Probably the stupidest thing I'm lusting after right now is a Canada Goose parka. Why is this stupid? I live in the south. It might get cold enough for a heavy coat 15 days a year. I'm going out to Colorado to play in the snow for spring break in March, so I've been poking around Poshmark looking for cold weather gear and keep coming across these super nice, super expensive coats. And I wants one.
Lol, even those of us who live where it gets to be -40F know that these aren't the best option for ultra cold weather.
No one needs a parka, they're seriously sub-optimal for cold weather, and mostly useful in the Arctic just for the convenience of having one layer when day in and day out is fucking cold.
But multiple layers are always a superior option for actual utility.
My system is a merino base later, a merino top layer, a fleece, a thick down layer, and then a very lightly lined wind/water proof top shell. I overheat in that in -40 if I walk too vigorously.
Meanwhile I've borrowed a Canada Goose and been cold unless I added layers underneath, and parkas are much harder to move in than layers.
My later system cost almost as much as a Canada Goose, but it means I have outwear for literally every weather event for the same price as one parka.