Originally Posted by
zeo_max
I've been to the LBS and employees tell me that a certain jacket will keep me super warm. Then I look at it and it barely has any fleece lining inside. This makes me wary of dropping $200 on such a jacket.
You know Polar Fleece is mostly recycled plastic, right? It's not that expensive. It doesn't make or break the value of a jacket, and you can get a fleece to wear under a jacket for more warmth.
That's what you should be doing anyway. You don't want the warmest jacket you can find, those are for standing in line at the ski resort. Wear one while you're moving, and you'll drown in sweat. Why would you spend $200 on a jacket that you can only use in such limited conditions? Get one that isn't insulated - even a wind breaker will do with the temps you're talking about - and wear a wool sweater under it when it's very cold. Take the sweater off when it gets warmer.