Northern Lights Trip Packing List
Embarking on a journey to witness the mesmerizing Northern Lights is a dream come true for many travelers. The Arctic wonderlands, with snow-covered landscapes and star-studded skies, offer a magical backdrop for one of nature's most spectacular displays. However, to fully enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience, it's crucial to be well-prepared for the extreme winter conditions.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the essential items you'll need to pack for your Northern Lights adventure. From thermal layers to specialized gear, we've got you covered to ensure you stay warm, comfortable, and ready to chase the auroras across the Arctic skies. So, let's dive into the ultimate packing list that will help you make the most of your trip to this enchanting destination.
Being warm is so much more important than dressing stylishly! You’ll find that everyone dresses in their casual winter gear 24/7 in Lapland.
Many of your activities and the nicer hotels will provide onesies/snowsuits for your activities. You will still need base layers and mid layers to wear underneath the snowsuits and I still recommend bringing your own waterproof outer layer (pants and jacket) for playing in the snow, going into town, etc where you don't want to wear a full onesie. You'll definitely still need a good jacket for your time in the city.
The best way to get all your winter clothing is to head to your nearest REI and work with an employee to have them help you pick out your gear. The employees there are well versed on the best brands and technical specifications and can give you advice on what gear works best for you. Ice Hotel has a great video of how to put all these layers on here (scroll to the bottom of the webpage).
Jacket
A good quality jacket is the best investment you can make into staying warm, both in the city and in the North. Not all jackets are created equal. REI has a great article that breaks down all the important jacket features here. You will want a jacket that is windproof, waterproof, and uses breathable materials.
Layers
I strongly recommend merino wool for your base layers. It breathes well and doesn’t smell, even with multiple re-wears. However, if your skin is too sensitive for 100% wool, base layers with merino wool blends offer a good compromise. Woolx is a great brand that offers merino wool blend base layers. Avoid cotton clothing, since cotton binds moisture and can make you colder. Midlayers should be warm and ideally made of fleece or wool. Check out this REI article on how to choose base layers.
Shoes & Socks
All of the guides were impressed with my SOREL Caribou Boots for activities and I am super glad I had them. They offer great traction and are warm as well.
You also want boots with great tread for the city; there was so much ice everywhere (they don't salt the sidewalks as much as they do in the US). If you do not wear snow boots, you will be slipping all over the place. I used a smaller pair of boots as my "city" boots so I didn't have to wear the heavy Caribou boots when I wasn't playing in the snow/doing activities. You could also consider adding ice grips to a pair of normal winter boots for the city.
For all of your boots, make sure to size up. Having extra room in your air pockets that helps keep your feet warmer and it also leaves room for multiple pairs of thick socks and foot warmers. Wearing boots that are too tight can reduce air circulation to your toes and make you colder.
Base layer merino wool socks
Thick top layer socks for boots and activities
Other things I recommend for your trip
Base layer touchscreen compatible merino wool gloves, which will allow you to take photos outside
Waterproof gloves for snow activities
Hand warmers and foot warmers (omg did I love these on the coldest days). You’ll need multiples of these per day (they last 6 - 10 hours each). You don’t have to use these only for your hands and feet! I also put these in some of the pockets of my jacket and pants for some extra warmth (just never apply directly to your skin). Some Costcos sell these in bulk during the winter.
A hat is essential (especially in hot tubs where your hair will freeze), preferably at least one without a poof on top so you can wear it under helmets for snowmobiling
A wool gaiter, buff balaclava, and/or scarf (or multiple on extra cold days)
Ski goggles or sunglasses to protect your eyes while dog sledding and snowmobiling
Swimsuit for the saunas, hot tubs, etc (or go naked as the Finns do, haha)
Aquaphor mini tubes - I suggest bringing multiple and keeping them in your jacket pockets so you can always keep your lips and nose protected from the wind and cold.
Vacuum Storage Bags: If you want to fit all the bulky winter gear into a carry-on sized luggage suitcase.
Electronics
Headlamp with a red light function: To allow for great night-time northern light viewing, the red light function won’t impact your night vision like a white light would.
A tripod: If you are interested in taking photos of the northern lights, a tripod is absolutely essential for the long exposures needed to capture the auroras. Even if you are going to use your phone to take photos, consider bringing a phone tripod with a remote to hold your phone steady as well.
Thermal Phone Pouch: In very cold weather conditions, your camera and phone battery life will drain significantly faster. This phone pouch helps insulate your phone during your outdoor activities and also provides a layer of drop protection and water resistance. It also may be useful to bring an external power bank to charge your phone on the go.
Universal Travel Adapter: I travel with this one everywhere I go. It will allow you to charge multiple devices and works for the majority of countries in the world. I suggest using electrical tape to cover up the bright electrical light indicator on the adapter.
Ice Hotel Cold Room Specifics
At Ice Hotel, in the cold room, you will sleep in your base layers (and your mid layer if you are still cold). You can also wear a hat if you would like. The full details for how the experience works are listed here.
Cold Weather Precautions & General Tips
Emergency Services Telephone Number: 112
Never step outside without wearing the appropriate clothing and footwear. Even on a very short trip, you could get very cold. When outside for long periods of time, ensure you bundle up and protect your extremities, such as your hands and feet.
Don’t shower or apply face moisturizers immediately before going outside. The water in these creams can cause frostbite.
If at any point any part of your body feels too cold or uncomfortable, return indoors as soon as possible. If you are out on an activity, inform your guide immediately.
Don't forget to pack extra clothing layers in case you get wet (especially socks).
The key to comfort is flexibility via layers. Adding or removing mid layers, pulling up or down a zipper, or unbuttoning a collar or removing a scarf will make your life a lot easier.