long as you have enough to keep yourself warm from the plane to the car to lodging, and from lodging to a car (or taxi) to the store - you'll be fine =) have a good (eg: thick or heavy or fleece) sweatshirt with you upon arrival and nice warm socks

[fairbanks101]

There are also plenty of army surplus stores around town. The stuff isn't great but its cheap. Don't forget about value village. Its a thruft store (I know you don't have them back east). I went there today and saw lots of carhart coats and i bought 3 sweaters, one was 100% wool.

Everyone WILL tell you to wait until you get here to buy clothes. But if i had known what exactly i needed i would have bought everythign off ebay. I know a fellow student at UAF from florida who bought everything off ebay before he got here and he has some awesoem stuff that he bought dirt cheap. He sleeps in a tent outside (its been getting 20 below) at a hostel.

But youre probably equiped well enough as it is to run to your car and drive to sportsman's or big ray's with your new york stuff. Ask everyone tons of questions at the stores. When its -40 you have to know how to keep your hands and feet alive. You will find yourself experimenting with lots of clothes. Lots of stuff i bought when i got here I didnt wear anymore because it wasnt warm.

And as i have found out the hard way from working outside when its WELL below 0, just because your boots say they are rated for -40 DOESNT MEAN THEY REALLY ARE

[chronichacker]

Howdy Y'all! We too are moving to Fairbanks hopefully before winter sets in. My husband is a retired/disabled vet. We've both had just about enough from the lower 48 and hope to retire eternally there. We're both used to cold weather, but you have extreme cold weather. Thanks for the tips in the previous replies.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

I have a friend who works at one of the big sporting/outdoor goods stores. She wants to use her employee discount to get us gear as a sort of Parting WA - AK Housing Warming gift. This, of course, means that we can't wait to get up to Fairbanks first since she can't use her discount online or at another store unless she's there in person

So, can you guys give me some good brand names for base, insulating, & outer layer clothing that have braved the Alaskan Interior well? I'm familiar with the Carhart work stuff, but what about NorthFace and other brands? If I know what brands to try on and which to ignore completely, my discounted shopping trip won't be a total waste!

[starlite9]

You need a good camera. The rest of the stuff will be easy.

[NorthWord]

My wardrobe doesn't vary much:
Ibex or Smartwool for the head,
Ibex or the North Face for a coat,
Kuhl or Patagonia for a shirt,
Carhart for pants,
Fox River or Smartwool for the socks,
Patagonia or Danner for the boots,
Seirus for gloves.

Long underwear are either Merino wool or mil-surplus polypropylene.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Thanks NorthWord! Do you find it useful to have these items in different weights? Like lightweight for summer, midweight for spring/fall, and heavyweight for winter... or do you just double up on the lighter stuff if it's really cold?

[NorthWord]

We really don't have a spring/fall.
Two weeks ago temps were 0-30.
Last week, temps were 70-80.

So, you can leave two seasons (and all the midweight stuff) off of your wardrobe. It's pretty economical that way.

Generally wear the same outerwear if it's 30 or colder. I might add long underwear if I anticipate being outside for any length of time.
All of my lightweight jackets (for some reason, I have @10 of the same weight coats) are windproof and/or waterproof.
My heavyweight coats are insulated with either down or Primaloft.

Caveats:
When working up north, I wear what the company dictates. This usually means I am on the verge of overheating when the outergarmets go on. I wear street clothes under that stuff.
I always keep warm boots, mittens, and a furry "mad bomber" hat in the truck from Sept. to May at a minimum.
Working or hunting: Loose and layered is the way to go. Heavyweight polypro under goretex shells if fine if you're on the move. I carry primaloft jacket/pants liners in case I'm going to be sitting or riding a machine.