I live in Montana but am not native to the northwest, from the south originally. I don’t own a car (walkable cities ftw) so I’m exposed to the elements almost daily. I’ve been making it work in the winters with layering and clutch thrift store finds but I still don’t fundamentally understand what determines good vs bad fabrics/coats/socks for this climate. Please help!
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No cotton. Go for wool, silk, or wicking synthetics. Cotton will get wet, stay wet, and get chilly. There are rare exceptions, but cotton is rotten in the cold.
Consider the wind. Fleece (synthetic) is great stuff until the wind starts up, so consider a top or outer layer that is a windbreaker. Have a pullover that is a wind blocker on the front and fleece on the back, and it is great. The back is warm and breathes, and I usually have a backpack of some sort that serves to block the wind; the bit of breathable fabric on the back is great for me.
I tend to sweat a lot, so breathable inner layers are essential and an outer shell helps break the wind. Unfortunately, waterproof and windbreak usually mean poor breathability, so look for zippers, especially pit zips.
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