As a born and raised Canadian, you learn a thing or two over the years when it comes to surviving the winter months. Although I should be used to the frigid temperatures by now, I feel that as I get older, winter gets more unbearable for me every year. Not only has it started affecting my skin in the past few years (here’s A Winter Skincare Routine For Dry Skin That Works), I find that I’m not brave enough to wear heels and a skirt in the winter like I used to when I was younger and I want to do everything I can to equip myself for staying warm.
If you are new to traveling to a cold destination or just love to stay warm and dry during these chilly months, these winter vacation packing tips will help you have a comfortable and fun trip abroad. For people who aren’t used to winters or the cold, any drop in temperature can feel very uncomfortable and in some cases, unbearable. Even though you may be doing everything you can to protect yourself from the cold, it is always nice to make a stop while you’re exploring to enter an establishment that provides heat and hot chocolate! But if you don’t have the time or the luxury to do so, you’ll want to make sure you’re well-equipped to take on the beautiful, but unforgiving weather.
1 – Layering Up Is Key
A bit obvious, but it if you do it right, this winter vacation packing tip goes a long way. You may have the warmest jacket to protect you from the cold outdoors, but if you’re active and walk a lot or engage in winter sports, then you can get hot and start sweating inside. You also want to take into consideration that you might want to occasionally remove your jacket (or your layers), but still have the ability to stay warm.
Here is how you can layer up to stay warm for your winter vacation – plus, it gives you more outfit options as well!
- Start from the inside out – I like wearing a (tighter) tanktop as an undershirt, it keeps you warm since it’s so close to your skin and allows you to be able to remove layers when needed and still have something to wear.
- Mid-layer for extra warmth – This would be a thin thermal shirt or long-sleeved shirt that can be worn over a tanktop, and under a hoodie or sweater. For the bottoms, thermal pants or thinner leggings that can be worn under a pair of jeans or other pants will keep you much warmer than not wearing one.
- Top layer for comfort – I like wearing looser sweaters or hoodies during the winter because it feels super cozy and I’m able to layer up underneath.
- For those who get cold easily – you can even wear a thin down vest or an ultra-light down jacket underneath your actual winter jacket. But of course, if you have a very good winter jacket, you won’t need these items. Nevertheless, this is good to have if it does get warm enough that you can just wear these items without a winter jacket.
Depending on the occasion and activity of the day, layering up can be a great option to stay warm since everyone’s level of comfort is different and it allows you to be prepared for the winter weather.
2 – Don’t Forget Winter Accessories
You do not want to forget winter accessories as they will be key in keeping your face, ears, neck, and hands warm on your winter vacation. You don’t want to leave any skin free for the biting cold and even if you keep the rest of your body warm, it’ll be a little hard to function sometimes when you aren’t protecting these parts of your body.
These winter accessories are essential in allowing you to still be able to do things comfortably:
- Earmuffs – I don’t always use this, but when it’s extremely cold out and I’m going to be outside for a long time, this helps so much! You don’t realize how quickly your ears can start to hurt during the cold weather and it can be quite uncomfortable.
- Hat – It’s always good to keep your head warm if you don’t mind hat hair. But if you do choose to wear a hat (toque/beanie), you can also likely opt out of having to use earmuffs since it covers your ears.
- Gloves – One of the most important winter accessories you need to pack are gloves! You want to be able to use your hands especially during a winter vacation, and like your ears, they get cold very quickly. It really depends on my outfit, but I like to wear either wool mittens, leather gloves, or a more functional type of gloves that allows me to be able to get it a little wet, and also allows me to text on my phone while wearing them.
- Scarf – One of the best ways to stay warm during your winter vacation is to wear a scarf! Protect ya neck! (Like the Wu-Tang says, obviously not in this context but you know what I mean). I find that sometimes I wear jackets that are very warm, but what’s missing protection from the winter cold is my neck and the lack of coverage there can immediately bring discomfort to my body. It’s also inconvenient to have to scrunch up the neck of your jacket with your hands just to keep your neck warm.
- Sunglasses – This may come as a surprise, but although it can be cloudy during the winter months for a majority of the time, the snow makes it very bright out and if you have sensitive eyes, you’ll want to protect them from the reflections during the winter.
3 – A Quality Jacket That Can Do It All
A great winter vacation packing tip to ensure you can stay warm at all times is to wear a good quality jacket. There are so many jackets out there and it may be hard to choose, but a few key things to look at after my many years of jacket-shopping is:
Amount of down fill – a high down fill is warmer
Whether the jacket is breathable – avoid polyester-type material
If it’s water-resistant/waterproof – for example, Goretex is great since it’s also breathable
The weight of the jacket – you don’t want it too heavy where it can weigh you down or if you need to carry your jacket when it’s too hot and you want to remove it
How easy it is to zip up – some zippers are hard to close, like the North Face 3 in 1 Tri Climate Jacket I’ve had before, and end up splitting
Stylish – just because you want to stay warm, doesn’t mean you can’t look good doing it
In my high school days and earlier years, I’d have jackets that look warm, but aren’t warm. I’ve been through dozens of jackets that either just weren’t my style, I felt the wind through my jacket, or they just didn’t fit very well. And after years of spending lots of money on finding a winter jacket that actually provides enough warmth and keeps me dry, I found that these are my top choices for winter jacket brands:
- Arctery’x – These jackets are little bit more sporty and functional, but they are very streamlined, extremely light, and keep you super warm and dry during the winter. In the early winter (up to -10ºC), I like to wear the Atom AR Hoody since it’s super lightweight and it’s a great transition from fall into winter. When it gets colder out and it’s full on winter, I opt for the Andessa Jacket and I’ve worn it in -35ºC weather with no problems. This is also perfect for winter activities since it has Goretex and is waterproof and breathable.
- Mackage – My other favorite option is the Mackage Akiva and the Trish. They’re both pretty much the same style, but the Trish is longer and I like to wear this when it’s extremely cold out (think -30ºC to -40ºC) and I need to keep the lower part of my body warmer. I usually wear the Akiva as an everyday jacket, but it does get very warm and I can just wear a mid-layer and be comfortable when I’m out.
Surprisingly, I’ve had 3 Canada Goose jackets (Montebello Park, Trillium Parka, and Victoria Parka) which I’ve thankfully sold for more than what I purchased them for, and none of them are as warm as I expected them to be considering how popular the brand is. They did not do the job especially when it’s -25ºC or colder out and the jackets basically last about 2 years before the down feathers start seeping out of the jacket. I feel the cold through my arms and I’ve had to get it re-stuffed. I have a couple friends who also complain to me that this brand is just not warm enough and are facing the same issues I did with their own jackets and need to wear a lightweight down jacket underneath – so I wouldn’t recommend these jackets.
4 – A Good Pair Of Waterproof Boots
I find that having a very good pair of footwear is extremely important during the winter. You want to keep your feet warm, but more importantly, dry. I’ve been through many years of water leaking through my shoes and socks and I’ve gotten to the point where almost all my winter footwear need to be waterproof and can bear a minimum of -10ºC weather. Some of them can also withstand -25ºC weather which is always great on a cold day.
Also, when you’re traveling, it will be much more comfortable for you to get around if you know your feet are protected and can remain dry as you go through your day to day activities. I have several different pairs of winter go-to footwear that I rotate between depending on my outfit. I normally alternate between my Artica, Baffin, Blondo, Columbia, Cougar, Timberland and Ugg brands since they are all waterproof, very warm, and stylish. Here are The Best Footwear For Winter Travel.
Other Useful Winter Vacation Accessories To Stay Warm
1 – Hand Warmers have been a lifesaver for me, especially when I’m outdoors during the winter. They’re little packets that provide up to 10 hours of heat and are perfect for keeping in your mittens or your jacket pockets. They really help my hands stay warm when gloves aren’t enough for the cold weather. There’s also a version that you can put inside your shoes as well called Toe Warmers.
2 – If you’re planning to do more winter vacation activities, a great item to pack are snow pants. You want to keep your pants dry and be able to participate in activities where you otherwise can’t if you’re not dressed properly.
If you’re ready to start packing for your winter vacation, don’t forget these tips on How To Pack For A Week’s Vacation To Fit In A Carry-On. Here are also 7 Best Travel Beauty Hacks To Know Before Your Trip to make sure your skin is well-prepared for the cold winter weather.