I've had so many people suggest this but I didn't fancy sifting through thrift stores to find gear for four people in our sizes. Plus, I like to wash clothes before I wear them. Especially if they are second hand. So instead of doing this I bought layers which we can wear here. The kids have already work their squall jackets a bunch of times this winter and they'll fit them next year too. A friend just lent me a down jacket that she bought in NYC. It is so soft and folds right down to nothing!! We are taking 3 cases so I think we'll be fine. Unbelievably our fish extender gifts take up a whole suitcase!! Plus there is the boxes of coffee and cereal that my hubby insists on taking. They won't come home with us so there should be plenty of room for shoppingWe're lucky that we have family over there, so we just use their snow gear. However when my sister and her boyfriend went over they went into a thrift shop while there and bought super cheap stuff, they knew it didn't have to be fancy and were planning on re-donating it when they were done, but I know one of the ski jackets made the trip home because they loved it so much