Tips

• Layering is super important!
  The amount of layers needed depend on the temperature, the material of your layers and how good your jacket is. For example, on windy days of -5C, I wear a beanie, a Uniqlo heat-tech + another long sleeve + a windbreaker down jacket for my top, and a heat-tech legging + thick jeans for my bottom, and wool socks + winter boots. I walk to campus and back, so I’d say this is good for ~30mins - 1 hour of walking outside at a time. I try not to over-layer because all indoor spaces in Ithaca are heated, so you also don’t want to sweat indoors
• Wool/Heat-tech is a good material for layering, gloves, and socks, as long as they don’t get wet
• Check the temperature ranges before buying a jacket
  Bear in mind, Ithaca can reach -20C on our coldest days! So, definitely prioritize function over fashion. Most outdoor jacket brands have a temperature range that it can keep you warm for. Get one that goes down to at least -10C
• Down jackets are good
• Ideally get jackets or coats that are also windbreakers. Ithaca gets super windy and it’ll feel colder than there actual temperature. Windbreakers will save your life
• Parkas (long coats that cover til your knees or lower) are nice but not necessary as long as you layer your pants to keep warm
• Get winter boots for warmth and to prevent slipping on icy paths. Luckily doesn’t happen very often since Cornell maintains them pretty well
• For skiing: bare minimum are waterproof pants, gloves, and jacket. So if you fall on snow you won’t get wet and cold
• Heat packs / “hot hands” are sand packs that warm up when you shake them. Nice to have inside pockets to keep your hands warm. Can get from pharmacy 
• Gloves: helpful to buy E-tip gloves so you can use devices with your glove on (I used Uniqlo, but the E-tip stopped working after it got wet. North Face E-tip is more reliable, but more worth it if you buy from an outlet/discounted). 

• I don’t wear gloves or scarfs daily so maybe someone else can add in

Good Quality Jacket Brands:

• Patagonia - thin but super warm. Expensive but they have official secondhand ones at Worn Wear online. Patagonia has an ironclad guarantee where you can send the products back for repair/replacement
• Uniqlo down jackets, relatively affordable
• Columbia
• The North Face
• LL Bean
• Canada Goose, but quite overpriced

Layering Brands:

• Uniqlo Heat-tech

Good Quality Boots Brands:

• All of the above
• Timberland
• Dr. Martens

Winter gears are expensive, and Cornell may help pay:

• If you qualify, you can apply for Cornell's Access Fund.
  Winter gear – Up to $250 (includes a winter coat, winter boots, winter hat, winter scarf, and winter gloves).
  https://scl.cornell.edu/belonging-support-services/centers-student-equity-empowerment-and-belonging/first-generation-low-income-student-support/access-fund