Moving up North, need some advice (Erie, Butler: sales, consignment, buying)

[AButler2005]

Hello everybody! This may sound like a silly question, but I'm moving to Erie, Pennsylvania in July and need some serious help.

I am from Houston, Texas and have lived here my whole life....
so I have no idea how to dress in the cold!!

Does anybody have any advice as far as what kind of coats I should buy?

[pgriss]

I have friends who moved from Erie to SC. They told me to layer is the best. You will probably want to invest in a snow blower also. They left theirs on consignment when they came here. Best of luck to you and I hope you stay warm. North Face or Columbia Sportswear shoud have some good coats.

[FLhereIcome]

Layer, layer, layer. That, in my opinion, is most important to staying warm. As for the coats, I have three main coats by category - dressy (wool blend pea coat), semi-casual (sherpa fleece lined), casual (down filled). There is a Burlington Coat Factory in Erie (or on-line) where you can find hundreds of coats.

[Marodi]

If you have a driveway of any length (aka 2 or more car lengths), I recommend getting a pair of down filled ski pants. Keeps you nice and toasty when shoveling/blowing.

[snowny]

You need not worry about a coat in July. The stores will start to carry fall and winter coats in late summer. There will be many to choose from that will suit your needs. The sporting goods stores will have what you need if you are going to be involved in outdoor winter activities. Outdoor sports will require different gloves, hats and coats than what you need just to travel in the car from here to there. Thermal underwear is often worn with outdoor sport clothing.
You will find everything you need in the area as well as advice from the sales people and your new neighbours. Just make sure to get good warm boots.

[sirron]

Get a fleece lined hat with the ear flaps. When those Erie winds howl, you'll know why I recommended it.

[JustT&Me]

Originally Posted by AButler2005

Hello everybody! This may sound like a silly question, but I'm moving to Erie, Pennsylvania in July and need some serious help.

I am from Houston, Texas and have lived here my whole life....
so I have no idea how to dress in the cold!!

Does anybody have any advice as far as what kind of coats I should buy?

My SIL grew up in Houston... so I know it'll be quite a different climate for you! First, I'd say wait until you get to PA before buying anything... you want to ensure you're staying before investing too much, and I'm guessing it'll be easier finding things that Pennsylvanians wear.. in PA.

But... when you *do* go shopping... here's what I'd recommend:

1. Think "layers". Poly-thermals (not cotton) for under your clothes.
2. Fleece.
3. Wool or Down.

Fleece is lightweight and dries fast, so when you're out in chilly or wet weather, and come inside a bit... it won't take long for your outwear to dry before you end up putting it on again to go back out.

Wool is great for heavier weather, but it *is* heavier! Down is lighter but you can't throw it (shouldn't) into the wash like fleece, which is another benefit of fleece.

My first winter in the North, I bought a down jacket.
By mid-winter, I was totally freezing, so I bought a bag of turtlenecks at a second-hand store that was having a .25/bag sale that day! Woo-hoo! Jackpot. It got me used to wearing more than a scoop-necked collar. Now I wear turtlenecks everyday in winter.
My second winter, my folks bought me a long down coat for Christmas. I wore it for a couple of years, then... I simply got tired of wearing it!

When you're in/out of the car, in/out of the store, in/out of church, in/out of school, etc... it just gets cumbersome - cold in the car, hot inside with a long coat... a lot of folks just wear layers and fleece, gloves, and *maybe* a scarf or headband (fleece) to cover their ears.

I wouldn't invest too much until you experience it first-hand. If next winter is a mild one after *this* winter of record snowfalls, then you might end up needing nothing at all!

Best of everything to you in your move! (And bring up a little sunshine with you when you come!)

[AButler2005]

Thank all of you very much!

Waiting until I'm in Pennsylvania to buy a coat seems like a great idea. I don't think there is anything good in Houston, and people who work in retail here probably do not know what is best for such cold weather. The coats I buy here will probably work for me in weather you guys wear shorts in! :-)

I have made a list of everything you guys have given and will start pricing everything now. Thanks, again!

[Ohiogirl81]

It won't be as bad as you might hear. You can get by with a fleece pullover for those 40-degree winter days, and a parka for colder days. That and some long undies (I like silk ) should be all you need.

The best way to get through the winters in Erie is to embrace them. Find a winter sport you like -- downhill or cross-country skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, skating, ice fishing, etc. -- and enjoy!

[toobusytoday]

I would suggest buying something on-line through LL Bean. Deep discounts now on winter coats. I have two of their winter coats and they keep me toasty from Oct - March.