Old Navy is a popular destination for affordable winter clothing, offering everything from coats and sweaters to cold-weather basics. However, not every winter item delivers the warmth, durability or value shoppers expect, especially during colder months when quality really matters.
To help you shop smarter for the season, GOBankingRates spoke with Kyle James, founder of the blog Rather-Be-Shopping.com, about which winter items to skip — and where to find better alternatives.
Sweaters Made With Acrylic Material
Many of Old Navy’s sweaters contain acrylic rather than higher-quality materials and can deteriorate very quickly. For example, this Crew-Neck Wool-Blend Graphic Cropped Sweater is 65% polyester and costs between $20 and $54.99, depending on the sale.
“My wife used to buy these for our three kids, but they’d pill after a few washes and the sleeves would get really baggy,” James said.
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Instead, he recommended purchasing wool or cotton sweaters from discount stores like Gap Factory, J.Crew Factory and Costco starting in late January and February. “They’re often 50% to 70% off as stores make room for spring inventory,” James said.
Winter Boots
A worthwhile winter boot will keep your feet warm and dry, but Old Navy’s offerings often fall short. Take these Faux Leather Work Boots for men that don’t really have the durability you’ll need on the job or in colder and wetter weather, even if priced well from $29.99 to $59.99.
“They have a very thin outsole, foam ‘insulation’ and often are not actually waterproof,” James said. “Instead, go for waterproof pairs from DSW, REI Outlet and even the Cat & Jack brand at Target.”
Knit Hats, Scarves and Gloves
You might find low prices on winter accessories at Old Navy, but you’re probably better off buying these items elsewhere. “My kids found them itchy, they stretch out easily and the hats are poor at blocking out the wind,” James said.
Instead, he recommended purchasing wool- or fleece-lined multipacks of hats, scarves and gloves at Costco or Sam’s Club after Christmas when they tend to go on clearance.
Kids’ Puffer Coats and Snowsuits
The kids’ winter gear you can find at Old Navy often is not the warmest or highest quality. “We found they have thin fill, and the knees and butt wear out really fast,” James said.
A better option is to wait until February and buy these items from Lands’ End or Columbia during their closeout sale. You can easily save 50% and score better quality jackets and snowsuits.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Old Navy Winter Items To Skip Buying, According to a Shopping Expert
