HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Chiliagon

#31

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by mt_pockets1000

Layering your clothing is the best way to combat the cold. Start with a tee shirt, add a warm long sleeve shirt, add a fleece vest or hoodie and finish it off with long downfilled winter coat. If it warms up during the day you can take off the coat and still be comfortable. You should also consider long underwear to protect your legs. Finish off the ensemble with a pair of warm boots (because if your feet are cold your whole body is cold) and you're ready to take on winter with a smile.

you talk as if Edmonton gets regular -25 or higher days and it's windy and snowing all the time..

you can easily survive on 1 long sleeved shirt, and either a thick winter jacket (downfilled is not good if you have allergies to it) or 1 nice hoody and a decent Winter Jacket.

unless you're going on a long trek or sitting in a spot outside for a few hours, you don't need long underwear. only if it's extremely cold does that come into play.

but that is not the norm here..

most days 8 times out of 10 in Edmonton, the cold is manageable and you won't freesze your butt off.

but gloves and a hat are important.

karrie

#32

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by atfa

Right now you guys at the forum are my only canadian friens. I have a couple of friends but in vancouver and thats different.
Is there any particular pieces of cloth that i should consider better for the winter? i dont know what materials are warmer. I mean when i lived in up north barcelona the coldest i had was -8C and i have a long parka winter coat, a small hat and with boots that have rubber on the bottom and hair on the inside was more than enough.
any comments on the winter special gear?
thanks!

It all depends on what you'll be doing with it.... Will you be working outside much? Will you be playing outside much (ie, snowmobiling, skiing)?

Layers are a wonderful thing... good thermal underwear (called 'long johns' if you're not familiar with the term), undershirts. Even my gloves and mitts I like to have layered. The pair I have right now are a glove liner in a waterproof mitten shell (gloves have fingers, mittens don't incase you don't know what I mean). So I can pull the outer shell off and use the gloves if I get too warm or need dexterity. Even boots are better if they have a liner you can take out to dry if you need them day to day. If you go with layers you may very well be able to keep the parka you have.

A great place to shop for good winter gear here in the city is Mark's Work Wearhouse.

Quote: Originally Posted by atfa

my boyfriend already told me it was cold, but seeing it on the weather channel its never the same as some personal experience comments and living it personally.

I dont have any kids yet, but we are planning on starting a family once we are settled down there. good to know about the metal thing.
On the car part...winter tires and chains?
i think i get the basic idea and its bearable if you take care, probably by the second winter i'll be used to it right?
thanks!!

Winter tires should suffice... chains aren't really necessary.

Chiliagon

#33

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

well I guess cause I don't like to be very hot, and I tend to get hot quicker than some, (according to my girl .. friend. I am always warm/hot..) so I usually get by with 1 to two layers on me but I don't ever need more than 1 pair of pants.

karrie

#34

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Chiliagon

you talk as if Edmonton gets regular -25 or higher days and it's windy and snowing all the time..

you can easily survive on 1 long sleeved shirt, and either a thick winter jacket (downfilled is not good if you have allergies to it) or 1 nice hoody and a decent Winter Jacket.

unless you're going on a long trek or sitting in a spot outside for a few hours, you don't need long underwear. only if it's extremely cold does that come into play.

but that is not the norm here..

most days 8 times out of 10 in Edmonton, the cold is manageable and you won't freesze your butt off.

but gloves and a hat are important.

You've never known many people new to Canada have you?

That first winter Chili, even if it's only -10-20, can feel like -40 feels to you. And, many people new to the country don't have a vehicle at first, which means walking. It can be a brutal combination. mt's advice is bang on... buy layers (rather than rushing out and buying a coat for -50), and adjust as you go, according to what you need.

Chiliagon

#35

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

Winter tires should suffice... chains aren't really necessary.

ya chains here will tear up the roads..

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

You've never known many people new to Canada have you?

That first winter Chili, even if it's only -10-20, can feel like -40 feels to you. And, many people new to the country don't have a vehicle at first, which means walking. It can be a brutal combination. mt's advice is bang on... buy layers (rather than rushing out and buying a coat for -50), and adjust as you go, according to what you need.

hey, I lost 50lbs this year... I myself don't even know what it's going to be like for ME!

i'm not looking forward to it at all..

karrie

#36

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Chiliagon

hey, I lost 50lbs this year... I myself don't even know what it's going to be like for ME!

i'm not looking forward to it at all..

lol... good point.
Hubby's had enough guys come from the US even, to work, and be completely incapacitated by the cold that I know how hard it can be when you're not used to it at first. ESPECIALLY if you have to walk in it, etc.

One other tip atfa, that even most Canadians don't bother with... don't warm your vehicle's interior up. Most new vehicles are too efficient to warm up while idling anyway, and, if you're leaving a warm house, and getting into a semi-warm car, you tend to dress for those warmer enviros. If you do break down, or get stuck, you're often underdressed. Warm your vehicle up just long enough to warm the engine. hubby has a upplmentary electric heater in his truck, on a timer, that defrosts the cab just enough to thaw the windshield. It gets rid of the need to idle the car for ages.

Chiliagon

#37

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

ya the last 3 winters I have had a brand new vehicle with excellent heating and no issues. the walking for the first two was hell, as I had to walk 15 minutes, some UPHILL

and it was not fun. I wore a pair of sweatpants over my work pants cause they were thin as paper.. brrrrr..

last year I only had to walk 2 blocks and it was 5 mins. I work a pull over and my jacket. only when it was extremely cold did I go to my heavy winter jacket.

I was fine but your face can take a beating.

this year.. i have no idea if that will do or if i'm gonna have to go winter shopping.. I know I need new gloves.

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

lol... good point.
Hubby's had enough guys come from the US even, to work, and be completely incapacitated by the cold that I know how hard it can be when you're not used to it at first. ESPECIALLY if you have to walk in it, etc.

One other tip atfa, that even most Canadians don't bother with... don't warm your vehicle's interior up. Most new vehicles are too efficient to warm up while idling anyway, and, if you're leaving a warm house, and getting into a semi-warm car, you tend to dress for those warmer enviros. If you do break down, or get stuck, you're often underdressed. Warm your vehicle up just long enough to warm the engine. hubby has a upplmentary electric heater in his truck, on a timer, that defrosts the cab just enough to thaw the windshield. It gets rid of the need to idle the car for ages.

ya I miss my car starter..

but I do have heated seats!

mt_pockets1000

#38

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

Chili, some people can withstand the cold better than others and don't need to dress to the extreme. I doubt someone who grew up in Mexico will adapt that well to the cold as well as yourself though. I don't take any chances when I go outside in winter. Especially in Alberta where the weather has a tendency to change in a blink. I did miss the gloves and hat part though. Thanks for pointing that out.

Chiliagon

#39

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

ya i know. Alberta can have some pretty wild days in January and February. March the last 5-6 years has been quite tame and much warmer.

I do remember one year during my birthday week in March that hit extremely cold weather.

mt_pockets1000

#40

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

You have to be prepared for any situation that's for sure.

There was a lady in front of me in the lineup at Tim Horton's this morning dressed in a winter coat zipped up to the neck. She's in real trouble come January....haha!!

Chiliagon

#41

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

ya.. shes a bit extreme

wulfie68

#42

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by mt_pockets1000

You have to be prepared for any situation that's for sure.

Words to live by. There's been a lot of good information here, specifically about wearing layers of clothing. A lot of the extras you can get when you arrive but depending on when you actually get to Edmonton, a couple layers can save you a lot of discomfort before you get to the shops. If your boyfriend is already in Edmonton, he should be able to give you some good advice on what you'll need and when.

I heartily agree with the carrying salt/sand, a blanket, spare clothes, a candle and some dry foods in a car but as others have said chains won't be necessary in the city: if its that bad, no one will be going anywhere. One thing to remember is that driving on snow and ice is a LOT different than on dry roads... but so is walking in the white stuff (and I do recommend walking or ETS on the first day of winter rather than driving because too many people forget the difference every year).

One other thing I will mention, that may or may not be applicable is furnaces. If you own/rent a house, make sure the filter is clean and the unit has been checked out, greased, etc in the past year or so. Air conditioning in Alberta is nice to have in the summer but furnaces in the winter are survival equipment.

atfa

#43

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

Quote:

One other thing I will mention, that may or may not be applicable is furnaces.

hey thanks for that comment, since we are moving by summer it was a good tip to check when renting.

Quote:

If your boyfriend is already in Edmonton, he should be able to give you some good advice on what you'll need and when.

he is still here in mexico with me, but he has had a share of winter, he has hunted in minnesota during winter/deer season. i guess he has more gear than i do, but shopping is an easy thing for girls lol. i'll make sure to buy some layers in winter sales here in mexico before i leave.
the driving part i guess it will have to wait for a while until we get a truck, hopefully we'll get some expert friends before that so that they can help too, anyways i'll be here asking more since everyone is been so nice with my question.

karrie

#44

Re: HOw do people live during winter (am new at this kind of winters)

Sep 9th, 2010

If you move in the summer it will be a cinch to figure out what you need as the fall sets in and things start cooling off. Then you can watch the 'trends' too, see what other women are wearing, etc. Although, Canadian women are prone to getting frostbitten in the name of vanity. lol. I've stood outside bars/concerts/etc. watching women's toes turn white with cold on more than one occasion. Because god forbid you go dancing in boots. lol.

atfa

#45