Health, Life

Edmonton Winter Survival Tips

February 24, 2014

weather

This is my third winter living in Edmonton (!) and over the years I have learned some ways to keep myself warm. I don’t have a vehicle so most of the time if I want to go anywhere I either walk or take the bus. With temperatures like we are getting this week I had to learn how to keep myself from freezing. Here is what I have learned:

Layers are Important

Layer One Layer Two

When the temperature is -20C or colder I make sure that I wear tights under my clothes. It makes a huge difference! Not the kind of tights you would wear with a dress, but the kind that look like yoga pants. I also wear a long tank top under my clothes all winter. These items cling right to your body and are good at keeping your body heat in. In the past I used to layer my socks too but I have since found that it doesn’t really help. It actually makes my feet colder so I would suggest against that. After my first layer I wear my regular pants and a sweater with long sleeves. Finally, I will wear a jacket on top of that. Something with a hood is preferable. I don’t usually put the hood on, but I have it kind of wrapped around my head to keep the wind off my neck.

Outerwear

My first winter here, my feet were not prepared for the cold. For Christmas that year I bought myself a good pair of boots. They were expensive, but they are made for -30C or -50C weather. My feet are never cold and the boots we definitely worth the money I spent on them.

Another thing you need is a coat that is made for winter. I would choose a skiing coat. They are warm and have snaps at the bottom so you can keep the cold from rushing up inside of it. Again, these coats tend to cost a lot, but if you look around in the summer you can sometimes find really good deals. I got two really nice coats for $100 total last summer. So far I’ve only worn one of them so I don’t see myself needing a new coat for many years.

ninja

The next thing you’re going to want is a wide scarf. One that is going to cover most of your face. I normally just have it folded down around my chin, but when that winter wind blows, it’s nice to have a scarf that you can roll up to your eyes like a ninja.

pompoms

A winter hat is a very important thing to own too. I learned that the first winter I lived here too. My old winter hat just didn’t cut it for the winters here. You need to get a hat that covers your ears, usually called a trapper hat. It must have ties hanging down so you can tie it under your neck. It makes a huge difference at keeping your ears warm. Since moving into my new apartment last summer I haven’t been able to find the hat I bought that first winter and was very upset about it. I had a hard time finding a hat that really fit what I was looking for. I finally found a $40 one which was more than I really wanted to spend. But it has been a wonderful hat and again has paid for itself in warmth.

Finally, you have to keep your hands warm. Since I take the bus most days of the week, I also layer my hands. I will wear a pair of gloves under my mittens. That way, when I take my hand out of my mitten to get my bus pass out of my pocket, my hand doesn’t freeze off. It really keeps my hands warm too. If there are two things that make the rest of my body cold, it’s cold hands and cold feet. This winter, the only things that have been cold have been my face (mostly my eyes) and sometimes my legs when it’s really windy.

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  1. Susanne

    February 24, 2014 at 7:05 pm

    I can’t wear tights under my clothes, because it’s too slow to take on and off, plus you’ll die from heat when you’re inside, like if you’re out shopping and go in and out of shops. I’ve found that with cold temperatures I prefer a dress with warm leggings rather than jeans, because warm leggings are warmer than any pants, and I can use leg warmers if I need to. With my job, I usually work late and don’t want to spend an eternity to dress to go to the bus, since I’m usually late at least after day shifts.
    I totally agree about hoods. I can’t live without them in the winter.

    1. Deanna

      February 24, 2014 at 9:15 pm

      @Susanne, I just wear them all day. The only place I’m usually going is to work and my manager likes to keep the store cool for the shoppers coming in with their winter clothes on. So all the employees freeze.

      1. Susanne

        February 25, 2014 at 12:29 am

        @Deanna, That’s very convenient!!

  2. Melanie

    February 25, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    Good tips! Its been much colder than usual here in Philly this winter. I had to buy a new coat (one of those sking/parka type coats) and I’m SO glad I did. The hood buttons up all around my head and half my face, so I don’t even need a scarf or hat. There was only one day where I wore leggings under my dress pants to work (when it was super cold). Ended up keeping them on all day haha…I don’t think they were super warm material.

  3. Christine

    March 2, 2014 at 4:14 pm

    You look really cute in all of your winter gear! It doesn’t usually get that cold in CT, but Keith works outside, so his daily uniform looks very similar to yours. Instead of tights he wears long thermals and he has a great pair of boots as well. I’m thankful that I spend most of my time indoors!

  4. Karin

    March 8, 2014 at 4:27 pm

    Your hat with the deer is super cute! I want one like that too! 😀
    For me, the shoes are the most important. Winter shoes need to be water-resistant and sturdy and have non-slippery soles. Coats and trousers and such can be layered and whatnot, but cold wet feet that are slipping on ice and snow is a sure way to ruin any day.

    1. Deanna

      April 1, 2014 at 10:08 am

      @Karin, That’s the hat that I lost. 🙁

  5. Jessie

    March 9, 2014 at 10:29 pm

    I have to admit that I use all of these tips where I live, especially this winter. 🙁 I’m definitely looking forward to warmer weather, and wearing less layers. Sometimes I’m not sure if I’ve gained as much weight as I think, or if it’s all the layers. 😛

  6. Julie

    March 18, 2014 at 2:25 pm

    Layers are definitely a good idea. Wow that is cold though. I guess at some point cold is cold, so you just gotta make it work. I don’t think I could survive those kind of temperatures though. I like your pics 🙂

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