A practical guide - what to pack for Lapland in winter
Packing for Lapland in winter can feel quite complicated, especially if you have never experienced Arctic temperatures before.
How warm does your jacket need to be? Do you need specialist Arctic clothing? What kind of boots should you buy? And what happens if the forecast suddenly shows -25°C or even -40°C?
After living in Finnish Lapland since 2018, we have had plenty of time to work out what keeps us warm and comfortable outside. We have tried different jackets, boots, gloves and layers over the years, including some that did not work particularly well.
The most important thing we have learnt is that you do not need one enormous jacket or a suitcase full of specialist clothing. You need to understand layers, protect the parts of your body that get cold easily and be able to adjust what you wear depending on the temperature and what you are doing.
Temperatures here can change considerably, sometimes even within a short period, which is one reason layering is so important.
So let us start there.
Start with layers
Rather than relying on one very thick piece of clothing, think about several layers working together.
On a cold winter day, we usually start with a thermal base layer on both the top and bottom. We personally like merino wool. Over that comes a warm mid-layer, such as a fleece or wool jumper. Your outer layer should protect you from the winter conditions: a properly insulated winter jacket and, on colder days or when spending longer outside, warm winter trousers.
The advantage of dressing this way is flexibility. What you need at -5°C can be very different from what you need at -25°C. You can add or remove layers rather than needing completely different clothing for every temperature.
And temperature is only part of the story.
Dress for what you are doing
This is something people sometimes forget when planning what to wear.
Imagine it is -15°C. If you are cross-country skiing or walking uphill through the forest, your body is producing heat and you may become surprisingly warm. If you are standing outside for a long time waiting for the Northern Lights, the same -15°C can feel completely different. A snowmobile ride, reindeer sleigh, winter walk and afternoon around a village can all require slightly different clothing.
So before getting dressed, think about three things:
How cold is it? How long will I be outside? Will I be moving or sitting or standing still?
You do not automatically need to wear every warm item you have brought with you every day.
Also remember that -5°C in March or April can feel surprisingly warm in Lapland, especially in the sunshine. The sun is higher, the days are much longer, and you can feel its warmth on your face even while the air is below freezing. In November and December, the sun gives us little or no warmth, so the same temperature feels very different.
Good winter boots really matter
If there is one part of your winter clothing we would pay particular attention to, it is your boots. We learnt this ourselves.
During our first winters in Lapland, we tried different winter boots and different combinations of socks, but when temperatures dropped below around -15°C and we spent longer outside, we still sometimes had very cold toes.
Over the years we have found boots that work much better for us, including ones we use during the coldest temperatures.
Choose proper winter boots, rather than simply ordinary hiking or walking boots. Winter-specific boots provide insulation and their soles are designed to perform better on snow and ice. Warm wool or merino socks are also important.
One useful tip from Paul: if your winter boots have removable inner liners, take them out overnight and allow them to dry. Moisture left inside the boot will make your feet colder the following day.
Keep your hands warm
Hands can get cold very quickly, especially when you are taking photographs and videos like I do. Keeping them warm makes a huge difference to how long you can comfortably stay outside and enjoy your activities.
On cold days I always start with liner gloves, which I wear underneath warm mittens. The big advantage is that I do not need to expose my bare hands every time I want to take a photograph or use my phone. When temperatures are very low, even taking your gloves off for a few minutes can become uncomfortable and sometimes quite painful.
One useful tip from me: choose liner gloves with touchscreen fingertips. I take a lot of photographs and videos outdoors, and this means I can use my phone without taking my gloves off.
Over the years we have tried many different options and found one particular brand that has proved to keep our hands warm even in extremely low temperatures.
We also have heated gloves, which can be very useful when you are spending a long time outside or when temperatures become particularly low.
Disposable hand and toe warmers are another useful option. They are easy to find in Lapland and can provide warmth for several hours.
Protect your head, neck and face
A warm hat that properly covers your ears is essential. It is also important to protect your neck and, in very cold temperatures, exposed skin on your face.
That is why we love neck warmers and use them all winter. We do not really wear scarves here because we find neck warmers much more comfortable and practical. They fit closely around your neck, sit easily underneath a winter jacket and can be pulled up over your face when you need extra protection on your face from the cold.
We use them so much that we decided to create our own Foxfires neck warmers, designed by Paul and available from Our Little Gift Shop. They are made for us by a specialist company in France that also produces clothing for ski sports teams, so the quality is excellent — something that was very important to us when creating our own. Our designs are always limited editions, and a new limited-edition design is coming this winter.
Consider renting winter clothing
If you do not already own winter clothing, you do not necessarily need to buy an entire Arctic wardrobe for one trip.
Renting winter clothing can be a very good option, particularly if you live somewhere with much warmer winters or simply do not expect to use specialist winter clothing again. It can save money, leave more space in your luggage and give you clothing designed for the conditions you will experience here.
You can rent winter jackets, trousers, boots and other cold-weather clothing in Lapland, so it is worth checking what is available at your destination before buying everything at home.
Some activity providers also give you thermal overalls, boots or other winter clothing for activities such as snowmobiling or Northern Lights trips. Just remember that this clothing is usually provided only for the duration of that particular activity. You will still need warm clothing for the rest of your holiday, especially if you plan to explore independently, go for winter walks or spend evenings outside.
Remember that indoors is very warm
This is another reason layering works so well in Lapland.
Accommodation, restaurants, cafes and shops are generally very warm inside. You might walk through the door dressed perfectly for -20°C and, five minutes later, feel far too hot.
Wear clothing that is easy to remove and put back on. You will probably spend quite a lot of your holiday moving between very cold outdoor temperatures and warm indoor spaces.
What if the forecast says -30°C?
Seeing -20°C, -30°C or even lower on a weather forecast can be frightening if you have never experienced temperatures like that before.
Very low temperatures should be taken seriously.
But they are also part of life here.
In deep winter, temperatures in Lapland can occasionally drop to -40°C, and life does not simply stop. Locals are still working, kids are still going to school. Life goes as normal. We just adjust how we dress, how long we spend outside and what we do. But we still go outside and enjoy winter.
On extremely cold days we add warmer layers, use our warmest boots and mittens and protect exposed skin. We might change our plans or spend less time standing still outside.
You do not need to be frightened of the cold, but you do need to respect it.
Dress for the weather, not just for photographs
Of course, you want to look nice in your Lapland photographs. But do not choose your winter clothing only because it looks good in pictures. A beautiful coat or pair of boots will not help much if you are cold after twenty minutes outside.
Imagine a beautiful winter day in Lapland, surrounded by snow, with so much you want to see and do, but you cannot fully enjoy it simply because you are too cold.
Keeping warm is not just about being comfortable. It means you can stay outdoors for longer and properly enjoy everything you came to Lapland to experience.
So what should you actually pack?
For a winter holiday in Lapland, concentrate on a good core set of clothing rather than lots of different outfits.
We would start with:
thermal tops and bottoms
warm mid-layers such as fleece or wool
a properly insulated winter jacket
warm winter trousers
proper winter boots
warm wool or merino socks
liner gloves
warm mittens
a warm hat
a neck warmer
comfortable clothing for indoors.
A few other things worth putting in your suitcase
Not everything you need for a Lapland winter holiday is clothing.
Remember swimwear. Sauna is a big part of Finnish culture, and you may also want to visit a spa or use a hot tub during your holiday. If you are coming to Levi, you can experience Finnish sauna culture at our private Arctic Spa at Foxfires, with a wood-fired sauna, outdoor hot tub and kota surrounded by the forest.
A head torch can be useful if you are planning independent walks during the darkest months.
Later in winter, sunglasses and sun protection become useful as the returning sun reflects from the snow.
A small backpack and thermos are useful if you plan to spend time walking outdoors.
And if you are coming to photograph Lapland and the Northern Lights, think about your camera equipment and tripod too.
You do not necessarily need every one of these things. What belongs in your suitcase depends on when you are coming and what you are planning to do.
Do not pack for an Arctic expedition. Unless, of course, you are actually going on one 😃 For a normal Lapland holiday, you do not need to buy every piece of extreme-cold-weather clothing you can find.
You need good layers, proper winter boots and good protection for your hands, head and neck. Then you need enough flexibility to adjust what you wear according to the weather and your activities.
We have spent many winters working out what works for us, including plenty of trial and error. We now have different clothing for different temperatures, and when it falls below -30°C, we know exactly what we reach for. Gooseberry still expects his daily walk regardless of the weather, and our Arctic Spa still needs to be prepared for your private experience:). That means plenty of outdoor work before our guests arrive, even when the temperature drops towards -40°C.
Want a complete Lapland packing list?
If this is your first winter trip to Lapland, we know how difficult it can be to decide what you really need and what you can leave at home.
In Our Winter Guide to Levi Lapland, we go much further than we can in one blog post. We show you what brands Paul and I actually wear at different temperatures, including our clothing for the coldest winter days, and share the boots, mittens, thermals and other pieces that have worked for us after years of living here.
You will also find our complete Lapland packing checklist, so you can work through everything before you close your suitcase.
You do not need to own everything we own or arrive prepared for an Arctic expedition. You simply need the right things for your trip, your activities and the conditions you may experience.
And once you are here, do not spend your holiday worrying about the temperature. Dress properly, adjust your layers when you need to and go outside.
Keep warm and enjoy being outdoors ❄️
See you in Lapland,
Aggie, Paul & Gooseberry
Every photograph in this article was taken by us in Levi, where we have lived since 2018.
