Winter Gear on the Cheap

1
Winter Gear on the Cheap

• Ana Jaklenec
• January 8, 2008
• Winter School 2008

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Introduction

• If you havent noticed, outdoor brands are
  expensive!
• Patagonia (aka, Pata-gucci), ArcTeryx, Mountain
  Hardwear
• Even REI, EMS!
• But our loans/stipends/fellowships are running
  low! Whatever do we do?

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Have no Fear!

• There are many ways to get stuff way below
  retail, including
• Finding cheap places (in Boston and online)
• Knowing the killer sales
• Learning how to shop non-outdoor stores for
  effective substitutes
• Learn how to make your own gear
• Learn how to leech off of friends
• Buy stuff from MITOC very close to cost

4
Outdoor Places to get stuff cheap

• Boston Area Stores
• Hiltons Tent City
• Bins of fleece items
• MITOC discount
• EMS
• Look at returns/clearance area in the back corner
  of the Comm. Ave. Store
• Good coupons
• Student discount
• REI
• Killer sales (like garage sales)
• Returns in the basement

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Other Places to get stuff cheap

• Regional Stores
• LL Bean Factory Outlet (Freeport, ME, Concord,
  NH)
• IME Basement Consignment Shop - N. Conway, NH
• Ragged Mountain - Intervale, NH downstairs
  (consignment shop and prototypes, really cheap)
• Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME (near 16 on way
  to Intervale)

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Online Places to Get stuff Cheap

• Online Places
• Steep and Cheap (www.steepandcheap.com)
• One item at a time RSS feeds, highly addictive.
• Alternative www.sacattack.com (more data, for
  the addicted)
• Sierra Trading Post (www.sierratradingpost.com)
• Rei-outlet.com
• Campmor (www.campmor.com)
• TelemarkSki (www.telemarkski.com)
• Als Ski Barn (www.untracked.com)
• Mountain Equipment Coop (www.mec.ca)
• If the Canadian Dollar falls

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Non-Technical Stores with good stuff

• Garment District (by the pound!)
• City Sports
• Eddie Bauer Outlet (Downtown Crossing) lots of
  fleece
• Old Navy
• Filenes Basement
• Cabellas (hunting, etc)
• Target
• K-Mart
• Marshalls, TJ Maxx

Think fleece, gloves, hats, and nylon stuff!
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Dont forget Thrift Stores!

• Salvation Army
• Goodwill
• Wool Great for layers.
• Bright funky colors are good!
• Wool plaid shirts rock!

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Borrow Gear!

• Many people in MITOC have extra gear!
• Email mitoc-gear_at_mit.edu
• People might sell older gear
• Many people in your dorm/living group probably
  have stuff
• Wool sweaters
• Nylon wind pants
• Funky hats

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Make your own Gear

• Not as hard as you think. Much cheaper!
• Fleece mittens and balaclavas are easy to sew, 10. You can buy outdoor materials from Ragged
  Mountain or online!
• MITOC has a sewing machine you can use!
• Repair your own gear
• Take up knitting!

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Pattern and Materials

• Cool Canadian fabric site. Nice design.
  http//justmakeit.com/patterns/index.html
  http//www.rockywoods.com/fleece_main.htm
  http//www.peakfabrics.com/stretchfleeces.htm
  http//www.questoutfitters.com/fleece20fabs.html
  FLEECE20SERIES2020020WT. http//www.seattlefabr
  ics.com/ Sewing tips. http//www.specialtyoutdoors
  .com/tips/project.asp http//www.kwiksew.com/techi
  nfo/Tips/fleece.htm http//www.owfinc.com/
  http//www.sundroptextiles.com/ Polartec Site.
  http//www.maldenmillsstore.com/default.asp?id042
  044006816321015620187 Outdoor clothing patterns.
  http//www.thegreenpepper.com/ http//www.wyeastfa
  brics.com/ http//www.raggedmountain.com/index.php
  http//www.peak.org/ce/
• Ragged Mountain has a ton of outdoor patterns in
  their basement

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Things you should NOT skimp

• Good Thermal Underwear
• Price and stank are inversely proportional
• Glove liners
• wool liners warm fingers
• A water/wind proof shell
• Good non-cotton socks
• SmartWool, InGenious, TechWick, etc
• Warm bootsrent mouseboots or plastics if its
  cold out.

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Things you can fudge

• Gaiters duct tape (sucks, but it works)
• Better solution sewing elastic with a strap into
  your pants
• Nice, fancy parka quality rain jacket with hood
  with a layer or two of fleece. You really need
  this for Boston, anyway
• Fancy double zipper pants wind pants, with good
  underwear / wool pants
• Anything Goretex coated nylon. Goretex doesnt
  breathe great anyway in aerobic situations. Many
  people prefer breathable outer layers.
• Ski stuff can work, but make sure you can
  layer/delayer with it, and its not too warm
  (insulated ski bibs!)

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Credits

• Previous revisions from Chris Glazner and Mike
  Whitson