Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have been looking at arctic gear online for our upcoming move to Barrow. What do you recommend? It is difficult to find cold weather gear in Phoenix so we have to shop online.
Thankfully we will be relocating in mid June so it won't be as cold however, I would like to be properly prepared for winter.
What kind of things does your local store sell? Do they only sell groceries or can we purchase other types of things there?
I would appreciate any and all help that will make our transition as easy as possible. I would hate to be the first person that relocates in June and freezes to death on arrival.....LOL
Floyd, if there is anything you want to bring up from Phoenix let me know. I would be glad to bring it to you.
I have been looking at arctic gear online for our upcoming move to Barrow. What do you recommend? It is difficult to find cold weather gear in Phoenix so we have to shop online.
Thankfully we will be relocating in mid June so it won't be as cold however, I would like to be properly prepared for winter.
What kind of things does your local store sell? Do they only sell groceries or can we purchase other types of things there?
Well, there are almost 4000 people who live here, so the stores carry everything that is essential. Almost anything is less expensive if you order it and have it shipped, but for some things it just isn't easy to choose without putting your hands on. Clothing is hard to buy online.
And again, once you get here you can talk to other people, and probably find someone who just recently researched where to buy almost anything you can think of, and they'll share all that great information with you (as you will then no doubt do with someone else not too long afterwards!).
Quote:
I would appreciate any and all help that will make our transition as easy as possible. I would hate to be the first person that relocates in June and freezes to death on arrival.....LOL
Well... it will be in the high 30's in June, and the 40's in July...
coming from Phoenix you might think your freezing! :-)
By April 2010 though, you'll think -10F is warm enough for shorts and a teeshirt.
Quote:
Floyd, if there is anything you want to bring up from Phoenix let me know. I would be glad to bring it to you.
Yeah, there is. Bring your old man along. You sound like a nice lady, but you're gonna be busy earning a living. We'll all spend the summer bs'ing with your hubby!
I have been looking at arctic gear online for our upcoming move to Barrow. What do you recommend? It is difficult to find cold weather gear in Phoenix so we have to shop online.
Thankfully we will be relocating in mid June so it won't be as cold however, I would like to be properly prepared for winter.
What kind of things does your local store sell? Do they only sell groceries or can we purchase other types of things there?
I would appreciate any and all help that will make our transition as easy as possible. I would hate to be the first person that relocates in June and freezes to death on arrival.....LOL
Floyd, if there is anything you want to bring up from Phoenix let me know. I would be glad to bring it to you.
The locals will just look at you, maybe put a sign up...New ice sculptures from Phoenix
I can't imagine what prices are like up in Barrow, but stuff up at Prudhoe can be up to 50% higher or more.
Just my 2 cents.
I agree with Moose Whisperer on looking at Army Navy Store. It would probably also help to be able to try stuff on before buying. When I moved up here I spent a few days in Anchorage and based on a bunch of suggestions from posters here on CD went to Army Navy in Anchorage. The folks there were friendly and knowledgeable. I think I got good stuff as it has served me well even in -30's and winds, blowing snow, icy fog mist. I told the girl at the store I want stuff that will let me be out in -30 and colder, in winds and other nasty conditions. I want to be able to lie in the snow for at least 2 hours and be OK. She did me right. Top to bottom, inner and outerware. She made some suggestions about the correct sizing to allow for the various layers and insulation. I tried on a couple of sizes until I found stuff that fit and was comfortable. I'm a very happy camper.
But it really depends on what you will be doing. If you're going to stay inside, run from building to cab to store to cab etc, then you may not need that much. But if you intend to be outside in the winter for hours at a time - you're going to need something. From your previous postings it sounds like you want to get outside and about. My gear did cost close to $800.00 but it was well worth it for what it enables me to do. According to the girl at Army Navy, it's basically the same stuff the workers on the slope oil platforms use to work outside, except that it's not fire retardant - that would have put it a LOT higher in cost. One thing I didn't get good enough was gloves (I did get really good and expensive mittens which are great) and I have a bit of frostbite on my thumb to show for it. But then again I was digging out snow for close to 45 minutes with my hands and a 1x3 when it happened. Today I found some good insulated Carhartt leather work gloves at Spenard's and I used them this afternoon cleaning ice off a heater exhaust, they got wet moving the ice and snow but my hands stayed nice and warm inside, and I didn't even have to use my glove liners. On the other hand I did purchase a nice Carhartt bib coveralls at Army Navy - I have yet to even remove the tags. I've found that so far I've got enough good layers with thermals and pants and wind pants that I haven't needed them yet. But hopefully I will soon get a chance to use them. I see a lot of people wearing them, especially folks walking down Stevenson street passing by my place.
Take a look around the forum for previous postings. I remember one girl visited and couldn't stay out for long as the wind went right through her clothes and made her too cold. There have been a number of postings regarding winter clothing - worth reading each of them. I did.
Also - look for the postings about footware - I understand there is a bit of mud around in the summer months.
BTW AC Store carries a wide variety of stuff - you can even buy a 4 wheeler there, get a cell phone that works in Barrow, etc. but it is a bit pricy. I bought some stuff at Spenards today for nearly have the cost of AC Store. But of course Spenards is primarily building materials and hardware and tools - stuff like that.
Brian
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.