Gearing up for warmer weather

Jesse Bonello - Staff Writer

With weather forecasts looking at above-zero temperatures, residents in northwestern Ontario will be looking to leave their homes with fewer layers on.

The spring melt can bring a variety of slush, mud, and wet weather along with fluctuating temperatures, but certain brands and materials can have you prepared for that.

“Under Armour has quite a selection of the cool gear to keep you warm and the heat gear to keep you cool… For spring, Columbia and The North Face all make water-resistant, water proof, materials to keep you dry,” shared Laura Norman, store manager at McTaggarts in Sioux Lookout.

With the rising temperatures comes more frequent urges to get outside and enjoy the outdoors, which is something that Sioux Lookout residents seem prepared for.

“Sioux Lookout is very, very big in active wear… It’s pretty consistent with Under Armour and Nike. Always in that comfy and active class,” said Norman.

“Our ACX line is all of our athletic wear and it goes between ladies, mens and kids. I do find a lot of that stuff sells really well… Active wear in general with sweatshirts, sweatpants, and those kinds of things do well. More of a comfy and cozy market,” said Tammy Johnson, Giant Tiger store manager.

Some styles seem to be resurfaced trends that might look familiar for some people.

“There are lots of new styles in jeans and shorts. There’s lots of colour and neon. Lots of 90’s styles coming back,” shared Norman.

“Stripes and floral is really big this year… You’ll also find silkier and flowy styles too,” shared Phoebe Tarrant, Giant Tiger assistant store manager.

When plus 20 temperatures finally arrive, it’s important to know which colours and materials to avoid if you’re looking to beat the heat.

“You want to stay away from your rayons and spandexs. Cotton breathes in the summer, so it’s better to go that way,” Johnson concluded.