<p>Consolation - my D has had her down comforter all through college too. As you said the key is to have the washable duvet cover. A good down comforter will last a long time. D just purchased a new cover when she moved apartments and wanted to redo her room.</p>
<p>My S’s freshman dorm room was hot, and he doesn’t like warm bedding anyway, so he had a polyfill Ikea comforter and duvet covers. The temperature in his apartment was more controllable, but he kept the same bedding in his off-campus life. </p>
<p>He went to Mizzou, where rain can be “horizontal” because it’s so windy. That same wind can make for bitter wind chills in the winter. For what it’s worth, here’s a list of weather-related clothing he found most useful:
Hooded down parka (bought it junior year and wished he’d had it sooner)
Lighter-weight winter jacket, because you don’t need a parka every day
Underarmor hat and gloves, various knit scarves
Lined snow boots
Wool socks
Gustbuster umbrella (doesn’t blow inside-out)
Hooded rain parka
Rain boots
A pair of flannel-lined jeans
Good messenger bag that closes tight to protect from rain</p>
<p>Where on Lake MI do you want to stay? I am familiar with the MI side … from artsy Saugatuck to fun Silver Lake to drop-dead-gorgeous Sleeping Bear Dunes, it is all wonderful!</p>
<p>Kelsmom, not a clue, but given that SMC and UC is taking all my money, hopefully, something budget conscience (sp?) that word always trips me up haha</p>
<p>Oldest went to school in Indiana. The first winter she was freezing in early November. By the 2nd yr she was telling us in January that it wasn’t that cold. Your body adjusts. like others have mentioned the wind is a killer. My D wore Uggs. We bought several pairs of the Costco version since they will get trashed. Start looking for Smartwool socks on sale.</p>
<p>Try Campmor or Sierra Trading Post online.</p>
<p>Printing this out and going shopping! Tx for input y’all</p>
<p>Sally305, agree on your suggestions for Campmor and Sierra Trading for smartwool socks. i wait until I have a 40% off e-mail and snap them up for all of us in the family.</p>
<p>I like down - down coats, down comforters for far away kids they smash down into nice small packages and don’t weigh as much as fake down or filled comforters and with a good duvet cover last forever. Down is cool is the summer and warm in the winter. Agree on the temperpedic mattress pads, those were tossed after freshman year. I don’t know about other people’s kids, but the first thing mine did when they moved off campus sophomore year was find a bigger mattress (full or queen) but then I have boys that are over 6 ft. tall.</p>