Essential Winter Packing Tips for Travel Adventures

Packing for a beach vacation is easy. However, packing for winter travels is a whole new ball game. These winter travel tips will help you pack smartly and prepare for outdoor adventures around the world.

When packing for winter travels, clothes are heavier and bulkier, and it can be difficult to know what travel gear to bring. Moreover, how much is too much? You don’t want to freeze, but you also don’t want the frustration of carrying excessive luggage.

Essential Winter Packing Tips

When hitting the ski lodge or any winter destination, you don’t have to worry about dressing up too much. Therefore, leave the formal attire at home, and dress in chic layers and comfortable casual clothing. Most people sit in the bars Aprè-ski in their ski pants and jackets. Additionally, we found that packing the bare minimum is often all you’ll need. You’ll discover that you’ll wear the same long johns and an insulating layer for the entire week beneath your outer shell.

Note: This packing list is suitable for skiing, snowshoeing, and any winter adventure that requires outdoor activity for hours.

Airline Baggage Allowance

If you pack your own snowboards or skis, check with the airline to see if they allow winter sporting gear in cargo for free. Do ski bags count towards your luggage limit? If you are only allowed one piece of luggage to check in, pack your winter gear around your skis or snowboards for extra padding. Consequently, pack the rest of your clothes in your carry-on bags. Remember, winter clothing weighs significantly more than summer clothes, so be sure to pack smartly. All you need are a few choice items you can mix and match when you are at the lodge.

Base Layers

We pack 2 pairs of Icebreaker leggings to wear as a base layer. Icebreaker is made of Merino Wool from New Zealand and can be worn day in and day out without retaining odors.

We bought the 260 weight for extreme cold temperatures, and the reason we bring two pairs is so we can change it up if one gets damp. I (Deb) even wear my base layer as leggings and throw on a skirt over the top when going out for the night; they can easily be dressed up.

Merino Wool Base Shirts

Having a base layer that wicks away moisture is crucial; therefore, we prefer bringing two base layer shirts, allowing us to change if anything gets damp or needs cleaning. When going outdoors, wearing a base layer shirt underneath your sweater or jacket is recommended for added warmth.

Liner Socks

Liner socks are lightweight and small, but perfect for wicking away moisture. It’s essential to keep feet dry to maintain warmth. Wear these underneath your wool socks and boots, and your feet will stay significantly warmer.

Mid-Layers

A mid-layer typically consists of a good fleece or wool sweater to add warmth. It goes on top of your base layer beneath your waterproof and windproof outer layer. We wear our Canada Goose Hybridge Light Jacket during extremely cold weather, as it has replaced our fleece layer for travels in such climates.

The Hybridge light jacket is breathable and lightweight, making it perfect for layering. When it’s exceptionally cold, we wear it under our parka for extra warmth. Additionally, for lighter outdoor adventures, it is also suitable to wear beneath our shell.

Snow Pants

We have skipped the heavier fleece mid-layer on our bottoms because we have found that our Canada Goose Tundra cargo pants are perfect. Having spent time in Ottawa during winter, even the locals advise wearing snow pants. Don’t attempt to be fashionable by walking around in jeans in sub-zero temperatures.

Do yourself a favor, wear insulated pants, and you’ll be much more comfortable. This choice makes winter travel significantly more enjoyable! They are warm, breathable, and all we need in cold environments. If we find ourselves out on a milder day, we simply wear our Icebreaker leggings under an outer shell, and that suffices.

Mid Layer Socks

During extreme cold weather, such as a polar bear safari in Manitoba, we wear three layers of socks. Mid-layer socks are thick wool socks that insulate the feet. Typically, this is sufficient, but when temperatures plunge, adding an outer layer can enhance warmth.

Outer Shells

Gortex Pants

Our waterproof, lightweight Gortex pants are ideal for high activity in wet snow and freezing rain. As mentioned earlier, we primarily wear our Goose Down cargo pants but still bring our lightweight Gortex pants to be prepared for various situations.

Outer Shell Jacket

A windproof and waterproof outer shell jacket is excellent for outdoor activities. When placed over the Hybridge light down jacket, it insulates against wind and rain, keeping your core warm.

Wearing an outer shell allows you to layer according to different temperatures; you can easily remove a layer as you warm up or add more underneath if it gets cold. We use Gortex outer shells for winter activities, including ice climbing, snowboarding, and skijoring.

Winter Parkas

Sometimes, it’s simply too cold outside, necessitating a winter parka. If you plan to spend significant time outdoors, such as at a winter festival or while shopping or watching a sporting event, a parka greatly enhances comfort.

When standing out on a cold lake or hiking through caverns to view ice waterfalls, our parkas kept us snug and warm. During our visit to Alberta over the holidays, we experienced temperatures dropping to 29 below zero, not factoring in the wind chill. The parkas successfully prevented us from freezing. Consider checking out: Triple F.A.T Goose, America’s Original Urban Outdoors Brand, which offers affordable and stylish options.

Hands

Smartphone Friendly Liner Gloves

We purchased new liner gloves that are smartphone friendly. In temperatures below zero, fingers can freeze quickly upon removing gloves. In today’s social media age, we all aim to capture photos using our touch-sensitive devices. Hence, it is advantageous to have gloves that swipe the screen without exposing your skin.

Mittens

We prefer mittens over fingered gloves as they keep the hands warmer. Additionally, it’s easy to remove a mitten to take a photo or perform any task requiring dexterity. With the liner glove providing protection, our hands remain warm.

Backup Gloves or Mittens

We always bring at least two pairs of warm mittens. If one gets wet, you have an extra pair ready to wear. There’s nothing worse than cold fingers, and it’s also common to lose mittens on the trail, making a second pair necessary.

Packing Cubes

Organizing all these loose items can be challenging. We now use packing and compression cubes to keep everything organized. Winter items tend to be bulky due to their air content, and compression cubes help significantly.

We stuff our clothing into the cubes and then use the zipper to compress it down even more for extra space. We’ve become big fans of this organization method. The only drawback is that we wish we had purchased cubes in two different colors to avoid mixing them up!

Head and Face

We travel with two types of hats: one extremely warm hat to wear when resting and a lighter hat for activities. These have become essential this winter. Our go-to hats include the Merino Cable Knit Beanie and an Arctic Tech Shearling Pilot Hat.

These hats are perfect; the merino beanie breathes and dries quickly while keeping your head warm, while the pilot hat provides warmth during inactivity or in extremely cold weather.

Buffs

We always carry two sets of buffs, which are excellent for keeping your neck warm and can double as a light hat or headband.

Balaclava

We recently included a balaclava in our packing list. We prefer the Multitask Pro from MEC as it features a breathing screen. The hot air from wearing a buff or scarf tends to fog up our sunglasses or goggles; the balaclava allows the heated air to escape through the nose screen, making it ideal for extreme conditions.

Goggles

Goggles are indispensable for snowboarding or skiing, but we’ve also found them excellent for skijoring and snowshoeing. A covered face remains significantly warmer, and goggles prevent your eyes from watering. We strongly recommend including them in your cold-weather gear.

Winter Footwear

Besides your snowboarding or ski boots, all you need are two sets of boots: hiking boots and something stylish for wear around the chalet.

Winter Hiking Boots

For trekking and various activities, a good pair of Gortex hiking boots will meet all your requirements. Prioritize boots that have a thick rubber sole; the more insulation between your feet and the cold ground, the warmer your feet will be. Choose boots that cover your ankles and are rated for cold weather.

Gaiters are waterproof boot leggings that go over your boots and up your calf, providing extra protection when walking through deep snow or slush. They help keep moisture from seeping into your pants and will protect your expensive Gortex pants while ice climbing. This way, you won’t be damaging your pants with spikes.

Clothing for the Chalet

You really don’t need to bring much with you. As previously mentioned, you will likely spend most of your time in your base layers and shells, needing only attire for a dinner outing. At ski resorts and northern holiday destinations, you never have to worry about going glam. Everyone is relaxed, and you can enjoy a meal in a pair of jeans.

We suggest bringing two or three nice tops and two pairs of pants, which is truly all you will need to add to your winter packing list. You’ll be having breakfast and lunch in your ski/hiking clothes while mixing up your shirts for the rest of your stay; nobody will judge you—trust me.

Swimsuits and Flip Flops

Throughout cold weather vacation spots, you’ll find opportunities to relax in hot springs or hot tubs. Therefore, ensure you pack your bathing suit to enjoy warm mineral water outside. Furthermore, don’t forget your flip-flops for easy indoor to outdoor transitions.

Toiletries

Be sure to have chapstick, moisturizer, and sunscreen ready. Winter conditions can be harsh on your skin, leaving your face chapped from the wind and cold. Using soothing creams can help keep you comfortable.