Must...get...outside....what to wear? (Mansfield: home, buy, live)

[findingmesomeday]

Nike has a pair of shoes called "snow walkers". They are too heavy for running but they are fine for walking. I'm a runner and I'm out there in just about anything. My biggest problem is finding a shoe that will give me traction on the snow and ice and keep my feet dry without weighing me down. If it's bad, I have gone out in my snow walkers and just slowed down a bit.

Silk longies are the best! Lightweight and they wick the moisture away from your body. On cold days where I'm going to be outside (and not exercising), I will put them on under my jeans as I find jeans don't block the wind and cold.

I hate big parkas too. I have a North Face 3-in-1 jacket that takes me through just about anything. It's a fleece inner liner that zips out (and you can wear alone) along with a nylon wind-breaking shell (you can also wear alone) and when you wear all 3 together, it's rated down to -15. But I also have an LLBean down parka which is even warmer. I wore it to the MIAA superbowl on Dec 1 (about 25 degrees with a screaming 30mph wind) and was fine (well, my hands and feet were frozen....).

But back to exercise. Under Armour is great. I have UA cold gear tights and find they protect me without a need for another layer. I don't like the cold gear uppers as they are too tight-fitting and restrictive for running--just my own personal pet-peeve. My kids and husband swear by them.

Don't let the weather keep you indoors or you'll go nuts. Learn how to walk on the snow/ice and get the right pair of shoes so you can go outside. Walking on slippery surfaces is a learned art and an important one. You don't want to fall down in an icy parking lot and break something!

Welcome to New England.

[smarty]

I was at the Arboretum yesterday... what a nice day for a walk... so pretty...
http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

www.llbeans.com

Beans makes these jeans that are lined with flannel. When I lived there, I often wore long underwear under my clothes because I was so cold. I found that Beans had everything I needed to keep me from freezing to death.

[charolastra00]

This probably won't do many people much good for this year, but there's a great LL Bean outlet right over the NH line. I think it's in Salem or Londonderry? I don't remember.. but you could google it. I got a great knee length parka that I could probably wear nothing under and feel fine in the coldest of weather (don't worry.. I don't!) for maybe $50 right after the summer. Right now there'd be slim pickings for winter things, but it's worth the trip up later on. I also got a wonderful winter robe for $20 that just had the wrong initials on it! It wasn't too hard to pluck the embroidery off of it and now if I'm in a situation in my dorm where I can't be wrapped up in a blanket, I can just throw on my robe that covers me all the way down to the tips of my toes!

On cold nights when I know I'm going to be going to Boston out and about, I wear old pantyhose under my jeans or cords. They don't add any extra bulk but keep in more body heat- almost surprisingly so. Plus it's a great way to recycle pantyhose with runs in them!

I'm still in the market for good boots. Make sure everyone checks the soles of their boots for cracks! Both of my boots managed to crack straight through the soles which I only found out when I walked outside in a few inches of snow. Not too comfortable, let me tell you! That happened to a few other friends as well somehow in summer storage. So keep an eye out!

[Valerie C]

I wish it was in Londonderry (where I live) but The LL Bean Outlet is actually in Manchester, right across from the Mall of New Hampshire, very convenient to the highway (Easy directions are Route 93 to Rte 293 to Exit 1/Rte 28 South. The store is less than 1/2 mile from the exit ramp.)

The outlet has GREAT deals, especially at the end of the season, like everywhere else. You won't believe the bargains, and all products carry the same lifetime guarantee that you get at the store in Freeport or online...

Happy Shopping

Originally Posted by charolastra00

This probably won't do many people much good for this year, but there's a great LL Bean outlet right over the NH line. I think it's in Salem or Londonderry?

[smarty]

Originally Posted by Valerie C

I wish it was in Londonderry (where I live) but The LL Bean Outlet is actually in Manchester, right across from the Mall of New Hampshire, very convenient to the highway (Easy directions are Route 93 to Rte 293 to Exit 1/Rte 28 South. The store is less than 1/2 mile from the exit ramp.)

The outlet has GREAT deals, especially at the end of the season, like everywhere else. You won't believe the bargains, and all products carry the same lifetime guarantee that you get at the store in Freeport or online...

Happy Shopping

When is the end of a season? It is over an hour from where I live... it cost ~$20 in gas to get there.... I want to make sure it is a worthy trip

Also... can you use llbean visa coupons?

[Valerie C]

I'll be at the outlet on Thursday, and will duly report back to CDF my findings

Actually the winter sales run like everywhere else, shortly after Christmas and with more price decreases thru January/February.

[findingmesomeday]

Bean is great about honoring sale prices. I just ordered a winter coat for my son (which is not going to arrive in time for Christmas---LLBean screw up but that's a different story), and the sale catalog arrived today to show the jacket is now $35 cheaper. They refunded my credit card, no questions asked.

[haberstroh]

How disappointing: my husband got a gift cert. from work for LL Bean and we went to the new Mansfield Store. We were looking at coats and boots for both of us and all the popular styles and sizes were sold out. Now I understand that this is the busy season and the weather was bad last week. But after all this is LL Bean and they should carry simply more stock knowing this type of season will come. Can you guys suggest the LLBean boots and if so which ones? I have lived with heavy snow all my life both in Germany and in the US (Colorado and NJ) and yet my clothing is not adequate for the MA winter. LOL

[bingo08]

Originally Posted by haberstroh

How disappointing: my husband got a gift cert. from work for LL Bean and we went to the new Mansfield Store. We were looking at coats and boots for both of us and all the popular styles and sizes were sold out. Now I understand that this is the busy season and the weather was bad last week. But after all this is LL Bean and they should carry simply more stock knowing this type of season will come. Can you guys suggest the LLBean boots and if so which ones? I have lived with heavy snow all my life both in Germany and in the US (Colorado and NJ) and yet my clothing is not adequate for the MA winter. LOL

Hey Haber,

I have not made it to the Mansfield store yet. I am waiting for the newness of the store to die down. Also after the holiday rush, I will make it over there.
Have you tried on line? They usually will have what your looking for and if not, they will give you an idea as to when.

My friend had the same experience as you. She was disappointed.

Have you tried the new Bass store in Forxboro? My friend swears by it, found great many things there, she said better than LL Bean.