Winter Wear

[junsheng]

Hi this is my first time on the boards.

I'm a Singaporean and will be living in Finland from late February to August. I will be staying in a flat by the Student Housing Foundation of Central Finland and have been accepted into the Jyvaskyla University of Applied Sciences (JUA).

I have never experienced winter before (Singapore is a tropical country) and would need some tips on what I should wear for the duration of my trip there. And also, I find Singapore's winter wear to be expensive, and would like to know where I can find cheap winter wear in Finland.

Thanks

[Hank W.]

Well it all boils down to what do you define as "expensive"...

[sinikettu]

By late Feb hopefully the worst of the winter will be over..Just March and early April to survive.
Your main problem is the University at Jyväskylä is on the side of a lake,.. the student accomodation..Is on the other side of the lake...Cold Winds will be your main enemy...

You should be in with a bit of luck, as the winter sports season will be as good as over..So the sports shops will be having sales of Ski Jackets and Ski Pants, Gloves etc.
Suggest you make them your first port of call.
Should be able to pick up and out fit for less than 100 €uro.

[junsheng]

Well, Long Johns here are selling for about 30 € / piece. Sweaters are like 60-90 €. Jackets are like 130-160 €. They're all Cashmere / Wool materials.

I don't know if I will be able to get them much cheaper over at Finland. If yes, I won't be getting everything in Singapore before going over.

[Rosamunda]

You can get long-johns here from budget stores like Tarjoustalo and HongKong ( .... it's the name of a store) for 5-10 euro. Those stores also sell outdoor wear if you are not bothered about flashy labels and looking trendy. The bigger supermarkets (eg Prisma and Citymarket) also sell winter jackets and trousers (and sweaters etc) and reasonable prices. The best trick is to buy lots of layers and as it gets warmer you can peel them off. A hi-tech winter jacket can cost 200 euro (and much more) but you can get something adequate for 50-100 euro and maybe less during the sales.

[sinikettu]

[quote="junsheng",]
Long Johns here are selling for about 30 € / piece.
Sweaters are like 60-90 €.
Jackets are like 130-160 €.
They're all Cashmere / Wool materials.
[/quote]

I just did a check of Intersport Jyväskylä..
Long Johns...pitkät alushousut..15-20€..material cotton/synthetic stretch.
Polo necks sweater...20-30 €uro material knitted cotton.
Jackets...waterproof and padded...from 60 €uro for non branded, up to 200 euro+, for Pro Ski Jackets.
But they have some bargins in their sale with up to 70% discount.
My advice...
Dont carry winter clothes from Singapore to Finland.
It would be like us taking rice to China.
Also bear in mind we do have summer..not as hot as in Singapore...20C to 30C.

[Rosamunda]

Yes, you will almost definitely find it HOTTER (indoors) in Finland than in Singapore. Every time my husband goes to the Far East he comes back with a cold from all the air-con in every building. Here: no air-con... just lots of heating. Public buildings tend to be over-heated (my kids wear T shirts in school). It is a very dry heat. I use tons of face/hand cream and I seem to get terrible shocks from static electricity all the time in winter.

[junsheng]

Thanks for the fast replies.

I guess I'll just get a jacket to last me from the airport to the sports shop.

[raamv]

Well, Long Johns here are selling for about 30 € / piece. Sweaters are like 60-90 €. Jackets are like 130-160 €. They're all Cashmere / Wool materials.

I don't know if I will be able to get them much cheaper over at Finland. If yes, I won't be getting everything in Singapore before going over.

hmm considering the exchange rate, I would say that you re better off buying from there than here as
1 Euro = 2.11253979 Singapore dollars ( today's selling rate)..
so what is 15-20Euro = Singapore $31.68 to $42.25