It has been a long winter. No one really wants to think about it coming again—after experiencing such brutal extremes. But with the arrival of spring comes an opportunity to get prepared for next winter—and for a lot less money than in the fall when winter gear is in high demand.
As a native of south Texas who started driving over-the-road full time almost 25 years ago I admit that I had to learn a bit about cold weather clothing. What they sell down there generally isn’t sufficient in the extreme cold we deal with when we travel up north.
This is my normal set of base layers and wool socks that I wear under my regular clothes as well as gloves and a beanie when ambient temperatures drop below 25 degrees. It keeps me very warm while not restricting my freedom of movement. I also have sets of heavier base layers for sub-zero temperatures.
*If you want to buy something that will keep you warm in the most extreme cold it’s best to buy it from a store located in such an area with a staff that directly understands what you need without trying to oversell. Once I took notice of that, I bought most of my base layers from a Cabela’s store in Owatonna, MN several years ago. It turned out to be great quality stuff that has held up well ever since.
*I don’t recommend buying clothing online unless it’s a brand with sizing and quality that is something you already have firsthand experience with.
*If you want top quality gear for a fair price, buy it in the early spring when it is marked down as the stores are trying to make room for the next season’s gear. If your coat has seen better days, now is a great time to start looking for good deals on a quality replacement that will last you for a long time.
*It’s easy enough to acquire the winter gear you want, then take it out of the truck on your next trip home. Store it in a dry location and it will be ready to go when winter returns later in the year (yeah I was cringing as I wrote those last six words!).
