At the very least, you need a good set of boots and winter clothing. Life costs money. Just buy some skates or skis, the local economy could use your business.

Good news: the "brutal cold" seems to stop just outside Hermantown. The better news: "heaviest snows" hits us! Getting the winter gear out now!

Play It Again Sports usually has cheap cross country skis. With all the great trails in the area, a pair of cross country skis can make winter quite enjoyable.

I love snowshoeing in Hartley, HawksRidge, Bagley etc right after a big snow. A few days after though there are usually enough packed down trails that I can just follow with regular boots. I would recommend a pair of gaiters to keep snow out of your boots.

There are some gear swaps around town, check them out. Craigslist sometimes provides killer deals. Also, earlier in the year, hit up the Park Point rummage sale. A pair of metal edged backcountry (cross country) skis could be had for as little as $30. Ebay is another awesome resource if you have enough free time to watch for stuff. In the last year I have picked up a mint condition North Face Gore Tex ski suit for $30, a ~$400 Obermeyer ski suit for $10, leather backcountry ski boots for $75, and a couple other awesome deals. If money is really tight, check out places like Ragstock, Goodwill, MN Surplus some layers and wool will often work just as good as the latest tech gear. Check out the Superior Hiking Trail after some fresh snow, it is amazing (esp. at night with a good headlamp). Also, just exploring around town in a snowstorm can be a blast.

Bret, I think the difference between 'brutally cold' and 'very cold' is only theoretical up here.

Codie. Dude. Really? I don't mean to be a "Debbie Downer," but if just one pair of skates or skis is going to set you back to the point of worrying about it, perhaps it's time to re-evaluate your economic paradigm.

If you're going to spring for only one thing, I'd say skis over skates or snowshoes. Duluth is a fantastic cross country ski town. If you live in Duluth, you're near a nice trail. I used to hate winter. Then I started skiing. Now, I ski every day there's snow to ski on and I grieve when it melts. Snowshoeing is fun and it's great getting into otherwise inaccessible backcountry. Skating is a hoot on the rare occasions that lakes freeze smooth with no snow cover. But skiing is a daily fix of joy.

If by Stegers you mean Mukluks, I concur. Warm, dry, light, and just plain awesome. And, yes, let is snow!

i call snowstorm bar crawl! muster @ carmody when the blizzard hits...

And for people to suggest Steger mukluks to someone on a small budget--shame on you. Really. I would *love* to have a pair, but they are pretty impractical for someone who needs boots for more than one thing. You can't wear them on sidewalks or streets where one would encounter salt--ruins them. Regular boots are just fine for hiking trails in Duluth in winter.

No one has mentioned Savers. I've seen some awesome deals on XC Skis there and they always rotate stock. Don't get discouraged if you go there and see a pair that's kinda high in price as the next pair will probably be way low. I don't know who prices the stuff there or how they choose the prices, but they can be crazy stupid in either direction which is great when it is crazy stupid low!

I have to agree with hbh about the lack of a need for snowshoes if you want to get out in winter. Trails get tromped into walkable shape quickly. And thanks for reminding winter hikers not to use the ski trails. Hikers punch footprints into the groomed surface and and destroy the grooming. Just one person can do a lot of damage, and regrooming is expensive. Your friends who ski will praise and bless you for using the hiking trails instead.

...which is why I prefaced my advice with "if you can." I had to save for my gear, and spend wisely and frugally at the same time, as the dough I shell out for gear isn't always available. It's taken me 10 years of careful planning and acquiring, piece by piece, what I (feel that I) need to survive long periods of time in the cold.

ahem. Big E's wife only paid $5 for those skis. Big E's wife drives a hard bargain at a yard sale.

Anywhere off-trail in Hartley, Lester, Piedmont or Jay Cooke SP. A pair cheap nylon snowpants or gaiters is all that's needed.

Codie (and anyone else looking/in need/on a budget), Sign up to be a member of the Duluth-Superior Freecycle group and place a "request" (a 'WANTED:' post - limited to I think 5 requests per/mo) for what you'd like. You may just get them for free, or at a very reduced cost on it's sister-site Twin Ports Coffee Shop. I gave away a pair of x-c skis years ago, which no one would purchase at my garage sale for approx. $5 with poles, boots, bindings. Same with a pair of Downhill Skis, bindings, poles. People give away all sorts of items on Freecycle, including coats (all seasons), boots, skates, skis, gloves, and all sorts of other outdoor, sports, indoor, household, school supplies, automotive, baby, computer, food, or other gear/items. Name it - it's probably been given or received on the site. If you don't ask, you'll never know.

Twin Ports Coffee Shoppe You need to sign in or make an account - you can use the same ID you use on Freecycle on TPCS. (both are Yahoo groups)