Vital Clothes to Pack For a Trip to Lapland

Lapland is home to Santa and there’s a reason why he is always well-bundled up in his warmest clothes. Temperatures in Finnish Lapland can reach -16 °C or 3 °F during the long winter nights between December and February, so wrapping up well is a definite necessity.

If you’re one of the thousands of people taking trips to Lapland over the winter months for a magical escape then make sure to pack the appropriate clothes for yourself and your children.

Remember those layers

During the day it is vital to include those thinner base layers to ensure you stay both warm and dry. Fabrics should be of a breathable, quick drying quality, known as wicking; cottons should be avoided as these can easily retain moisture. If you’re going to be undertaking some winter sports such as skiing or snowboarding then check out the base layers available for purchase for both children and adults online. Hiking stores will also be able to provide these layers at a reasonable cost.

Additional layers

You’ll need a second layer, which will be looser than the under garments and is designed to add insulation to the body. Cotton should again be avoided and clothes made from wool or fleece materials are preferable. If the temperature does seriously plummet then it will make sense to wear a couple of layers on top of the base layer. Make sure that your trousers are snow-proof to ensure that water cannot penetrate; you should be able to buy combination wind and snow-proof trouser from camping stores.

The important top layer

You have plenty of choices for that all-important jacket and some do prefer coats specifically designed for skiing. Coveralls are a good idea for children as they can roll about in the snow without any moisture penetrating to the inner layers. Velcro fastenings are the safest bet for jackets as metals zips can often freeze in very low temperatures. Again, snow-proof outer trousers should be warm, lightweight and fully insulated.

Additional accessories

Don’t forget those synthetic mid-length hiking socks as well as hats that can fully cover your ears. Gloves are of course a necessity in Scandinavian countries whether you’re going skiing or chasing the Northern Lights. Your gloves should be insulated and water-proof, made from breathable material and slightly loose at the fingers. Don’t forget a good pair of insulated hiking boots if you’re intending to enjoy a lot of outdoor excursions.

Those who are going skiing in Lapland can hire all of the necessary clothing at the ski-resorts and this will save you on additional packing. The above list of layers will be adequate for those who are simply spending their time sightseeing and touring this beautiful snow-covered but chilly country.

Image by Oskari Kettunen, used under the Creative Commons license.