What is a good jacket for Michigan Winter?

Winter Jacket for Europe?

• I'll be spending next winter in Europe (London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Prague, Venice, Rome, Florence, Lucerne AND Paris) and I'm wondering what kind of winter jacket to bring. Winter jackets are going on sale now and I was thinking of picking up a new one for cheap. Since we will be far north and then far south the temperature can vary a decent amount and I only want to bring one jacket. I think a ski jacket would be overkill but I'm unsure about weather. Should I bring a thick or thin wool jacket. I live in Canada and am defiantely used to the cold (Monday was a balmy -45 celsius with the windchill) but I'm not sure if it will be damp (especially in amsterdam and venice) making it feel colder than it actually is. Thanks for the help

• Answer:

  Most of the time it is just around freezing in winter in London, Amsterdam and Paris, damp will make it feel colder than it is but with the average temperature it will still be very mild compared to your -45C. Of course, weather is unpredictable, we have had a few winters that have been colder, but -10C day temp is very cold here, very rare. Venice, Rome and Florence will be a bit warmer. Berlin I do not know. Prague, Munich and Lucerne might be nearer what you are used to, but with less windchill. If I were you I would buy a mid season or spring/autumn jacket and a fleece jacket/vest which you can combine to one good enough winter jacket for the few cold days you might meet.