Keeping warm in Lapland : What we wore.

Visiting Lapland // Part 1 - What to wear in Lapland

If you’re lucky enough to be going to Lapland soon, you’re probably wondering - what should we pack? What should we wear? And what will we actually use and need?

Wanting us all to stay as warm as possible and be able to enjoy lots of time outside, I did a fair bit of research before our trip. I looked into the types of materials that are most efficient, which brands work well, the cost of everything, snow boots and how best to layer up.

Now that we’ve been, I wanted to share what we learnt, what we wore and what worked for us, hopefully making planning for your own trip a little easier.

1. First things first: check what clothing is provided

A lot of places will supply special outerwear, socks, boots and mittens when you book activities, with some resorts offering them for your whole stay.

You’ll need to check this before you go, as it can make a big difference to what you need to buy or pack. We stayed at the Apukka resort, Romaniemi and the clothing they provided there was very efficient at keeping you warm and included all the outers we needed.

Even if outerwear is provided, you’ll still need your base layers and may need your own warm clothing for other times during your trip.

2. Layer it up

The best way to stay warm in Lapland is to wear layers. Avoid cotton and go for either wool or synthetic fabrics for these.

Base layer: Sits next to your skin and helps move moisture away from your body.

Middle layer: Adds warmth and insulation.

Outer layer: Protects you from wind, snow and cold air.

Layers work better than relying on one thick item because they help trap warmth while allowing you to adjust what you’re wearing throughout the day.

Some days you may only need two layers, but when the cold really starts to set in, all three will become necessary.

It’s definitely better to get layered up and strip off if you get too warm, as once you get cold it can be much harder to warm up again.

TOP TIP: You’ll also find layers useful for when you are going from playing outside to a nice meal or activity indoors - it might or not be obvious - but avoid skirts!

Everywhere we visited in Lapland is very relaxed in its attire.

3. The best clothing materials for cold weather

Choose wool or synthetic fabrics for your base and middle layers, as these can help keep you warm even if they become slightly damp.

Avoid cotton for your base layers, as it holds moisture and can leave you feeling cold.

Waterproof and windproof outer layers are also important, particularly when you’re playing in the snow or spending longer periods outside.

4. What we learnt about staying warm in Lapland

There are a few things worth thinking about when getting ready for a trip like this.

• Clothes should fit well - not too tight or too loose. You want enough room for comfortable movement and layers without restricting the circulation.

• Staying dry is a very important part of staying warm.

• Your head, hands and feet need particular attention, so make sure you keep them warm.

• We've found that mittens are usually warmer than finger gloves. Often with a thin pair underneath.

• Take spare socks and, if you have them, spare mittens, they take a while to dry out and you'll most likely need them sooner

One thing we noticed was just how much the children were moving around.

They were running everywhere, pulling sleds and climbing hills. They really didn’t seem to feel the cold too much - particularly when they were literally rolling around in the snow and throwing it all over themselves!

The only time we really found they struggled was on the longer excursions when they were sitting still out in the cold, such as on the husky and reindeer sleds.

That’s definitely something worth bearing in mind when you’re packing. What keeps you warm while running around and playing might not be quite enough when you’re sitting still for a long time.

5. What to pack for Lapland: our checklist

This is a good checklist to start with. You may need to adjust it depending on the time of year you’re visiting, the activities you have booked and what clothing is provided.

Base layers; next to the skin

☐ Thermal top (avoid cotton)

☐ Thermal leggings

Middle layers; insulation

☐ Fleece or wool jumper

☐ Warm trousers or fleece bottoms

Outer layers; protection

☐ Insulated, waterproof and windproof winter coat

☐ Snow trousers or salopettes

Head, hands and feet

☐ Warm hat covering the ears

☐ Neck warmer

☐ Insulated gloves or mittens

☐ Spare pair of mittens or gloves

☐ Thick (and maybe thin under) socks (wool or synthetic works best)

☐ Waterproof, insulated winter boots

Useful extras

☐ Spare socks

☐ Hand warmers, if available and suitable for your activity

☐ Lip balm to help prevent chapped lips

☐ Spare layers for longer days outside

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6. Buying winter clothing on Vinted

We bought all of our more expensive items for the trip on Vinted and then resold them on there afterwards.

With lots of people only wearing these things for a few days for similar trips, it’s a really great place to look for second-hand winter clothing. You can often find sought after brands in excellent condition, paying only a fraction of the price.

We barely lost anything on ours when we resold them.

I think this is such a good option for a trip like Lapland, where you might need specialist clothing that you won’t necessarily use very often once you’re home.

It’s worth looking early though so you have time to find the right sizes, compare prices and resell everything afterwards if you choose to.

7. The brands and items we used

Here are a few more specifics about what we bought and wore, in case it helps with your own research.

Snow boots - Sorel

The best snow boots I’ve found and tried and tested are Sorel. Good boots make such a difference when you’re spending lots of time in the snow, so this was one of the items I was particularly keen to get right.

IMPORTANT: Make sure they fit with thick socks and your feet have room to breathe and wiggle your toes

Snow wear for the children - Didriksons and Polarn O. Pyret

These were the brands we used for the children’s snow wear.

Mittens

We wore Animal and BARTS mittens . I was really pleased with them. We also wore some that the resort provided that were amazing - sherpa lined!

Base layers - Mountain Warehouse

We got all our basic layers from Mountain Warehouse, picking them up on some great offers. They were all synthetic.

Socks - wool socks

We ordered some wool socks, which were really warm. Although, honestly once you’ve been out for a while, I’m not sure there’s anything other than the yurt fire that’s going to keep your toes warm! Feeling the tingle is part of the experience!

Hats and neck warmers

We had hats that covered our ears and thin neck warmers that you could pull up over your face or take down when needed. These were perfect for activities. I wore a wool hat on dry days that a friend hand knitted from quality wool. Her small business is called little knits.

Of course, everyone’s experience will be a little different depending on the weather, how long you spend outside and what activities you’re doing, but these are the things that worked well for us.

A final thought before you pack

You don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune buying everything brand new for a trip to Lapland. Check what’s provided, think about how you’ll layer up, look for good second-hand options and consider what you’re actually going to be doing each day.

For us, getting the right clothing meant we could spend more time outside enjoying the experience rather than worrying about whether we were warm enough.

And that’s really what it’s all about - being comfortable enough to enjoy those incredible winter experiences together.

This is the first part of our Going to Lapland Mini Series - Next up, I’ll be sharing our experience of the husky ride, what it was like and what’s worth knowing before you go. Exploring Apukka Resort, Lapland Winter Park, and Our Santa Visit.

Want to make even more of your Lapland adventure?

When we planned our own trip to Lapland, I created a Lapland pack for our family to help us get excited about where we were going, learn a little more about Finland and make the most of the experience.

I wanted something that went beyond simply keeping the children entertained. Somewhere to discover more about Lapland, explore the things we'd see and do, and have fun with the adventure before, during and after our trip, and record memories.

So I turned it into a pack that other families could enjoy too!

It includes a packing list alongside lots more to discover and do, helping children get involved in the planning and making the most of their own Lapland adventure.

If you're heading to Lapland with children and would like something to help build the excitement before you go, keep them engaged during your trip and give them memories to look back on afterwards, you can find the pack here.

Happy planning

Kelly - Our Own Path

Created from our own family travel experience, for families making their own memories.

Our Own Path — Choose differently. Live fully. Find your own path.