chloedickensonLast Updated on 19th July 2024
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When it comes to packing for a winter holiday, I feel like I’ve pretty much got it nailed to a T. In fact, when we went to Oslo a couple of years ago, I managed to pack for a 3-day trip in just a backpack and that included numerous winter holiday essentials so that I wouldn’t freeze in the minus temperatures!
I also have plenty of experience packing for trips of all climates and when we set off to New Zealand on our trip around NZ, Australia and Southeast Asia in 2019, I had to pack for New Zealand winter weather, as well as 35°C+ temperatures when we arrived in Asia. Therefore, I know a thing or two about packing essentials for all kinds of trips and I’m excited to share my top tips for packing for a winter trip in today’s post.
Ensuring that you’re equipped with warm, cosy and practical outfits when you’re travelling somewhere with cold weather can be quite tricky to navigate, especially if you’re a serial over-packer, but I’ve got you covered in my guide below about the ultimate winter holiday packing list essentials you need to bring!
Winter boots – winter holiday packing list
First up: a pair of good, solid, waterproof and warm hiking/walking winter boots. I’ve tried out many pairs over the years, including cheap ones from the likes of Primark and New Look and while high street fashion will nearly always be more fashionable than “practical” fashion brands, I truly believe you shouldn’t compromise when it comes to keeping your feet warm, dry and comfortable in the winter months.
I bought my Vango Velan Women’s Walking Boots back in 2018, just before we travelled to places such as Iceland and Norway. I then took them around the world with me for 11 months and I still wear them regularly to this day and they’re honestly the comfiest pair of shoes I’ve ever owned. While they’re certainly not the most stylish pair of walking boots, they are extraordinarily comfortable and waterproof, so they’re perfect for cold-weather destinations. They kept my feet toasty warm and dry in the ridiculously thick snow in Oslo and they were also perfect for hiking when we were in places such as New Zealand, Vietnam and Cambodia. I genuinely couldn’t recommend them enough.
Check out my review of the Vango Velan Women’s Walking Boots here.
Earlier this year, I was very kindly sent a pair of the Regatta Holcombe IEP Mid Walking Boots to try out and while at first it felt like I was cheating on my beloved Vango Velan boots, I was pretty excited to try them out to see how they compared.
Thankfully, I fell in love with them and while my Vango boots will always be my favourite and my number one recommendation to anyone who asks, I still highly rate the Regatta boots. They’re much more stylish than my Vango boots and they’re also a bit cheaper and they’re waterproof too, although I don’t find them to be quite as comfortable or as waterproof as my other boots.
Check out my review of the Regatta Holcombe IEP Mid Walking Boots here.
Thick, fluffy socks
Fluffy socks are a staple in my winter wardrobe, regardless of whether I’m at home or on holiday in a cold destination, but I think they’re an incredibly important item of clothing to have in your winter holiday arsenal.
The beauty of cosy socks is that you don’t have to spend a fortune on them to feel the benefit. Of course, you can quite easily splash out loads of money on fancy socks with special technology that makes them thermal insulated, but honestly, a pair (or 6!) of cheap, fluffy socks will make a world of difference to how warm you feel when you’re out exploring in a cold place.
A good moisturiser
A good, hydrating moisturiser is another one of my top recommendations for your winter holiday packing list as it’s so important to look after your skin during the cold weather.
I personally use a moisturiser on my face all year round, but I really notice the difference it makes during the winter months when the temperatures are super cold and icy winds whip at your face when you’re out and about.
A couple of months ago, the lovely team at Skinstation sent out a sample of the Dr Dennis Gross B3 Adaptive SuperFoods™ Stress Repair Face Cream for me to try out and see how it faired as we approached the colder months.
I’ve been using it every day since I received the cream and I’m pleased to report that it’s been a great addition to my skincare routine as the weather has turned particularly chilly.
Of course, the skin can show signs of stress regardless of the time of year, but I think it’s particularly important to care for your skin and watch out for signs of stress on your face in the winter months when harsh winds and temperatures threaten to battle your lovely skin.
The Stress Repair Cream has aided my skin in keeping up a defensive barrier against the weather and I’ve noticed that my skin looks thoroughly hydrated and well looked after over the last few weeks. I’m not the biggest fan of the smell of the cream, but it’s by no means offensive in any way, and as soon as I’ve thoroughly massaged it into my skin, the scent immediately goes away.
While I’ve only tried out this cream in the UK winter weather so far, I’m excited to take it with me to colder destinations as I think it’ll fair really well when it comes to keeping my face hydrated and nourished in extreme weather conditions.
I was also very kindly sent out a 30ml bottle of the Obagi Daily Hydro-Drops™ Facial Serum which I’ve been using alongside the Dr Dennis Gross face cream and I’m pleased to report that this smells much better than the face cream!
I’ve been using some kind of serum hydration drops as part of my skincare routine for the last three years or so and I definitely notice a difference in my skin when I do/don’t use them, so I was excited to try out the Obagi offering.
While there are dozens of chemicals and ingredients listed on the Obagi website, I don’t profess to be an expert of any kind in skincare and what you should and shouldn’t be using for your skin type, but I do know what works for me and I’ve been happily trying out these Daily Hydro-Drops over the last few weeks to see what they do for my face.
The serum drops come in a bottle that requires you to use a pipette to dispense the drops on your face and I really love using products like this as it sort of feels like a science experiment back in school! I also love how lightweight the serum feels once it’s been massaged into my face and while I definitely feel like my skin has had a “drink” when I’ve used this product, I like how it doesn’t feel like you’ve got an incredibly heavy cream on your face.
These Hydro-Drops will be another essential in my winter holiday packing list to give my skin that extra bit of boost when it comes to keeping my skin looking fresh, healthy and moisturised in the cold weather.
Winter hat
A winter hat is another packing list essential for a winter holiday that you need to have in your arsenal. I’m not really someone who suits hats at all, but when I’m travelling to a particularly cold destination, I put up with the fact that I look a bit silly as I hate my head and ears being cold!
Of course, you could always just use the hood on your coat as a way to keep your head warm, but a proper winter hat can be useful to have to ensure that you keep yourself as warm and cosy as possible.
Suncream – winter holiday packing list
It might seem odd to include suncream in this list of packing essentials for a winter holiday, but it’s incredibly important to look after your skin at all times of the year, even if it’s freezing. If you’re travelling to a snowy destination that also comes with a lot of sunshine (think places such as Switzerland and the Alps), then it’s imperative to protect your skin from the UV rays that reflect off the snowy surfaces.
One of my favourite suncreams for all purposes is the Garnier Ambre Solaire Dry Mist SPF 50. I hate suncreams that you have to thoroughly rub on and that leave you feeling sticky and greasy and I’ve personally found this one to be one of the best suncreams I’ve used over the years. We even used this while travelling as it’s much easier to apply with it being a mist, as opposed to a thick cream.
If you are someone who travels a lot to snowy destinations, particularly if you take part in extreme sports where your skin will be facing harsh winds and freezing temperatures, the Piz Buin Mountain Sun Cream is very highly recommended if you want to ensure that your face in particular is well looked after and protected against the sun.
Layers and thermals
Of course, if you’re only going to a relatively cold destination where it’s not going to be freezing temperatures, you probably won’t need to bother with thermal layers, but if you’re going on a skiing holiday or to somewhere like Antarctica or very northern Scandinavia, packing some decent thermals is probably a good idea to keep you as warm as possible.
Scarf
In my opinion, a scarf is probably one of the most fashionable parts of winter clothing and it’s just a bonus that it helps to keep you warm and cosy!
Personally, I’ve never been overly bothered about a scarf as I find that I warm up pretty quickly anyway once I’m layered up with cosy jumpers and a huge winter coat, so I’ve only ever had one for extremely cold climates, but I know for a fact that they’re a great winter holiday accessory to have if you’re someone who gets cold very easily.
Winter coat
A winter coat is obviously one of the most important things you need to pack for any cold-weather destination. In the UK, people get their “big” coats out anytime from September until March, so it’s a staple in almost everyone’s wardrobe.
I recently purchased a beautiful Teddy-lined Parka from Hollister (now sold out) and it’s just the perfect winter coat.
However, this Waterproof Insulated Parka Jacket from Regatta also looks ridiculously cosy and warm and it’s waterproof and it’s about half the price of the Hollister one in the size I’d need!
Gloves – winter holiday packing list
While I’m pretty good at warming up the rest of my body relatively quickly, I’m definitely someone whose hands always seem to be cold so a decent pair of thick, winter gloves is essential in my opinion.
In today’s society where everyone is glued to their phones 24/7, it’s probably a good idea to invest in a pair of gloves with touch screen materials so that you can keep your hands warm, while still using your phone!
Tights
A few years ago, I made the remarkable discovery of thermal-lined tights and I will genuinely never go back when it comes to wearing tights in the winter months. These babies keep your legs and feet so ridiculously cosy and they’re perfect for pairing with winter dresses and boots.
Cosy jumpers/fleece
I tend to buy my cosy winter jumpers from places such as Primark, New Look and Topshop as I find them to always be good quality for pretty affordable prices. I think it’s important to invest in good, cosy jumpers or fleeces for the winter months as it’s something you’ll likely wear pretty much every single day, not just when you’re on holiday.
However, if you’re not that bothered about looking too fashionable and you just want to ensure that you’re warm while on a winter holiday, a simple fleece will do the trick just fine and they can be layered with t-shirts, thermal underlayers and your big, winter coat as well.
Related posts:
- The Ultimate Digital Nomad Packing List – Must-have Items
- Backpacking Essentials For Female Travellers
- The Best Winter City Breaks
- What I’ve Packed For A Trip Around The World
Pin for later – winter holiday packing list
Do you have any other things to add to this list of packing list essentials for a winter holiday? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram @imjustagirl_16.
