Hi Everyone!
We are going to MN during our kids' Mardi Gras vacation in a couple of weeks. We rented a cabin on Lake Superior and plan on snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and whatever else we can tolerate at such inhuman temperatures. I went to to undergrad in PA and my husband lived in NJ, both a few decades ago, and we have been firmly planted where it rarely goes below 70 degrees ever since. We therefore own nothing warmer than North Face- type jackets.
I want to balance buying enough gear so we are not miserable with over-buying on things we likely will never use again, so I'm hoping I can get some guidance on that here! This is what we already have:
1) We all have borrowed snow pants .
2) I (only) own a pair of 30 year old duck boots from LL Bean.
3) The kids have "big" jackets that they've never worn before and are a tad too small but would work; they kinda look like ski jackets, but there still isn't that much to them in terms of lining.
4) We each have 467 pairs of cheap, long, fake-wooly socks (you know, the $5 kind from Walmart, some with sequins) that everyone likes to give everyone for Christmas (not sure they'll fit in a shoe or actually be warm).
That's it!
What would be the must-haves? I assume we need some type of long underwear to wear under the ski pants? Advice on which kind and where to get?
Do you wear thermal tops and sweatshirts/sweaters under jackets?
Do you think layering with thermal/sweatshirts will work with light jackets, or must we each buy good, big jackets?
Will the duck boots be sufficient with the right socks? And what type would those "right" socks be?
My guys all have rubber boots (the thin kind), but I'm sure those would be freezing. Do they need lined boots? Snow boots in particular?
Guess we will need gloves, hats, and scarves? I have a 20 yo pair of Isotoner gloves, but I guess those won't be too warm. The boys have plenty of warm gloves, but not a single set of matching ones. (How does that happen?!)
Any suggestions for brands, places to buy, discounts, etc. would be much appreciated! Again, I am fine with spending what we need to in order to enjoy the trip, but I'm afraid we may end up in the emergency room with frostbite or some other skiing-related calamity, so I would love to save where we can!
Thanks so much!!
We are going to MN during our kids' Mardi Gras vacation in a couple of weeks. We rented a cabin on Lake Superior and plan on snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and whatever else we can tolerate at such inhuman temperatures. I went to to undergrad in PA and my husband lived in NJ, both a few decades ago, and we have been firmly planted where it rarely goes below 70 degrees ever since. We therefore own nothing warmer than North Face- type jackets.
I want to balance buying enough gear so we are not miserable with over-buying on things we likely will never use again, so I'm hoping I can get some guidance on that here! This is what we already have:
1) We all have borrowed snow pants .
2) I (only) own a pair of 30 year old duck boots from LL Bean.
3) The kids have "big" jackets that they've never worn before and are a tad too small but would work; they kinda look like ski jackets, but there still isn't that much to them in terms of lining.
4) We each have 467 pairs of cheap, long, fake-wooly socks (you know, the $5 kind from Walmart, some with sequins) that everyone likes to give everyone for Christmas (not sure they'll fit in a shoe or actually be warm).
That's it!
What would be the must-haves? I assume we need some type of long underwear to wear under the ski pants? Advice on which kind and where to get?
Do you wear thermal tops and sweatshirts/sweaters under jackets?
Do you think layering with thermal/sweatshirts will work with light jackets, or must we each buy good, big jackets?
Will the duck boots be sufficient with the right socks? And what type would those "right" socks be?
My guys all have rubber boots (the thin kind), but I'm sure those would be freezing. Do they need lined boots? Snow boots in particular?
Guess we will need gloves, hats, and scarves? I have a 20 yo pair of Isotoner gloves, but I guess those won't be too warm. The boys have plenty of warm gloves, but not a single set of matching ones. (How does that happen?!)
Any suggestions for brands, places to buy, discounts, etc. would be much appreciated! Again, I am fine with spending what we need to in order to enjoy the trip, but I'm afraid we may end up in the emergency room with frostbite or some other skiing-related calamity, so I would love to save where we can!
Thanks so much!!