Where to Buy Winter Gear in Sydney at The Moment for a Trip to Sapporo in February

drakdaystar on 22/11/2023 - 22:46

Hi there,

I am from Sydney and I am travelling to Sapporo in February. Where would be the best place to shop for the following winter clothing items? Uniqlo would normally be the easy answer but they don't have any winter clothing at the moment. I'm not too fussed on the budget, more focused on quality. Can people also confirm whether the following is sufficient clothing? Is there anything I have missed?

  1. Base layer - I own Uniqlo heattech ultra warm
  2. Middle layer - I own Uniqlo ultralight down. I'm also looking to buy a fleece and/or synthetic fill - where can I buy these?
  3. Outer layer - Where should I go to look for a waterproof and windproof jacket? Do I need an insulated jacket or is a shell sufficient? Is Gore-tex necessary?
  4. Pants - I own Uniqlo heattech long johns. Are my sweatpants and chinos sufficient or do I need to purchase some kind of specific pants? If so, where should I look to purchase?
  5. Socks - Where to buy wool socks?
  6. Gloves - I own Uniqlo touchscreen gloves. Are these sufficient? If not, any recommendations?
  7. Others - I have waterproof Timberlands, wool beanie and scarf

Any help would be much appreciated and thanks in advance!

Fashion & Apparel Clothing

Comments

  • Davo1111 on 22/11/2023 - 22:58

    mountain designs?

    It's 0C to -10c btw

  • TheRealCher on 23/11/2023 - 00:08
    +3

    It depends on what yr doing in Sapporo. If yr going to ski, you might need a lot of that stuff. If yr just hanging out for the ice fest, everything except yr boots will be fine. Hokkaido's ice is treacherous and I've gone sprawling in timbers, snow boots etc all on concrete footpaths …though one incident involved parents letting their sprog run freely and almost caused an international incident, but that's another story.
    Macpac is probably yr friend for a lot of this stuff.
    Also, as I learnt, Sapporo has large underground heated walkways and shops….when Noone is walking around the city at midday and you can't see across the street, there's a reason…
    So again, it just depends on what yr planning to do and how long you'll be outside. The thing with layering is you want to be able to take them off quickly if yr going in and out of places, so you might not need your mid layer.
    Sweatpants will get cold and wet fast. You can buy thermal lined jeans off Amazon.
    Sorry, this is turning into an essay and I also hate the heat. The tldr is it depends
    There's also plenty of shops over there and the dollar to yen is good right now so it may not be an issue.

  • dtc on 23/11/2023 - 10:38
    +3

    I highly recommend a down jacket and a good midweight one*, not a lightweight one. They are expensive, possibly you can borrow from a friend or something? Or look on marketplace etc. The outdoor stores will sell them. They are great because easily removed when you hit the inside and its heated, but you can shove them into a small backpack and they are light. The only issue is if they get wet, so if they arent water resistant (although most are) then a lightweight waterproof jacket/parka might be worthwhile in case it snows/sleets (doesnt have to be fancy, just waterproof). Shell jackets are also good as they are windproof

    *I suggest midweight because you can use a midweight jacket in Australia (unless you live in the northern states); whereas a heavyweight one is too hot in most places (I have one and live in Canberra and rarely use it). Midweight plus some layers is good for Sapporo.

    Touchscreen gloves probably not enough, get another layer like some wool gloves or even ski gloves (ski gloves arent super warm on their own, they are mostly just windproof, but are better than nothing). Wear two layers eg touch screen and then another glove over the top

    buy socks online, Amazon has plenty of options or there are specialist stores. Possum fur socks are great albeit a bit expensive, but have a look for them.

    for pants, if you can find a uniqlo store that has some of these in stock / in the storeroom then they are great https://www.uniqlo.com/au/en/contents/feature/masterpiece/HE… . The main issue is if its windy, then you will suffer; so if you can either wear a few layers or find something windproof. At worst some cheap golf overpants you can slip on if conditions need it; you can also find windproof cycling pants eg https://www.amazon.com.au/TSLA-Thermal-Windproof-Cycling-YKB… , although they arent very stylish.

    beanies are essential so remember to take it!

    At least you arent going to the Harbin ice festival - one year I was there and it was -25C at midday…Sapporo is a lot easier as mentioned, there are lots of interior walkways. If you do get cold then you can duck inside to a cafe or something to warm up so your gear doesnt have to be perfect

  • heyimsu on 26/11/2023 - 01:24
    +1

    I would recommend taking the minimum with you and buy when you're over there. Much better quality, especially the winter clothes.

    • antojamo on 20/12/2023 - 12:52

      Agreed. Australian outerwear isn't designed for a Japanese winter. Although one thing to keep in mind is if you're tall or big, your selection may be limited

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