You'd think that five years in Quebec would teach me something.
Yeah, no. During the five winters, I never considered myself "properly dressed". I bought a couple of coats used, one being one of them huge Soviet green full-length style coats.
But while they can be warm, they require multiple layers inside to actually retain heat. This term "multiple" here can be as much as very reduced mobility, sometimes I would have difficulty to raise my hand and press the pedestrian crossing buttons. Went snow-shoeing once with he green Soviet coat, fell in deep snow, luckily the guide was around to pull me up.
So here comes another winter. My leather jacket is no longer functioning correctly: every morning I get out and get real chills. Yeah that one is mostly an autumn piece.
Now I sold my SE530 here. If Canada Post doesn't screw up (their tracking isn't working and the buyer hasn't received it) then I can actually have a bit of extra cash in my pockets.
After the depressing day finding out my Columbia is a fake (yeah, gift from China PRC so can't return), I've decided to get a real winter jacket.
Not wanting to contribute to the fashion market (No Columbia, no TNF, no One Polar, etc. and especially not the snowboarding market, that means no Rossignol and Burton...), I see myself going military.
Now I have to choose between the MA-1 and N-3B. Both are similarly priced and manufactured by Alpha Industries.
So what are the major advantages and disadvantages of either models? I got no problem with pants, though. I wear multiple liners and heavy jeans and my legs remain rather mobile.
Thank you very much.
