Cold weather trip packing list: how to pack warm and light

Cold trips fill bags fast because warm things are bulky. The fix is not fewer clothes. It is thinner layers and a coat on your body.

This cold weather trip packing list assumes a week away in cold weather, with counts you can adjust. For temperature ranges, see what to wear by temperature.

The formula for cold

Per day: 1 base layer per 2 days. Over all: 1 warm layer per 3 days, plus 1 coat. Always: hat, gloves, 1 pair of wool socks per day.

Worked example for 7 days (round numbers):

• Base tops: 4 (7 / 2, rounded up)
• Warm mid layers (fleece or knit): 2
• Coat: 1, worn on the plane
• Trousers: 3, warm ones
• Underwear: 7 plus 1
• Socks: 4 to 5 pairs of wool socks, wash and repeat
• Hat, scarf, gloves: 1 set

Wool socks come first on the list because cold, wet feet end walks and days out.

What goes on your body

Cold clothes are the bulky ones. Wear them.

• The coat
• Your heaviest boots or shoes
• The warmest trousers
• A mid layer, tied or worn

Ruling: if you can wear it, do not pack it. A coat in your bag takes the room of three tops.

How to pack the bulk

• Use compression packing cubes for knitwear.
• Put the warm things at the bottom, close to the wheels or the back panel.
• Roll thin base layers into the gaps.
• Keep gloves and hat in a pocket, not the bag.

See packing cubes vs rolling clothes if you are not sure cubes are worth it.

What to leave at home

• A second heavy coat
• Fashion scarves that do not keep you warm
• Jeans for every day (they dry slowly)
• Cotton base layers for outdoor days
• A full umbrella, if a hood will do

If it goes wrong

Colder than the forecast? Buy a hat and gloves where you are. They are the cheapest fix and the fastest. Wet socks? Change them as soon as you can, even if it means stopping. Bag too heavy at check-in? Move the heaviest layer onto your body.

Per-trip-length table for the cold

Counts are a starting point. The coat and the boots are worn, so they do not count against the bag.

Wash small things in the sink, as in laundry on the road. Wool and synthetic base layers dry faster than cotton.

The head, hands and feet rule

Most heat is lost from places you forget. Pack these before you pack another jumper.

• A warm hat that covers your ears
• Gloves, or thin liners plus mittens
• A scarf or neck gaiter
• Thick wool socks, and a spare pair in your day bag

A spare pair of gloves weighs about as much as a banana and can save a day out. Ruling: the small warm items beat the big ones.

Cold weather and flying

Planes are often cool. Wear your coat on board and use it as a blanket if needed. If you carry a heavy coat, check your airline's rules on what counts as a carry-on item and what fits under the seat. If you need to pack the coat, put it in a compression cube or fold it as the last item in the bag. Do not pack a wet coat. Dry it first.

Safety and local conditions

If you plan to hike, ski or spend time outdoors, check the weather and local safety advice for your dates. Ask a local guide or park authority about what to wear on snow or ice. This page is general advice only.