Winter Clothes and Dorm Essentials

OccamRazor · 08-09-2009, 01:12 PM

So, I'm a 13'er who has never lived in the North or seen snow for that matter. Is iit more feasible to buy winter clothes and gear before I come here or wait till like October to buy that stuff? Generally, what is considered essential for New Jersey weather?

Also, I know that Princeton has a room items checklist on its website, but do you guys have any special suggestions for things that you found particularly helpful during packing/moving in/living at Princeton? Thanks in advance for all the feedback.

4th house · 08-09-2009, 02:45 PM

If you don't own any winter wear and are thinking about purchasing it in the town of Princeton, be aware that the stores in town are a little pricey, if that matters to you. Just outside of town, there are some malls, strip malls, and big box stores with more competitive prices, but you'll need a car to get to them.

It is doubtful you'll be super cold in September, but October is always dicey. We've had heat waves in October as well as snow storms, though none of the latter lately.

If you do OA, the hiking boots you will be bringing will do well for light snow. You may want a pair of real snow boots, though, mostly for fun in the snow, as the pathways between buildings are kept pretty well shoveled and plowed even in the worst storms.

An all-weather (waterproof) jacket with a zip-in/zip-out lining and a hood is good, since dorm closet space is limited. In that way you'll have one jacket that will work for rain, cool, as well as arctic cold. Sweatshirts are good, too, in general, but you can certainly get those on campus.

cornfed · 08-09-2009, 04:08 PM

My daughter says by Halloween it gets cold. Princeton has alot of overcast , windy days and the walks to class are not short. Must haves according to d are scarves,leather gloves,umbrella(s),wellies(for puddles),good jacket or wool coat. My daughter wears leather boots alot and dresses in layers. Tights come in handy and believe it or not thinsulate thermal underwear. Ll bean carries feminine styles. Daughter has a cordless tea pot in her room for any hot drinks.Finally though not weather related her small fridge bought at the PU store is the most important thing she's aquired. Make sure you have slippers to wear to the shower. Good luck

Batllo · 08-09-2009, 06:00 PM

Go see what people wear. Go to the local stores to try stuff on for size. Buy desired clothing online or on ebay. Or risk buying dorky stuff you won't wear.

Shiraz9 · 08-19-2009, 12:35 AM

Yes, fridges are great, slippers too, we had a few people in my hall with athlete's foot, not pretty. I'd say bring something fun too, a TV, games, poker chips, game console, or something of that nature. I come from a place that's significantly colder than princeton, so perhaps I'm biased, but you won't need cold-weather clothes until after our fall break (besides a light sweater) so just bring stuff from home then (or buy). It'll stay warm for a while still, so you can save yourself the closet space and bring it when you need it. You'll need a light winter coat or a heavier sweater and possibly gloves (great for snow too!) but that should be the only extra gear you'll need besides switching out short sleeves for long sleeves.

lemoise · 08-25-2009, 12:17 AM

I'm from California and had the same question when I went to Princeton. I bought a coat during Thanksgiving break and I was fine. Rain boots are a MUST since it rains every week and Princeton has lots of granite steps that are pretty when dry and deadly when wet.
Also useful:
hammer & nails (for hanging up pictures, etc)
duct tape (the universal tool)
bathrobe (probably already on the list)
shower caddy
over-the-door hooks or a drying rack for towels

Also, you should get a good laundry hamper that's easy to carry because oftentimes laundry rooms can be a little walk from your room, sometimes in the neighboring building.

alamoksha · 09-03-2009, 02:48 PM

Definitely wait until you get there and see how other native northerners dress. There are some brands that are super popular, like northface, that I wasn't aware of (I grew up in florida and had never traveled in the north) and I was definitely one of those people who ended up buying dorky winter stuff and wasting a ton of money. My freshman year friends definitely showed me the ropes for winter dress.

But YES! Buy rainboots! Or better yet, buy them online and have them shipped to princeton because they're kind of heavy and difficult to transport.

princeton12 · 09-04-2009, 06:39 PM

Must-haves:

rainboots
shower sandals
ear muffs or hat that covers ears (my ears hurt really badly in the cold)
gloves
duct tape
throw blanket (I am obsessed with mine)

As a girl, I also used a lot of tights.

I am also a big fan of tea. There are hot water faucets in the buildings so it's very easy to make.

ADP8806 · 11-20-2009, 02:08 AM

Yeah, i'll echo that the rain gear is super important. I'm from up north so I don't feel the winters are that harsh, but with that said, I guess I already have an arsenal of winter clothing. I'll be a dork for saying it, but long johns are a must (yeah, I wear 'em, so what?! lol).

and as for the strip malls/places with competitive pricing...you don't need a car. 1) the 605 (a bus) runs to most of them, 2) TigerTransit has buses that run to the places the 605 doesn't, and 3) make friends with upperclassmen with cars, they're/we're always dying to get off campus and shop. Or maybe that's just me. lol