[jval43]

Sounds very grim. I live in a snowy part of Europe and very little of this applies, except the stay dry and warm part. Here are 2 things I learned:

1. Do what everyone else does, when they do it. And don't, when they don't. You could die.

There is usually a reason even if you don't understand it right now. You don't want to find out why when you're out in the cold and freezing.

2. Buy gear locally.

There's sometimes reason a certain item is on the shelf and not the stylish one from California, or the super heavy-duty one from Norway. Unfortunately, often this is only obvious in hindsight. Does not depend on price, but it does apply across the board from clothing to cars.

[dlcarrier]

I'm in California. We have good cold-weather gear, you just have to get it from the right kind of store, specifically one that supplies outdoor workers.

[jval43]

Maybe California is a bad example. What I'm getting at is the selection for what you need is usually larger and more applicable to the conditions locally.

I see plenty of tourists with winter gear that is either insufficient, or completely over the top. Whereas if you buy locally you'd generally find the right stuff.