How to prepare for a winter trip to Yellowknife, clothing-wise?

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I grew up in Winnipeg (not as far north as Yellowknife, but we had our share of weather below -30°C) and now I live in New England. If I was about to spend significant time outdoors in Winnipeg in the severe cold, and I had an unlimited budget to buy clothing for it, here's what I would wear:

  • A parka with a hood. Thigh-length if possible. Natural or artifical down are best, but they're expensive. Look for one with a temperature rating that's colder than you think you'll need. Having the hood allows for an extra layer of clothing between your head and the outdoors (see below), and also covers the back of your neck.

  • A toque (knit wool cap) that can fit under your hood. Pompoms & earflaps are cute, but if they prevent you from putting your hood up you'll be sorry.

  • Mittens (not gloves). If you need five-finger dexterity while outdoors, a common tactic my family always used was to wear a lightweight pair of knit gloves underneath bulkier mittens. I don't actually own a pair of mittens any more, and every time I visit my parents in Winnipeg I wish I did.

  • If you're wearing jeans, consider lined jeans. Heck, consider lined jeans even if you weren't planning to wear jeans. Alternately, long underwear to be worn under the pants.

  • A set of waterproof boots with some insulation. How heavy-duty these need to be depends greatly on whether you'll need to be walking through deep snow or simply walking around on plowed streets. If you'll be walking through really deep snow, a set of boots that comes up to the thigh will be ideal.

The degree to which all of these elements are necessary depends greatly on how long you'll be outdoors. For example, when I go back to visit my family in Winnipeg, I usually just take the parka, toque, gloves (instead of mittens), and ankle-length boots. This is sufficient for walking from a parking lot into a heated building, even without my hood up. However, it's not really sufficient if I go for a walk in the neighborhood with my parents.

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