Remember the balmy December? Well, Mother Nature is back with a vengeance and it�s time to bundle up. With predicted single digit highs, CU students are learning how to bundle up fast.
Chris Ball, a 19-year-old sophomore architecture major, said any coat good enough for the slopes is good enough for the streets.
�I wear my Nike jacket,� Ball said. �It�s thick and water resistant. Any snowboard jacket is good to wear.�
However, ski jackets aren�t just for the skiers and boarders.
�I wear Bonfire brand,� said Caitlyn Henry, a 19-year-old sophomore psychology major. �I don�t even ski, but I bought it because it�s warm.�
Brand name ski jackets, like Bonfire, are priced near $170, according to Shopatron.com.
Other students, like Brittan Griffith, a 20-year-old junior sociology major, said they depend on tough outerwear brands like North Face.
�I wear North Face fleece wear because it zips into my jacket,� Griffith said. �It�s really warm, waterproof and windproof.�
Insulated North Face jackets start near $150 for both men and women, according to thenorthface.com.
Less expensive outwear jackets can be found for under $100 at Altrec.com.
Students who are going for a trendier look, like Austin Nguyen, a 20-year-old freshman integrative physiology major, said they wear a wool pea coat.
�I wear a hoodie and a pea coat,� Nguyen said. �They are the warmest things in my closet. [Peacoats] are in style right now and it was at a reasonable price.�
Wool pea coats vary in length and can be priced as high as the nearly $300 Ralph Lauren, according to Macys.com, but are also available at discount stores like the Burlington Coat Factory for about $50.
While the outer shell may vary, many students said wearing layers of warm clothing is a definite must for the cold.
Adriana Pettross, a 21-year-old senior integrative physiology major, said layering is the key to staying warm.
�I wear everything in my closet,� Pettross said, while wearing two sweatshirts in addition to her down coat.
Wearing layers is helpful if the weather changes, said Josh Romero, a 23-year-old junior MCD biology major.
�I wear a hoodie and a North Face jacket because I can take one layer off if it gets hot,� Romero said.
One trick Vivian Vu, a 19-year-old open-option freshman major, said she uses for cold weather is wearing tights underneath her pants.
�I wear long stockings under tights under jeans,� Vu said.
Students like Cody Spangler, a 20-year-old sophomore music education major, said the winter accessories are just as important for beating the freeze.
�I almost worry about [wearing a hat] more than a coat,� Spangler said. �Wool socks or alpaca socks are also good.�
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Rose Heaphy at [email protected].
