Winter Clothing for Europe

[dimm88]

Hello all, I am travelling to Europe (Netherlands, France and Switzerland) first time during the last 2 weeks of December. Any advice on what kind of clothing to get and where to get? Is my first time out for winter.

 

[stuckintinysg]

Winter Clothing will be cheaper here. But my friends back in Sg likes to buy heat tech stuff from Uniqlo.

 

[sneggg]

im gg in next yr feb for honeymoon trip..inner heat tech with tee over plus jacket, is it enough ?

need gloves etc ?

1st timer in winter too.

TIA

 

[Beta_Tester]

Im thinking of what to buy n expect. Because I will heading to Sweden in mid Nov. Might travel further north to watch the Northern Lights.

Any tips on clothing. Normally I can wear a blazer with some heat pads in Dec if im in korea.

 

[stuckintinysg]

Snegg: It depends where you are going. If just UK, we don't get very cold winters. So layering with fleece and winter waterproof. But if going skiing or places with thick snow cover, you will need better thermals layering with fleece, soft shell etc. Impt things are scarves, caps and gloves.

While Beta Tester, you are going to spend quite a few hours outside for northern light viewings...so may be in negative temperature. So your thermal base layer is important. I used Merino (from Ice breaker) as recommended by many...much better than synthetic base layer, and again layering is important.
Good quality fleece......soft shell etc.

 

[dimm88]

Went Uniqlo in the evening to look at the heat tech inner wear. Am thinking of just a heat tech inner wear over a tee, a fleece jacket plus a ultra light down jacket. Did a search on the average temperature for Netherlands, France and Switzerland is about 3-5 deg during December time. I wonder is it sufficient.

 

[stuckintinysg]

Different people got different tolerance. If it's not enough, then always buy more from there.
Though a lightweight down jacket may not be enough, especially if it's snowing or there's windchill factor.

 

[sneggg]

Destination is italy and France only

 

[dimm88]

Assuming my tolerance level to cold is low, for average temp between 3-5Deg, also maybe spending 2 days at the mountain in Switzerland (not sure the temperature). To summarise the stuff needed:

Layer 1 - Good quality thermal set (heat tech from uniqlo may not be enough for me)

Layer 2 - Long sleeve tees

Layer 3 - Good quality fleece jacket (any recommendation)

Layer 4 - down feather parka (any recommendation)

Accessories - wool beanie, leather gloves, wool scarf, wool socks

I missed out anything? Think is time to slowly get ready my stuff.

 

[stuckintinysg]

Good pair of waterproof shoes
I think u are all set.

 

[Ryan Tan]

Have been to a few wintering places including below -30 north of the arctic circle. It is all a matter of layering. I have been using an old but trusty set of Triclimate jacket. I use base layers (top and bottoms) from from Patagonia and Northface.

Full fingered gloves provide dexterity but a good pair of mitt type gloves fare better when keeping warmth.

Be sure to take care of the face and not get frost bitten. Balaclava / neck gaiters could be useful especially in winter sports. I ( stupidly ) overexposed my balaclava during a snow mobile expedition ( the glasses kept frosting from breath from behind ) and got rewarded with nasty cheek frostbites, the injury left residual pigmentation for more than a month after .

Ryan

 

[maxrebo]

Assuming my tolerance level to cold is low, for average temp between 3-5Deg, also maybe spending 2 days at the mountain in Switzerland (not sure the temperature). To summarise the stuff needed:

Layer 1 - Good quality thermal set (heat tech from uniqlo may not be enough for me)

Layer 2 - Long sleeve tees

Layer 3 - Good quality fleece jacket (any recommendation)

Layer 4 - down feather parka (any recommendation)

Accessories - wool beanie, leather gloves, wool scarf, wool socks

I missed out anything? Think is time to slowly get ready my stuff.

Hmmm...you sound like my wife whose tolerance level is low

For some reason, she gets blue black on her face when it gets too cold (around 0 - 5 degrees). Not sure if others are susceptible to it or if there's anyway of preventing it.

 

[saffronsatire]

Not clothes but for footwear, can spree fake UGG snow boots from Taobao. Got mine with sea shipping for only ~SGD15.

 

[NivlekBay]

Not clothes but for footwear, can spree fake UGG snow boots from Taobao. Got mine with sea shipping for only ~SGD15.

Hi Saffronsatire, any feedback on the fake UGG snow boots? Still reliable walking in snow? as I am also planning my trip next year to Switzerland mountain...

Was also looking at the huge difference in price so not sure if its indeed durable and functional.

Thanks.

 

[Beta_Tester]

Snegg: It depends where you are going. If just UK, we don't get very cold winters. So layering with fleece and winter waterproof. But if going skiing or places with thick snow cover, you will need better thermals layering with fleece, soft shell etc. Impt things are scarves, caps and gloves.

While Beta Tester, you are going to spend quite a few hours outside for northern light viewings...so may be in negative temperature. So your thermal base layer is important. I used Merino (from Ice breaker) as recommended by many...much better than synthetic base layer, and again layering is important.
Good quality fleece......soft shell etc.

Might not visit the northern lights afterall. But I think I need a good thing to keep me warm. I believe it might snow or at least be at minus degree.

Where can I get these clothes? I will go shopping for it soon.

Milan Copenhagen Stockholm should be my port of call.

 

[dimm88]

Hmmm...you sound like my wife whose tolerance level is low

For some reason, she gets blue black on her face when it gets too cold (around 0 - 5 degrees). Not sure if others are susceptible to it or if there's anyway of preventing it.

Hahaha...yeah cant stand too cold, ironically always wanted to visit cold places.

 

[dimm88]

Might not visit the northern lights afterall. But I think I need a good thing to keep me warm. I believe it might snow or at least be at minus degree.

Where can I get these clothes? I will go shopping for it soon.

Milan Copenhagen Stockholm should be my port of call.

Me too be shopping for clothing soon, though is year end visit. Netherlands and france I am not sure if it will snow, but at the mountain in Switzerland will be colder but not sure will snow. My daughter sure will love to see snowing.

 

[maxrebo]

You may want to check out the jackets from North Face. I bought them last year during their sale period and thought they were pretty good.

 

[dimm88]

You may want to check out the jackets from North Face. I bought them last year during their sale period and thought they were pretty good.

Yeah, will check them out. Thanks.

 

[Chevalier]

this thread has been very informative.

i'll be going to zermatt, italy and london next jan and temps seem to be sub zero to the low singles.

so far i've gone to uniqlo to buy the extra warm thermals and 2 fleece tops. now looking for a good jacket for the fiance' and a good fleece to complement my north face soft shell. in terms of clothing u guys reckon this is enough?