Warmth and Affordability

I received the following email recently:

Who or what sites are best to look at
for the warmest clothes that are
also affordable? I've looked on Ebay,
North Face, Patagonia, Spyder, etc....

So who manufactures, in your opinion, top
quality coupled with comfortability and
economically affordable outerwear????

In all honesty, I'm not very aware of any
retailer other than L.L. Bean. This is
probably because I was born in Maine and
still live here.

I just recently purchased a long long winter
coat from L.L. Bean that reaches down to
the center of my calf muscles. It is very
very warm. I got it for a discount because
I went to the factory discount store that
they run just slightly off-site from the
main store in Freeport, Maine.

At the same time, I bought a spring jacket
at the same discount store. It is also
very warm --- for spring, not winter.

Both purchases are to replace a coat and
a jacket that are something like 8 years
old and have seen heavy heavy use. The
stuff the L.L. Bean sells does tend to
last. If not, they give you your money
back. At least, that's my understanding.

I understand that there are many good retail
stores that sell warm clothing. I've just not
had the opportunity nor the inclination to visit
them.

Ed Abbott