When you live in Southern India, you don’t have a lot of options of clothing for cold weather, especially attempting packing for Finland in winter. So, I did the best I could and because I was highly unprepared, I can help you know what to pack – because I definitely knew what I was missing out on!

The key is layering.

Packing for Finland in Winter

TOPS

So, for tops you don’t really have to over think it. I don’t have “warm” tops and I was fine because I layered with a tank top and wore a really warm coat. While in Finland, even in Oulu (arctic) I was okay and as you can see, my tops weren’t exactly winter friendly!

What you SHOULD take: 2 layering tops, like thermals!

This is literally all I had to work with (ha!) I don’t think the reindeer noticed.

BOTTOMS

This is where I do recommend going all “traveler” and getting legitimate winter pants to keep you warm. With t-shirts and tank tops layered under my tops, I was warm up top but jeans only cut it in Helsinki.

What you SHOULD take: warmer leggings made for cold weather.

Once I got further North, the jeans just weren’t warm enough. 3/4 the pairs did not have holes by the way (lol). They were too tight for leggings underneath. A lot of the Nordic girls had on special black leggings that were made for cold weather and really warm. I was too jealous! North Face makes a pair of [easyazon_link identifier=”B017RCNCC6″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]warm winter tights[/easyazon_link].

SWEATERS

Over my tank top, t-shirt, and long-sleeve shirt, I wore sweaters. The ones below did fine. I didn’t need the leather jacket because it definitely wasn’t warm enough, but it was all I had for transit. I had a coat delivered directly to Finland to wear over all this!

What you SHOULD take: 2 wool sweaters! If they aren’t wool then just some that are really warm.

Below are all the leggings I took. I needed two pairs one for the flight there, and one for the flight back. The extra pairs were unnecessary because I didn’t work out and they didn’t fit under my jeans.

The OTHER stuff

Undies, bras, and yes a swimsuit (okay 3).

Finnish people love saunas. It’s literally their thing. There are saunas in the little cottages in the middle of nowhere, in every hotel, and even in hotel bathrooms sometimes. They sit in the sauna and fry then jump in the freezing cold arctic temperature lakes. It’s insane, and yes I did it (and hated it).

What you SHOULD take: I have a pair of [easyazon_link identifier=”B01F47LZQQ” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]DarnTough Wool socks[/easyazon_link] in America that I was dying for! I ended up buying wool socks. 100% necessary.

COAT

The coat is SO important. I worked with Arctic Bay as a partner on this trip to Finland because I wanted a legitimate parka. It was perfect and kept me really warm, but of course, it would at the price tag. I was so lucky to have this coat.

LUGGAGE

I took my [easyazon_link identifier=”B00VISP3A0″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Delsey 25″ Helium[/easyazon_link] check-in luggage. Shoes take up the most space, and I”ll get to those later.

I use [easyazon_link identifier=”B01AH2SIU4″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]eBags packing cubes[/easyazon_link] which are basically my favorite thing ever and if you don’t have them yet, you’re missing out.

SHOES & BOOTS

I took 4 pairs of shoes.

Steve Madden black ankle boot
UGG brown boots (lifesavers)
UGG suede tan shoes (could have left, only wore them once.
UGG black high top sneakers (favorite & great for the plane!)

Cold Weather Accessories

You can’t forget things like hats and gloves. I recommend taking actual winter gloves you would use for skiing or playing in the snow, not just cotton ones.

For hats, any wool hat will work! My hood was really good, but it was still important to have a hat.

TOILETRIES

I took the basics! Check out my winter skin care routine in full here.

[easyazon_link identifier=”B00MPP3MB2″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Wet Brush[/easyazon_link] which detangles like a charm
Tungbrush because I love fresh breath!
[easyazon_link identifier=”B01C8277TE” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Clarasonic Mia Fit[/easyazon_link] … absolutely needed this for how the cold damaged and dried out my skin.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00VK5RN7M” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Dr. Brandt oxygen facial[/easyazon_link]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B0051SZB14″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Clinique moisture surge[/easyazon_link] (it’s my favorite)
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00COSM108″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Bumble & Bumble shampoo and conditioner travel set[/easyazon_link]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00B86JN4E” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Darphin facial oil[/easyazon_link](Moisturizer wasn’t enough for this dry weather and this oil was amazing. I wear it to bed at night.)

TECH

Well, I won’t bore you with the details since you can see it below and there is SO much of it. I took a small backpack that I could use daily during all the hikes we did (camera gear doesn’t fit in a purse anymore. I had to take a rolling carry-on because I had so much techy stuff I didn’t want to put in my checked luggage.

I took way too much stuff to Finland!

Some of the important/new things below are:

[easyazon_link identifier=”B000KFRSG4″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Gorilla tripod[/easyazon_link] (super cool, ben got it for me for Christmas)
TEP device
[easyazon_link identifier=”B01JGMPM4G” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Panasonic Gx80[/easyazon_link]