HOW

to

S T AY WAR M
in
LAPLAND

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LA Y E RS
Layers are important because what keeps you warm is the air that is trapped in
between each layer. The air is heated by your body heat and as long as it doesn’t
have a way to escape, you will stay warm.

The amount of layers you need is up to you, but it’s always good to carry a
backpack with you so you can easily take off layers when needed or put some
back on. However, you want to make sure that you are not wearing too many
layers, especially if they are too tight. When the layers are too tight there is no
longer space for the warm air in between and counterproductively it will make you
cold.

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MA T ERI AL
When it comes to layers, materials are very important. Certain materials, like wool
(for example merino wool) and synthetic materials, will keep you dry by
forwarding the moisture away from the skin and onto the next layer and they dry
fast. Wool is quite spectacular, because even if wool gets wet it will still keep you
warm. You can imagine a sheep in the cold rain- evolution made sure that the
sheep is very well insulated despite the rain.

That’s not the case for other materials. Cotton tends to keep the moisture on the
skin and doesn’t dry very fast. That’s why the phrase ‘’cotton kills’’ is common in
Lapland. A cotton hoodie can be ok as the last layer underneath a jacket, but don’t
wear it against the skin. This also applies to socks!

You will find thermal underwear (long sleeved shirt, long pants/ long johns) in
mostly synthetic fabrics or wool, usually merino wool. Thermals are worth invest-
ing in because you can’t rent them and you will likely use them again if you live in
countries with cold winters. Thermals are the answer to happiness in the Nordics!

Synthetic thermals are cheaper than woollen ones.

Woollen thermals are technically better, but either one will do.
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2ND LAYE R
The absolute best thing to wear for warmth over your thermal and under your
jacket is a woollen sweater. They are excellent at keeping you warm. You can also
wear a thicker fleece.

For the times that you are being more active, when cross country skiing for
example, a 2nd layer might not be necessary or you can use a thinner sweater or
fleece. This depends on the weather. I recommend having the option for both and
carrying them in a backpack with you. Even if you might be very sweaty during an
activity it’s always good to have something to put on after you are finished or if the
weather turns suddenly.

You can also use a 2nd layer of pants under your snow pants or overalls, but this
is very much an individual preference. Some people simply get colder than others.

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S OC K S
Most of our everyday socks are cotton, so it’s very common that tourists use
them in Lapland too. This is a big mistake. Your feet keep sweating even in cold
weather, but especially when you are going in and out of shops, restaurants or the
bus while still wearing your shoes. Once you step out again all that moisture will
get cold pretty quickly and in no time your toes are freezing even if you thought
you had good boots.

The answer to this is to use woollen socks or at the very least a synthetic and
wool mix. You can layer with socks also, but make sure there is still room for air
in between. For this same reason you want to make sure that your shoes are not
too small. Another tip is to make sure your feet are always dry. Whenever you are
sitting inside it is a good idea to take off your shoes and air your feet to get rid of
any moisture. Don’t worry, in Lapland it is not considered rude! Just make sure
you don’t step into a puddle of melted snow.

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HA T S
G LOV ES
S C A R FS
Most of your body heat escapes from your head and your feet. This is why it is so
important to protect your head and the extremities.
A hat should be thick enough to protect you from wind. It should be thicker by the
ears but also cover the top of your head. A headband or ear muffs are rarely
enough. The hood on your jacket is never enough.
Very often tourists do not wear a hat and then complain that their feet are frozen.
Oddly enough, this is a consequence of not wearing a hat.

Your fingers are usually among the first parts of your body to get cold. Mittens will
keep them extra warm because the fingers are sharing body heat, but finger
gloves are more useful for picture taking or adjusting your snowshoes. This again
comes down to personal preference, but it’s not a bad idea to layer up with gloves
also. For example: finger gloves underneath and mittens on top. This way your
hands stay warm even when you take out your phone for photos.

A scarf or a buff is great to cover your neck. Even when you are active and need
to take off layers it’s advised to keep your neck covered. For activities any type of
a buff or neck warmer is the most convenient.

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S H OE S
The kind of shoes you wear in Lapland is very important. Think about it whenever
you are outside you are constantly standing on frozen ground. Therefore it is
important to have insulated and thick enough soles and that the shaft reaches at
least above your ankle to stop any snow from getting in. You also want to be able
to walk in them comfortably. Beyond that it doesn’t matter that much.

You can spend a lot of money on winter shoes or you can spend very little. There
are beautiful, expensive leather shoes and you can just as easily get away with a
cheap pair of rubber winter boots. But when you buy or rent your shoes make sure
there is enough space for at least one pair of thick socks or two thinner ones. Usu-
ally this is half a size or a full size bigger than your normal size. Shoes that are too
small will be cold.

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JAC K ET S
SN OW PANTS
Your last layers, jackets and pants, should be weatherproof. This means that they
are windproof and at least a little bit water resistant.

It’s great if your jacket reaches below your behind, that way it’s more insulating for
your core and you don’t run the risk of getting snow up your back. The jacket
should also be big enough for 2-3 layers to comfortably fit underneath, including
a thicker option.

You can rent overalls of course, in which case you don’t need a jacket and pants
separately. With overalls you want to make sure you have the right amount of
layers underneath and the opportunity to add on or take some off when needed.

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WH ERE
T O G ET I T AL L?
It is not lost on us that you are a student in an expensive part of the world and
winter clothing can be very expensive. Not to mention the fact that you might not
need the clothes for a very long time if your country does not have cold winters.

If you want to invest in long lasting winter clothes that are up to date on fashion
trends you can go to any sport shop or outdoor gear shop (Intersport, XXL,
Naturkompaniet in Sweden, Partioaitta and Scandinavian Outdoor in Finland etc).
Brands like Haglöfs, Fjällräven, Devold, Patagonia, North Face and Rab have great
quality winter clothes. But there are other options, too.

Rent. At the destination you can usually rent overalls, boots, gloves and hats.

Check second hand shops. This is the most sustainable and affordable way to get
winter clothing. Every nordic person has a grandmother who loves to knit. The
knitted sweaters and socks often find their way to second hand shops and flea
markets and are often of great quality. Likewise you can find jackets, snow pants,
shoes etc. for a good deal. Ask the staff to determine whether or not the sweaters

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