Where do you buy your jackets Northerners?

I usually go through L.L. Bean or Cabelas. Both have online websites. They both sell Columbia brand jackes that are my absolute favorite and the warmest of jackets. Cabelas has a bargan cave sale that is on their home page. The only thing with these places is you are paying for quality. But their sales are usually really good!

You may want to check out this: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/subcategory/subcategory-index.jsp.13_A&_DAV=&returnPage=&rid=&returnQueryString=&navAction=push&navCount=7&parentId=&id=cat603758&cmCat=MainCatcat21404-cat602000

and this: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?id=cat602899

Columbia coats are well made.I have one that has been worn many years and shows no wear.My son has a Spyder coat which was expensive but he really loves it.Some things you have to spend money to get quality.....shoes....coats...dogfood

Tena

Totally OT - I just noticed the tagline in your sig. Way cool.

 Oh I completely agree!  I totally forgot about Columbia.  I can in fact get that in town.  I really prefer to try on jackets whenever possible since I find them to be odd fitting compared to things like jeans or shirts for some reason.  Maybe I'll get him to go downtown with me on Thursday or Friday...day off?  Can't remember....sigh.   Thanks all.

Personally, I'm an LL Bean gal. I do have a pair of Columbia snow boots that I bought 2 years ago and I still love and will be wearing this winter. I was also raised, like you, that it's the quality not the quantity.

I like to shop at altrec.com, they've got all kinds of outdoor stuff.

Jackets are one thing where I don't skimp (boots are the other).  My current jacket is a 3-in-1 I've had for 6 years and it is being retired this season.  I bought myself two REALLY nice fleeces which broke my budget (but I have been wearing them daily for weeks), so I'm waiting to either save for my jacket or see if my mom will chip in for Christmas.  It will be from LL Bean.  I like a lot of their styles, they are good quality, great service, and lifetime warranties.  Since I got two fleeces I'm not getting a 3-in-1 this time, just an insulated parka.  I need a hood, zip down (not pullover), and wrists that aren't super elastic and tight.  This is the one I want

Around here you can find decent priced Columbia at Kohl's, Dunhams (cheaper sports store), and Nordstrom Rack (clearance Nordstrom), but I've heard that Columbia is not known for quality like LL Bean and some other outdoor outfitters so I'm avoiding them.

Liesje

I bought myself two REALLY nice fleeces

I really like fleece but I have longish hair and it tends to get dry in winter and my hairdresser said that fleece almost sucks the moisture out of your hair. Anyone else noticed that?

I really like the stuff at REI but it's pricey unless it's on sale. I love just about everything made by Patagonia (North Face), especially when I was skiing a lot.

cakana

I really like fleece but I have longish hair and it tends to get dry in winter and my hairdresser said that fleece almost sucks the moisture out of your hair. Anyone else noticed that?

I haven't but thank you for the advice, my hair is long and curly and has been dry always so and I'm quite scared about this first winter. Do you know about a good hair moisturizing product that youcan recommend?

Sorry Candace for changing the subject. About the jacket, we bought ours at Mark work wears house (?) and they seem pretty good... I have one 3-in-1 and a very thing and heavy that makes me feel like the walking sleeping bag.. I'll tell you how good they are when we hit the -40º, ok?

DH and I deal with Buffalo winters and we both have Columbia.  Northface and Spyder are terrific as well, but they tend to be higher priced at the same time.  My columbia has a soft shell lining rather than fleece and I LOVE that about it -- I wear each part individually all the time, although the outer shell by itself is a wee bit big since it's usually got the inside under it as well. 

Mine is waterproof but breathable, has "pit vents" -- usually more interesting if you're a skier since I rarely use them otherwise -- is actually really high quality considering it gets beat up all the time, and this is the 3rd or 4th seaon with it.  I expect to get at least 3 or 4 more years out of it.  Mine listed around $199 though I got it on sale and I also used my employee discount.

DH has a one-piece jacket that he prefers.  His is just as warm -- they should have ratings on them based on temp and such -- but he prefers to not have the inside come out.   His jacket listed for around $169 or thereabouts.

Keep in mind that very little other than down will keep you warm if you're not moving.  And down is miserable if you ARE moving since mostly it's not breathable -- though I spoke to someone the other day who said there is breathable down available.  Also be careful about washing waterproof items -- never use fabric softener since it will wear away at the waterproofness -- don't dry them in a dryer.  I worked in the clothing dept at ***'s sporting goods and that's what the vendors told us.

What features are important to you will totally depend on your use of the jacket -- I wear mine daily but also for things like skiing so I like the features and wouldn't get one without some of them.  DH rarely wears a jacket until it gets below freezing since he hates to lug it around with him from class to class so he just wants one to break the wind and be warm  but extremely light weight and thin.  Mine is much more "fitted" than his so I have to be careful what I wear under it -- it's a bit hard to layer with bulky sweatshirts, etc but the size up looked ridiculous since they are fitted.  That's probably my only negative about it, but I just have to watch that I don't wear a hoodie underneath!

Calinisima

I haven't but thank you for the advice, my hair is long and curly and has been dry always so and I'm quite scared about this first winter. Do you know about a good hair moisturizing product that youcan recommend?

I've tried a lot of products and have been using this John Frieda conditioner for the last several months and love the results. Even my hairdresser commented that my hair felt really healthy. He usually tries to sell me some expensive products but didn't even bother

http://www.johnfrieda.com/products/products.asp?pid=30§ion=products&subSection=sheerBlonde&lineID=3

cakana

Liesje

I bought myself two REALLY nice fleeces

I really like fleece but I have longish hair and it tends to get dry in winter and my hairdresser said that fleece almost sucks the moisture out of your hair. Anyone else noticed that?

My hair is pretty thin and straight so it gets very stringy and dry all winter.  However I rarely wear it down, if I do it would be for a special occasion in which case I'd be wearing a wool pea coat rather than a fleece.  I'm always cold at work so I need several jackets to wear OVER my sweaters.  Last winter I got Old Navy fleece for $15 but they don't seem to have it this season.  It's so dry here Nov - April I don't think fleece/no fleece would even make a difference.

Liesje

Last winter I got Old Navy fleece for $15 but they don't seem to have it this season.  It's so dry here Nov - April I don't think fleece/no fleece would even make a difference.

Seriously, I probably have at least 10-12 Old Navy fleeces! When they were selling them for $10 my Mom went crazy buying them for me, my brother, and Jeremy to make sure we stay warm, lol. My brother doesn't like fleece so he gave his to me- and I'll wear anything walkin' dogs!

Even though I live in the south, we get cold fronts racing off the east face of the Rockies that can pile drive us. Living on the plains, the wind is unabated. And I work outside, usually. So, I have some cold weather gear I call my cold suit and got it at a sporting goods store. Hunting clothing can sometimes be good for cold weather that you have to work in. My jacket (oversized, even for me) and insulated bib overalls are made by Brazos. Of course, always wearing jeans or sometimes, my bdu's (Thanks Ashlee, US Army Reserves, Psy Ops), a t-shirt but sometimes a flannel or denim shirt. Quilted shirt-coat with a hood on it. Plus, I have a full head warmer with pile lining. The jacket is pile-lined. The overalls have zippers on the outside of each pant leg. Gloves from Duluth Trading Company, designed to wick away moisture. A dry cold is always better than a wet cold. The human body is like any engine. The trick is to get rid of heat, believe it or not. So, by wearing layers (I learned from Tony, who was from Saginaw, MI) I can open or close layers as I heat up or cool down. On the coldest days, I might wear a thermal shirt and warm-ups over my jeans. If I warm up, I can take the warm-ups off without getting undressed. Though I would like to wear mukluks, OSHA requires that I wear work boots. The other trick I learned the hard way is to wear one pair of good socks. This allows moisture to wick away. If you wear two layers, your feet can sweat. Once they cool down, they cool down too much because the sweat is getting rid of heat too fast.