Hi BBBers! We live in CA and do not have "real" winter gear. When it gets cold (i.e., mornings can be as cold as 40s-50s), my kids will put on a jacket and pants, but otherwise they typically wear the same clothes and shoes year-round since it usually warms up to the 60s. But now I need to buy real winter gear because we are headed to France for the winter holiday break and the lows will be in the 30s!
I'll confess I don't really know what 30 degree weather is like. I assume that is cold enough to need gloves and hats even if we're only walking to and from public transit and our indoor destinations. We don't plan to hike or sit outside for very long.
I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars for my growing girls, nor for DH and me, when we rarely need winter gear. We don't ski/snowboard so it's not like we will use the stuff again unless we plan another winter holiday vacation to a cold destination. We might, but DDs will have outgrown some of their stuff by next winter. I can pass down some of DD1's winter stuff to DD2 eventually, but I don't want to spend a lot on DD2's stuff since she'll only wear it once on this trip.
I thought I might buy some used gear on ThredUp (an online option is easier for me since I rarely shop in person) or try to find sale items on online websites (e.g., Uniqlo, LL Bean, Lands' End?).
Can BBBers who live through real winters share advice and comment on my shopping list?
- DH has some "performance" jackets he uses for fishing that are windproof, waterproof, but not particularly warm/thick (e.g., Arcteryx, Mountain Hardware, etc.). Can he get away with just wearing layers underneath such a jacket for 30 degree weather?
- Packable down-filled coats for the 3 of us (if DH can get away with an existing jacket plus layers). I figure they should be packable because we usually travel carry-on only and am hoping to make a winter vacation work with carry-ons only, too. I actually have a huge puffy North Face jacket I bought on clearance 15-20 years ago for $99 but it would take up 1/2 of my carry-on roller suitcase. I considered just wearing it on the airplane but I've read the new packable stuff is just as warm and much easier to transport.
- I was considering also bringing/buying a second raincoat/trench in case of rain and to have a second lighter option if temps rise to the 40s/50s. Our existing rain gear tends to be very lightweight as it's usually fairly warm when it rains.
- Merino wool or cashmere sweaters (I'd only buy cashmere for me, not the kids, unless I got a very good deal)
- Gloves (leather?) for all of us
- Wool scarves
- Water-resistant boots (I have black leather boots already but can look into getting a spray to make them water-resistant). My DDs wear Converse, Adidas, and Keens year-round so they need real shoes. What do your kids wear in cold weather? Leather boots? Rain boots--but you don't bring those when you travel do you? What other shoes do we need?
- wool socks (I like my Bomba socks better than Smartwool--other recs?)
- What do you wear on your head? Ski caps? Or is that unnecessary?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!