You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't really care what other people have or wear, really. I will say that I did hesitate when I got the CG* because I do think they're kind of fashionwear as opposed to needed. But, I had a Helly Hansen jacket that was supposed to be awesome before it, and I was freezing to death. It was stupid. My true gear grinder regarding winter jackets and such is that I've become more of a wuss through the years. I feel like I tolerate the cold much worse now than I did years ago, and I can only imagine how feeble and weak I'll be as an old man!

*(I feel icky using the initials, like on Arrested Development when they call it the OC!)

Interesting. I just bought a Helly Hansen winter jacket (on clearance at Sportcheck for $80 down from like $~300ish!) and it is easily the warmest piece of clothing I've ever owned and I was born here. I can't imagine wanting a warmer jacket.

Although the time I've spent typing this post now exceeds the time I've spent thinking about what type of coats other people are wearing lifetime. Maybe that's self-centered but I basically don't care what other people wear.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Locke

Also...'Thanked' for Sanka reference.

I'm not smokin, I'm breathin!

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

For me it is. I don't mind spending $250 on a good coat but how much better is a $550 coat really for the average person that's needs a good coat to walk from their car to work or maybe a couple of blocks to a bus stop?

$250-550 does make a difference in level of durability for what you acquire. This assuming we're talking generally about MSRP coats at $250-550 and not a $550 coat on discount to $250. It makes a big difference for me because I like doing a lot of outdoor activities and hikes, even in the cold. Plus I'm the only one in the household who ever shovels the drive way...

I will say that the real world claims of "good to -5 or -35C" are kinda BS though. It's horribly inaccurate for both warmth and cold at times. You gotta test it out.

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I’ve never encountered someone with a Canada Goose jacket judging other people for not having a Canada Goose jacket. That seems insane.

I could see judging a person wearing a vest and a light jacket in -20 and below though. Regardless of what you’re wearing.

Depends on whether there is wind. If no wind in -20C weather, a decent fleece and down vest is all I require...

... Oh you son of a gun!

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't really care what other people have or wear, really. I will say that I did hesitate when I got the CG* because I do think they're kind of fashionwear as opposed to needed. But, I had a Helly Hansen jacket that was supposed to be awesome before it, and I was freezing to death. It was stupid. My true gear grinder regarding winter jackets and such is that I've become more of a wuss through the years. I feel like I tolerate the cold much worse now than I did years ago, and I can only imagine how feeble and weak I'll be as an old man!

*(I feel icky using the initials, like on Arrested Development when they call it the OC!)

Something that I noticed recently is that the newer stuff has ratings that aren't quite right. My wife has a North Face jacket and she was complaining that her arms were cold because the down in the baffle box in that area must have shifted over the 5-6 years she had owned it. She tried many ways to "fix it" and then gave up and decided to buy a replacement identical but newer North Face jacket. A few wears later, she returned it and complained that the new jacket inexplicably wasn't as warm as the old one. We bought a different jacket for her and she's been happy with the performance.

My wife also has a few fashion jackets from Aritzia. She said she was damn cold wearing those after the 2nd winter. Yet, she inexplicably has friends who are claiming that the same jacket is as warm as the Canada Goose that her friend owns. This even after 4-5 years.

I don't know if this is difference in manufacturing or if people don't know anything.

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yeah man. I went to mec and bought the "warmest parka in the store" and was so cold in it that I returned it. Just said fata it, I guess parkas aren't warm and went back to layering up underneath my old parka, which was also supposedly super warm.

My wife bought me my CG for my birthday a couple years ago and it has been a game changer. I was a little self conscious in it at first because it feels slightly ostentatious and I don't particularly love attention-getting clothes, but I'm a full convert now. They're top of the line.

I find Canada Goose does a good job making sure there is less heat loss around the baffle box edges and the seams than other jackets. But that's also what is problematic to me is that I run quite warm and heat/moisture cannot wick away as easily and then I get cold when it gets damp inside.

My hands are often warmer than my wife's hands without gloves than with her wearing gloves. She has on many occasions randomly grabbed me to warm her hands. It certainly is one hell of a surprising jolt when you're not expecting it. Like... get to a friend's place, mid chat and you suddenly feel icy hands on your neck/back or abs... +

[you&me]

No judgement, but it's always fun reading different opinions people have on what relative value they place on certain things.

I like to think of costs as being amortized over the uses & lifespan of the product... Or if I'm being honest, that's how I justify expensive purchases to myself

Like Sliver said; the price of a CG coat isn't crazy if it makes a measurable improvement in your life because you wear it every day for 6 months of the year, waiting for the bus and keep it for 5, 8 or 10 years... Different value prop if you drive from your attached garage, to your parkade and spend your lunches in the +15.

Same with beds... Can't understand going bargain basement on something you literally spend 1/3 of your life on, with a measurable effect on your quality of life.

[peter12]

Cost per wear is the correct way to view the price of a garment. All of my Alden shoes are $700 plus and some of the older pairs are getting on near ten years in age. That's a lot of wears for $700 and they still look awesome.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by peter12

Cost per wear is the correct way to view the price of a garment. All of my Alden shoes are $700 plus and some of the older pairs are getting on near ten years in age. That's a lot of wears for $700 and they still look awesome.

You sound like a mattress sales person. If it lasts 10 years that’s only 6 cents per sleep!

[you&me]

Originally Posted by peter12

Cost per wear is the correct way to view the price of a garment. All of my Alden shoes are $700 plus and some of the older pairs are getting on near ten years in age. That's a lot of wears for $700 and they still look awesome.

Exactly. Meanwhile, the $120 Aldo shoes would fall apart after one year and you're back buying new ones next year.

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

You sound like a mattress sales person. If it lasts 10 years that’s only 6 cents per sleep!

But you really have to factor in how well the item delivers its intended purpose... Cost per sleep is a useless metric if you toss and turn all night and don't actually, you now, sleep. Same with a winter coat - cost per wear is meaningless if you're always freezing your balls off.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

You sound like a mattress sales person. If it lasts 10 years that’s only 6 cents per sleep!

My $2,000 Acne overcoat gets worn basically straight through every winter and I look amazing.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by you&me

But you really have to factor in how well the item delivers its intended purpose... Cost per sleep is a useless metric if you toss and turn all night and don't actually, you now, sleep. Same with a winter coat - cost per wear is meaningless if you're always freezing your balls off.

I think Peter probably got that I was kidding but to clarify, yes it is absolutely an appropriate metric to use.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yeah man. I went to mec and bought the "warmest parka in the store" and was so cold in it that I returned it. Just said fata it, I guess parkas aren't warm and went back to layering up underneath my old parka, which was also supposedly super warm.

My wife bought me my CG for my birthday a couple years ago and it has been a game changer. I was a little self conscious in it at first because it feels slightly ostentatious and I don't particularly love attention-getting clothes, but I'm a full convert now. They're top of the line.

Back in my field days, I bought a goose dawn-filled parka for $180 from Mark's Work Wearhouse rated at -50 degrees for the job in the Arctic. I still have it today. I have a few winter coats that are both fancier and more expensive than that one today, but none of them are as well-made, as well-designed and as warm as that one. I get paying higher price for better quality but you need to separate the real quality from brand-supplied myths about it. My wife has an $800 CG parka and it's nice, but its design, reliability and warmth are inferior to the one I have from Mark's. Although, CG has their highest-end red parkas priced at over $1,200 now I heard, so maybe those are much better, I don't know...


EDIT: Just checked their site out of curiosity, CG's Expedition and Snow Mantra Parkas are almost $2,000 and rated for -30 only. Wow.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Back in my field days, I bought a goose dawn-filled parka for $180 from Mark's Work Wearhouse rated at -50 degrees for the job in the Arctic. I still have it today. I have a few winter coats that are both fancier and more expensive than that one today, but none of them are as well-made, as well-designed and as warm as that one. I get paying higher price for better quality but you need to separate the real quality from brand-supplied myths about it. My wife has an $800 CG parka and it's nice, but its design, reliability and warmth are inferior to the one I have from Mark's. Although, CG has their highest-end red parkas priced at over $1,200 now I heard, so maybe those are much better, I don't know...


EDIT: Just checked their site out of curiosity, CG's Expedition and Snow Mantra Parkas are almost $2,000 and rated for -30 only. Wow.

How many years ago did you buy that jacket? And what’s the cost now?

[powderjunkie]

You guys are all suckers. I just don't leave the house when it's that cold out.

[Sliver]

Another good thing is CG uses animal fur. Maybe a bit out of style now due to PETA, but I appreciate it's environmentally friendly and sustainable versus just throwing microplastics at everything.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Threads like this make me question all the 1%er claims I see on CP. $550 is expensive now? Maybe if it was $5500. My dog wears a $550 jacket for his walks. As if I’d ever be caught dead wearing a $550 jacket on my person. I would rather freeze to death.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Threads like this make me question all the 1%er claims I see on CP. $550 is expensive now? Maybe if it was $5500. My dog wears a $550 jacket for his walks. As if I’d ever be caught dead wearing a $550 jacket on my person. I would rather freeze to death.

I just assumed we were talking about Christmas presents to give to our servants

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Another good thing is CG uses animal fur. Maybe a bit out of style now due to PETA, but I appreciate it's environmentally friendly and sustainable versus just throwing microplastics at everything.

And they’re now using reclaimed fur instead of sourcing new fur.

Thought for a second about a fur coat made out of dogs and how nice that could be but I think they already made a movie about that.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

See this hat? ‘Twas my cat.
My evening wear vampire bat
These white slippers are albino
African endangered rhino
Grizzly bear underwear

[Cecil Terwilliger]

You know, without hyperbole, that might literally be the greatest scene in Simpsons history. From the absurd set up, the amazing, wonderful catchy song, right down to Bart’s reaction afterwards. It’s just so absolutely perfect from start to finish.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Slava

How many years ago did you buy that jacket? And what’s the cost now?

25 years ago. They don’t sell them anymore.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Another good thing is CG uses animal fur. Maybe a bit out of style now due to PETA, but I appreciate it's environmentally friendly and sustainable versus just throwing microplastics at everything.

I know you are just being you, but the rest of the jacket is about 90% petrochemicals.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I know you are just being you, but the rest of the jacket is about 90% petrochemicals.

You mean sweet, sweet petrochemicals?