You will legit need a quality winter coat. If you are coming from a tropical climate I’d advise something with down. For just running in and out of buildings you will probably be okay with the combination you mentioned but there are usually a least a few weeks where the temperature/wind chill poses a real risk to exposed skin after a few minutes. If you are outside roaming cities I would bring a coat. If you are driving any decent distance in the cold you will want the coat in the car at very minimum.

A sweater and puffer vest will be ok in the fall (Sept-Nov) and spring (April, May, sometimes June) months, but you will need a solid warm winter coat, hat, gloves/mittens, boots, & scarf during the coldest months (Dec-March). Also good to have: warm sweaters/fleece, long underwear both tops and bottoms, warm flannel tops to layer under your good winter coat. Buy it all when you get here.

The snow is not the issue, it’s the cold. Think ‘dark below zero and whipping wind in February’. You need a winter coat because there will be nights where you feel like you’re going to freeze to death trying to get to your car after work.

You will absolutely need a coat. I have lived in Maine my whole life. I am very used to the cold, and I would never consider going the winter without a very warm coat.

If you're not acclimated to cold weather, you will likely still be cold with a coat on. Make sure you buy one that is big enough for you to wear warm layers underneath.

You definitely need a winter coat. One with a hood is my recommendation. Get good gloves and a knit hat too. The vest is fine for temps above 50.

Going to add to everyone's suggestions - spend the extra for a good pair of boots. You'll want ones that are waterproof, insulated, and 1 size larger than normal, to fit an extra pair of socks. Keeping your feet warm and dry will make you much happier.

Also a good hat - I prefer a knit wool watch cap, because it stays warm even if wet. But a coat with a hood is a good idea as well.

Number one thing to remember though - stay dry, and layer up. If you sweat, as soon as you start cooling down you will be very, very cold if you can't get the sweat away from your body.

If you have questions, let me know - I work outside year round.

If you're going to have a car, you'll also need a brush, scraper, and shovel.

You will need a coat. Down, wool, or synthetic just make sure it's big enough to fit over a few layers. A good basic winter kit list would be:

• Winter coat, choose warmth over looks. Everyone looks like a fool here in January, but we don't freeze to death.
• waterproof boots, 1 size too big for extra socks
• 6-7 pairs of wool socks. Smartwool, Darn Tough, and LL Bean are good brands. You want the highest wool content you can find, as wool will continue to keep you warm even if it gets wet. Cotton and synthetics will not.
• Wool or high-end synthetic long underwear, at least 2 sets of bottoms. The LL Bean wool bottoms are pricey, but worth it. I have 2 pair that I've been rotating through for nearly 10 years and they're just now needing some minor mending.
• A few decent wool sweaters. Get one or two before you come, then haunt the thrift stores local to where you're staying and pick up a few more.
• Good warm slippers for being inside. If your feet are cold, the rest of you is cold too, and floors get cold in the winter here.
• A warm hat. Basic wool watch cap is a good, affordable choice, just make sure it covers your ears. It's not a fashion accessory, it's to keep your ears from literally freezing off.
• Sunglasses. Snow gets really bright in the sun, as bad or worse than tropical sun reflecting off the water.
• Good gloves, two pair: one thin, lightweight wool with the touchpad-compatible thread on the fingertips so you can use your phone without taking off your gloves. Then a thick, waterproof pair of gloves or mittens (mittens are much warmer, but you sacrifice dexterity) to go over the thin ones. You'll need the big ones for walking, scraping ice off your car, shoveling, etc, but you'll enjoy the thin ones underneath when you have to actually use your hands.
• if you have or will have a car, get a good wool blanket or decent sleeping bag to keep in it, along with a bright red handkercheif, a box of protein bars and a big bottle of water. If you get stranded in the snow or run your car into a ditch, tie the red cloth to your antenna or somewhere it will be very visible to passing cars, and climb into the sleeping bag to wait.

If you have to ask, you need a coat. A nice one. You might see others wearing sweaters around you, but if you don’t know how you’ll handle winter, then there’s almost no way your body will be conditioned enough to the cold to handle it in just a sweater and gloves. I have a friend from Hawaii who recently moved to Pennsylvania, and she is not handling this pre-winter cold well at all. Like she’s wearing a sweater and still chilly and fatigued sometimes in her heated house.

Also, the sweater people (I am one of them) often have to switch to a proper coat if it’s sufficiently cold or snowy enough. If the sun isn’t blazing in your face in February, it’s probably time to grab the big one. I go winter hiking, and if you’re going above 2000 ft of elevation, you’re going with at least three layers.

The good news is that our summers will probably just feel normal to you. I went to the Philippines in the summer once, and I came back home during a heat wave. It was actually a little bit hotter up here than it was there.

Oh lawdy my sweet summah child! Do not rely on battery power anything to keep you warm in the depths of a Maine winter. Get yourself a good winter coat, hats, mittens or gloves, good waterproof BOOTS!!!, and a base layer to wear under your pants ...at least. People mention layers. So that means your coat on top, and a fleece light jacket or hoodie or sweater under that, and a turtleneck or base layer shirt under that. You'll want a base layer under your pants, especially if your going to wear jeans because the wind will blow right through the fabric. Oh and socks. Buy some Darn Tough or Smartwool socks. Good quality wool socks will keep your feet in good shape even if they get wet or sweaty. Cotton socks will feel gross once they get damp. If you can't afford a pair of $20 socks, then always bring a spare set with you. You will be glad after you step into your first slush puddle on your way to work.

If your stay in Maine is expected to be temporary, perhaps shop for some second hand winter clothing. You do get what you pay for with outerwear, imo. Cheap winter jackets from discount stores are not very warm. Check Facebook marketplace, thrift stores, community clothing closet. I would buy underlayers (suggest Under Armor- the skin tight, worn under clothes long johns) gloves, hats, socks, all those items new. Not sure what your long term plan is, but I would not want to spend hundreds of dollars on clothes that I might only need for a short time.

Unless you’ve got remote start and 10 minutes every time you go somewhere you’ll be thankful for the warm coat and gloves in mid January when it’s cold as hell and the car doesn’t warm up right away.

You should always have a few blankets in your vehicle between November to March and even October to April to be really safe.

Sweatshirt is fine unless you’re spending a lot of time outside

LL Bean has lots of options and tell you what temperature things are rated for. Buy something that is at least good for 10-20 degrees. It should have a waterproof outer layer and a hood. You may want to size up to wear over layers.

Just get all of the layers. To survive winter, you will need a winter hobby, and that requires outdoor clothing. I typically wear up to 5 layers on the coldest of days, one of which is a vest! Also, fleece lined pants are super clutch if snow pants feel too bulky for walking around town or whatever.

One factor of a coat that I haven’t seen mentioned:

You can layer up to beat the cold, but a single warm coat means you can dress for the indoors underneath.

One of the struggles with being dressed for the cold is getting to your toasty warm destination, now you’re overdressed.

If you can just take off the coat to be dressed comfortably, that really helps.

As a lifetime resident of the northeast, I would advise thermal underwear instead of a sweater. I find a long coat to be to physically restrictive, and a short coat wont protect your legs.

Get a hankerchief or soft napkins in your outside pockets. Your nose runs more in the cold and you don't want that crap freezing on your face. You'll be blowing your nose a lot.

Those aviator headgear with the rabbit fur linings are great, even if you look goofy when you bring the flaps down.

Get good warm socks and foot wear. Your feet will get numb before your body does.

Buy those chemical warmers in plastic paks. they work.

Layering is key. That way too when it gets too warm you can take some off and in the cold layers trap heat. I had a Columbia jacket that had a liner you could take out on milder days.

You've gotta layer. The general rule is that you have a wind/waterproof outer layer, a moisture-wicking inner layer, and then mid-layers that trap heat. Don't forget a warm hat, gloves, and socks. I have to emphasise this because it's easy for someone coming from warm weather (I moved to New England from Hawaii, myself) to think you just need to toss a big coat on top of your fall outfit, but that won't be enough for the really cold days and you'll overheat on the slightly-less-cold days.

If you're just going from your car to the grocery store and the weather is clear, not too far below zero, and not very windy, you can probably get away with like a long underwear/undershirt, heavyweight pants/flannel shirt, and a lined vest. Depending on the style of collar your vest has, add a scarf. But I always take an actually good coat in the car even when I don't plan on needing it. Lots of reasons you might have to get out of the car for a while.

If you're actually walking to and from places, you need a good coat on top of the basics. Cold is cumulative, an outfit that's good for fifteen minutes is not gonna be good for an hour. And then there will be weather where even the short walk between the store and the parking lot requires proper bundling, like when the wind whips up or there's any kind of precipitation.

EDIT: I also want to mention that I never had issues with SAD, but some people do. You can get special lamps or light bulbs (not the same as the "daylight balanced" ones) that are designed emit more UV to stimulate the hormones that some people have shortage of during the dark months. They're more expensive, but the folks I've known who experiece SAD swear by them.

1. Don’t wear cotton. You’ll freeze (potentially to death and I mean that literally) when you sweat.

2. Layer. You’ll be in wildly different temps as the day progreses, and depending on where you’ll be going, sometimes with no access to additional heating sources . You can always take clothes off if you need to.

Baselayer: Wool, silk or wicking synthetic blend fit snug to skin. Again, no cotton.

From here on out, if I say “Wool”, assume any synthetic fabric designed for cold weather can be substituted (if you’re allergic to wool, for example). Just make sure it’s a wicking fabric with good insulation properties.

Midlayer: Down-based jacket. Ridiculous how much more cold down protects you from.

Outerlayer: Waterproof exterior shell or shell+more insulation, depending on activity level. You don’t want to get wet.

3. Good gloves. You like having fingers. Keep an eye on what temp the gloves are rated to and use accordingly. Don’t wear gloves rated for 15 degrees in zero degree weather. You might want a cold set and a DEAR GOD THIS CAN’T BE A REAL TEMPERATURE set.

4. Good wool socks. You like having toes.

5. Thickly knit wool hat (or a thinsulate-esque hate), preferably one that can cover your ears in a pinch.

6. Good Boots for normal walking around (preferable waterproof) days and then frozen wasteland boots (insulated down to at least -15, waterproof, and at least calf length). If you’re going to be working outside or playing outside for long periods, get boots rated to lower degrees. When you see the price tag for these remember, you really like having toes.

7. Balaclava/ski mask for if you have to go out in weather (usually windy and/or sub zero weather) where the windchill can give you frost bite. Your heat loses heat SUPER fast, and ears and face can go frostbite fast.

8. Do not rely on “heat tech”. You want it for a cozification boost, fine. But if it comes down to needing a battery to survive, that battery will fail you at the most inopportune time, guaranteed. Better to learn to survive without it, imho.

All of the above said, it’s really not been that bad the last couple years. I’m from the south and mostly the above advice has gotten me through.

Remember, no cotton.

Just dress in layers. Good warm base layer, a good sweater or sweatshirt on top of it, something on top of that to break the wind and provide another layer and a vest and you should be fine. I am outdoors playing all winter in that get up and do fine. Don't skimp on your hat however, a good hat, boots with insulating socks and decent gloves/mittens make all the difference. It's the cold you have to worry about more than the snow, if anything when it is snowing it will often warm up.

I wouldn't drop fat stacks on good down winter coat unless you get here and really feel a need to, and if you do get to that point hit goodwill. You can for sure find something there on the cheap to get you through your visit. Particularly as with the weather as wonky as it is January could be pretty warm again.

Down coat aside, wool socks, thermal underwear, good gloves, and face protection are all pretty vital if you’re going to be spending any time walking around January thru March.

Don’t forget to buy some good base layers to wear underneath your jeans and tops.

You need a real coat. And still will want that vest underneath... Especially on raw, cold, rainy days.

I mean, if winter is going to continue to be 45-50 degrees, who knows!

But, seriously, try Eddie Bauer. They tend to have a lot of good deals on down jackets. I have a long coat from them and it’s the best.

We mostly drive everywhere, so you don’t have to get tactical gear, unless you plan outdoorsy activities. If so, invest in the proper stuff, it makes all the difference. You will need a coat, I get an ultralight down jacket from Uniqlo once every few years. They’re not the best quality, so last like 3 seasons only, but the price is great. And I wear a million layers. Base layers, good hats/scarves/mittens are key. Balaclavas are BACK, so says fashion, so there’s that.

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Here are my recommendations:

https://www.carhartt.com/product/104277/loose-fit-washed-duck-sherpa-lined-mock-neck-vest

https://www.carhartt.com/product/103828/relaxed-fit-duck-blanket-lined-detroit-jacket---1-warm-rating

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/125663?page=mens-beans-windproof-softshell-mens-tall

And then a few flannels for than can go under your vest and can also be warn when it’s cold but not enough to need a jacket.

And the key is to layer. It will quite literally go from 30 degrees at night to 60 or 70 degrees in the spring and fall.

So like, a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, and then a jacket.

Layer, layer, layer! Can't express this enough. You might wake up to below 0, might go up to 45-50 at noon and cool back down. Also it could snow, then rain, then freeze so definitely invest in a good pair of water proof, winter boots. Or at least water proof boots (good all year round) and a few pairs or thick wool socks.

Layers. A good base layer and warm button ups and a thick sweater will fill out your base-mid layers. Then you'll need a vest and maybe a soft shell (patagonia nano tech or whatever tf it's called this year) and a hard shell for windy and wet conditions. If you get hot you can remove layers

Agree with most everything said so far, but want to add, your inner layer is key on the really cold days. Thermals and socks should not be cotton. Cotton will hold in any moisture in the fibers and if you go from warm out to cold or active to less active outside you will chill quickly. Wool or a synthetic fiber with wicking properties work best. Good hat is essential as well.

There are also some ‘system jackets’ that I use. Inner is usually a fleece, This zips into an outer shell, usually more weatherproof and hooded. So you basically get three levels. A fleece for cool days, A light jacket good for wind and rain, and both together for harsh days.

And wear gloves

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Modern heavy duty Columbia jackets are incredible at keeping you warm but not too warm. Make sure to get one the tightens down and with a hood. Unzippable lining. Nice gloves and hat. I don’t think you need long underwear unless you are going to be out at night for hours outside. But maybe I’m a polar bear.

You do need a winter coat for sure, but definitely a variety of coats/vests. A vest would be fine for quickly going from the car/to the store. If you run warm, a floor-length down jacket on a 55 degree day will be torture. I see people wearing very heavy down jackets and scarves/hats/mittens when it's 55 and all I can think is how much they must smell lol. I recommend a couple of winter coats in different degrees of warmth. I wear a fleece jacket most of the time (with a hat and gloves) and it does fine for most weather. Again, I am not doing winter camping/outdoor sports and I don't wear it when it's 20 degrees. If you are a very outdoorsy person you will need much different gear.

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Key to warmth is "dry" dead air between you and outdoors. More is warmer. Your body heats up inner layers. As long as you don't allow wind to blow heated air layer away, you will feel warm in most any temp.

Rest is details....

A wind proof Winter coat is needed. Hooded is better. You will still need snug fitting hat for your ears too. Especially if your blood is thin from tropical area. I like synthetic insulation like Thinsulate. Windproof polarfleece feels warm also. You can tell if fabric is windproof by holding up to your mouth and blowing through it. If you feel airflow on other side, then not windproof.

Mittens are warmer than gloves, if all other variables are equal. Try them on. Don't buy gloves online.

If you don't want to but new, check out thrift stores. Lots of llbean stuff in Maine.

Layers of clothing is important. Especially layer against skin. Don't wear cotton. Really.

Managing moisture is needed, especially if you are exerting yourself. Pit zips are great. Zipper front is good. I avoid pullover stuff like anoraks and sweaters. Vest layer is great way to manage moisture and keep core warm.

Smart wool socks over polypropylene liners are good. Avoid tight fitting boots or gloves. You need blood circulation to keep appendages warm.

Sorry if overly explainy. I lived in southwest and was surprised how many folks didn't understand the basics that I grew up learning in the east.

Enjoy Maine winter activities. THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE. It says so on the sign!

P.s. drink water even if you are not thirsty when exerting yourself outside. Winter air is dry. You lungs are an increadibly efficient evaporator. You can dehydrate quickly. End of psa.

If you drive anywhere, no matter what you wear, make sure you have footwear, hat, jacket, gloves/mittens. You never know. In my previous life as a driver of long distances, I had an emergency box in my trunk. Trapped in your car until rescue arrives? What do you need?

Definitely get a good coat! However, having a fleece or down vest too is handy and comfortable on car driving days. Used clothing places often have great vests. Canadians make the best boots and don’t be afraid to rock some earmuffs (invented in Maine)!

Insulated jeans are useful too!

Shorts and a T-shirt bub.

Everyone has to learn what works for them. You'll see people wearing shorts while shoveling snow, and the person next to them looks so bundled up you wonder how they can move.

I live in California and just spent a week in Maine where my husband is from. Let me tell you, it was not even close to the height of winter and we were cold. We would run out to the car or in a shop in just maybe a sweater but if we were outside for any length of time it would get to me (and the kids) after just a few minutes. I was advised to do lots of layers rather than a SUPER heavy coat and that was perfect, but it required an intentional base layer meant to hold in warmth. I’m not an expert on cold like natives would be, but I am an expert at spending time in cold places as a person who lives in a warm place. Regardless of how you layer, you’re going to want a nice coat of some sort, nice warm boots, and some gloves. Our cold hands were the only part that really felt uncomfortable (and that was with gloves, just not good ones.)

I will also add that the clothes you purchase there (in Maine) were much warmer and thicker than what we could easily buy here at home. We did do LL Bean because our family is in Freeport, but even at Old Navy and such, the fabric was heavier overall, so you can certainly add to your wardrobe once you get there.

There’s a lot of great advice here. One thing I want to add, don’t dress for what’s adequate- dress for comfort and for extremes. You never know when you’re going to get stuck in your car or when the heat in your house is going to go out. I keep a blanket in my car during the winter and always have a spare pair of gloves and a hat. Cold kills! Plan for the worst ;)

I've lived in Maine since 2010, all I use is a for a winter coat is an insulated hoodie

Parka. A vest is suitable for indoors most places in the throes of winter at best

Wool hat, wool socks, weatherproof boots and gloves will ensure your comfortable at our coldest

I have used a rugged ridge parka from LLBean for the past 12 years and just bought a second updated version this year. It is perfect for the really cold windy days that happen in the deep of the winter months. Wind chill is going to be what you need protection from, and this parka does a good job keeping the wind at bay. Otherwise, vests are good at 50° or so, and a light down jacket will take you between 50° and 25°, chillier if you layer a shirt and sweater or hoodie beneath. Give yourself plenty of time to acclimate to the temp differences. Your body is used to warmer temps, so warmer temps to Mainers will be much different than warmer temps to you, believe me. Dress as you need to for your comfort.

If I break out anything more than a hoodie, you know it's cold. I might pull out a rain jacket on if we're getting freezing rain. And I dont bother with gloves when I get out of my plow truck to shovel.

But I was born and raised here, and I've worked outside since is was 14. You, coming from a tropical climate are gonna be cold in July. Good jacket, warm gloves and something waterproof on your feet are gonna be essential for you.

You need two coats coming from the tropics.

Practice splitting wood too - you are going to want a lot of that. I moved from teh equator and it was freezing for years, till I got acclimated..

Get a good, warm coat. I'm originally from MA and haven't had a winter up here yet, but even down there it is blistering cold sometimes. Just the wind is enough to chap your skin

I like a nice neck warmer / gaiter. They are great on very cold days, especially if it's windy. You can wear it around your neck and pull it over your mouth and nose if it gets too cold. And it makes it easier to breathe when the wind picks up.

That works for November maybe early December. Jan and February you need a big boy coat.

Get at least two pairs of gloves and two hats. You will probably get these things wet sometimes (even with water-resistant items) so a backup is important. Each fall I would check these and get new ones if needed. When you are clearing snow gloves often take a beating.

There is a local retail Renys they have great boots for 0%weather. You can search there web to see what they have but I agree with the comment above it is a must to try on. Also something for mud season

I had to look up heat tech, then realized I've seen visitors from away wearing it in the spring and fall. It looks quite fancy, but I've never seen it on anyone in Maine in the winter. I don't get out much though, I guess. Is this something stylish people in Portland wear?

Having lived in Maine most of my life, I think everyone's exaggerating a bit. I get on fine with just a light padded jacket in the winter, as long as I'm wearing long sleeves underneath. Just make sure you've got good snow boots, a hat that covers your ears, and a scarf and you should be fine

Depends on where you live.

For coastal living, you're gonna need a good winter coat. It can get pretty damn cold here and if you are as thin as a twig then you will get cold easily. Just don't buy it from Burlington...I got a coat for a good amount of money there and the zipper broke in the same season. Was not happy lol.

I've experienced negative 26 degrees celcius before and holy hell it's a COLD hell in Maine. Beautiful but frigid. Heat tech alone won't save you. You'll need a down puffer coat that's long as a shell layer and at least a few other layers underneath

Just a sweatshirt is good enough for me

Get a good ski coat

I am in central Maine and I need a down coat.

The heat tech stuff is great this time of the year or early spring. But you will need an actual winter coat. February routinely gets -20+ with wind chill

Wind will go right through a sweater. Don’t underestimate the warmth of fleece, great for layering with a wind breaking shell when you’re walking around shopping, etc. it is going to take a while for your body to acclimate to cold, it won’t happen in one season.

No matter what, make sure you have a warm blanket, gloves, socks and hat in car in case you get stuck somewhere.

I have a coat for snowmobiling and snlowblowing. Beyond outdoor activities I hate the coat more than I hate the cold.

"heat tech"??

wtf?

Yer in Maine, not Floriduh. Get some johnnies, a good turtle, a non-shitty sweater and a leather coat. Dont forget the hat.

Mods should ban this type of crap post.