Where to buy snow clothes for Canada trip?

It depends on where you are headed to and how long you will be staying.

I experienced British Columbia (Vancouver to just north of Whistler) in November two years ago and got by nicely with my NZ clothing. Anything you would wear for a South Island winter works well for that area, with the addition of a good, breathable, vented rain jacket. BC rains a lot, gets cold wind, but very little snow compared to other parts.

In the far northern areas or eastern provinces, it's a different story. If you are only there for November you don't have to worry too much about buying more clothes as November is only heading into the really cold times. If you plan on still being there in January or February you will need to get equipped. I experienced temperatures with wind chill going down to -48C during this past winter. It's a real shock to a kiwi system!

Since you mentioned snow I am going to assume you are headed east or north, into bitter winters. This past November was very cold but nothing that couldn't be handled with NZ winter clothing. It snowed regularly in the east, in Quebec, but thawed regularly too. Christmas was green with almost no snow on the ground. When snow is falling it often feels warmer but wind chill can be a killer. Frostbite can get you in as little as 5 minutes when it's really cold. I got frostbite on the tip of my nose and on one ear. I got some sensation back on the ear but my nose has a permanent area with no feeling in it.

So, keeping extremities protected is critical. I'm not going to make the same mistakes this winter! (I'm in Canada now).

You will need a good beanie (it's called a tuque here) - two is best. Good, long scarf - again, two is best. Woollen socks - mohair or merino/possum (a few pairs). Long johns (cotton/merino blend union suit on Amazon is a nice addition too), and gloves. The secret to being warm is wearing layers. Two of most outerwear is good as things get wet. You will also need good winter boots - not snow boots or ski boots- and a jacket or coat that blocks wind.

I don't agree with those that said to wait and buy in Canada. Prices in Canadian stores are not cheap and when you add the various sales taxes, plus NZD->CAD $ exchange rate you really can do much better by buying almost everything you need in NZ. NZ also has two things that are just not available here: plenty of inexpensive superfine merino garments and the wonderful possum/merino blend knits. Cheap stuff in Canada is synthetic. Some of it looks great but is absolutely useless for keeping warmth in and wind out. Natural wool products cost the earth yet wool is amazingly warm, water repellent, breathable, and can be wind-blocking.

You can get superfine merino singlets, long-sleeved t-shirts, etc almost everywhere in NZ. Farmers has them, and Farmlands stores have thicker garments for those outdoor days. Every day is an outdoor day to some extent, if you plan on leaving your room. If you spend hours outside you need more warmth than if you are just out around town.

Merino is hugely popular here and its almost all Icebreaker. You can do much better buying it in NZ and merino gear doesn't need a brand name.

For amazing gear, look for the 36.6 range by MKM. MKM is the branding for Manawatu Knitting Mills. If you pass by Palmerston North you can get into their factory shop (Bennett St, I think it is) and save a bundle. MKM themselves don't sell online but a number of online retailers stock at least some of their clothes. 36.6 is wonderful in winter here. I brought a suitcase of it back at the request of people in Quebec. That range is double-thickness with wool on the outside and a merino/possum wool on the inside. It's double knitted together, so not in layers, and blocks most wind. The pullover and matching beanie make a huge difference to how long you can be out before feeling the cold.

Note: I'm not recommending this site but simply showing you the jersey that saved me this past winter: http://www.nznaturalclothingshop.co.nz/mkm-tasman-36-6-jersey/

Merino/possum - can't emphasise it enough. It's light, very warm, and - best yet - it doesn't freeze.

Don't buy a balaclava. People will laugh at you and immediately pick you out as a tourist. Only kids wear them. Adults wear a tuque/beanie and long scarf. The scarf has to be long enough to wrap around over ears, around neck, and around the face, leaving only eyes exposed. Because you breathe through this, the scarf gets wet from condensation. Synthetic blends freeze. Wool gets icicles. Merino/possum gets a dusting of icing sugar look with the ice but doesn't freeze up to obstruct breathing. Pulling a scarf off that has frozen to your frozen hair isn't fun.

Gloves - get those here. The best are mittens that have fingers inside so you can flip the top of the mitten back and use your fingertips. Don't bother with the so-called capacitive touch gloves. Those are useless. You can pick up decent gloves here for around CAD$15. If you can find a fine merino glove liner in NZ, grab it.

If you are only going to be here for November don't bother buying boots. Any water-resistant, salt-resistant running/walking shoe will do. If you plan to stay longer, get boots here. Others have recommended Sorel, I think they are rubbish. Sorel used to be THE brand to buy when it was Canadian owned and made. Now that it's US-owned and made in China the boots are simply trading on their old reputation and they are not worth it. Many stores say its the brand that's most returned for refunds and my experience of them makes me believe this. By November, getting boots will start becoming a challenge. Winter stock is already in the stores and selling strongly. If you are staying awhile make this a priority as soon as you get here.

I recommend Kamik. It's a Canadian company (one of only two left that are designing and manufacturing winter boots in Canada), their prices are competitive and quality pretty darned good. Their boots are available online but you really need to try winter boots on before buying. Canadian Tire often sell Kamik boots. If you plan on a lot of outdoor activity, get knee-high boots (to stop boots filling with snow - it's often thigh deep). Otherwise, get boots that come up to mid-calf. Boots with removable liners are best, especially if you buy a spare set of liners. They do get wet at times. Check out Kamik: http://www.kamik.com/b2c_ca_en/

The other item you should get here in Canada is your outerwear coat. Kathmandu jackets are not designed to cut windchill and let the cold in around zips and through seams. It will work for you if you are only here a short time. For longer times, get a decent winter coat. I don't recommend Canada Goose as that has turned into a stylish brand with more emphasis on style than practicality these days. I won't pay upwards of $1000 for one of their jackets, especially as most designs are now for city warmth and not for the great outdoors. Every province has different down coat products but, depending on what you intend to do, you may not need a down coat/jacket. Longer coats for around cities are great. In the outdoors jackets are better. Boiled wool pea coats with padded, insulated liners are popular. I've got a long down coat and now need a jacket for this winter as the longer coat isn't warm enough or comfortable enough when sitting for hours out on ice when I'm ice fishing. I can give tips if you say where you will be and what activities you plan to do.

Finally (whew, this is long!) remember that the secret to staying warm is layers. Even cotton under wool adds warmth - natural fibres are best. NZ has some of the best natural fibres in the world and you can spend less on getting warm by buying most things while still in NZ.

(If you find this post useful, please bring pineapple lumps and Whittakers peanut slabs to Canada. I'll tell you where to send them LOL)

kiwifidget

Fred99

Elpie