Let’s face it, travelling to a winter destination can be overwhelming. Not only do you have to worry about the snow canceling your flight or ruining your itinerary, it’s all the packing too!
How many layers? What skincare should you bring? Hoodie or beanie?
Well, here are the 10 items you definitely need to stuff into that winter luggage of yours!
Thermals/Long Johns
First is arguably the most important―the shirt(s) you’ll be wearing!
Thermals or long johns are usually two pieces of clothing (one long-sleeved shirt and one pants) worn under coats and jackets. Not just any clothing though! These are usually well-insulated with air pockets to help you retain your body heat in the cold of winter.
If you’re the type to feel the chill, then putting an extra sweater or leggings can help a lot too!
For more tips on the whats and hows of winter layers, check out guide to winter layering for Malaysians.
Down Jacket
Next up is the down jacket, your shield against the strong winds.
Ideally, any down jacket should already be enough to keep you warm and toasty. But if possible, try and find one that’s wind and water resistant. A hoodie helps too.
Remember, it’s not just the temperature, but also the wind and water that’ll be freezing you up north in places like Xinjiang’s Kanas Lake or Japan’s Mount Nokogiri.
Medicine
As they always say, be prepared! You’ll never know if you’ll come down with something after a day tumbling around a ski slope, so it’s best to pack some flu or cough relief medicine.
Stuff like cough drops, fever medicine and nose decongester will be a godsend if you end up catching a bug on the road.
And while you’re at it, why not protect yourself from stubborn seasonal bugs by getting vaccinated for influenza.
Lip Balm & Moisturizer
It’s not just your wardrobe that you need to think about, it’s your skin too!
Dry winter air simply wreaks havoc on any piece of exposed skin, sucking up all that precious moisture and causing cracking and possibly even bleeding if left untreated, especially with your thin and unprotected lips.
So, for your anti-winter wind arsenal, you’re going to need some lip balm, preferably those with some moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter or hyaluronic acid. For the rest of your face, get some hydrating moisturizer too.
Sunscreen
And another thing, don’t skimp out on the suncreen!
All the cold and layers might look like protection enough but all that UV radiation is still going to be hitting you square in the face!
Those gloomy winter clouds will only block out about 50% of the UV rays, while all the gleaming white snow is actually reflecting a ton of UV rays back at you!
So make sure you regularly apply sunscreen on every exposed surface on your face, ears and yes, even your lips!
For more deets, check out some of these summer skincare tips that can apply to winter too!
Scarf/Muffler
You’ve already protected the rest of your body from the bitter cold, so why not your neck?
Yeah, a tall collared jacket may look good enough but a strong gust of cold wind will quickly convince you otherwise. Pick up a decent scarf if you’re brave for the cold or a thicker muffler for a truly warm and comfy neck.
Beanie
Make sure not to neglect that cold head of yours while you’re having fun!
Bring a lightweight beanie to give your exposed head and especially ears some relief from the biting cold. Ear warmers are also an option too if the weather’s not too chilly.
Gloves
Bringing a good pair of waterproof gloves is almost essential to having a fun winter time, more so if you plan to play around in the snow.
If you can, try and get one that’s not too thick and touchscreen compatible so you can use your smartphone to take your winter Insta snapshots!
Waterproof Boots
You may think that all that fine, powdery snow will simply stay powdery but we assure you, once it gets into your shoes and socks, it’ll turn into a wet, uncomfortable mess real fast!
So make sure to invest in a good pair of waterproof boots to avoid a soggy fate for your feet. And while you’re at it, get one with some good grip and traction to avoid any painful slips!
Power Bank
As most people living in winter countries can tell you, your smartphone’s battery life really does take a beating in the cold.
This is because cold temperatures can drastically reduce your phone battery’s ability to store energy and move it around your phone, causing it to drain faster.
So, to counter this, make sure to bring an extra power bank and keep both it and your phone fully charged when you’re visiting colder climates.
And even then, keep your phone and power bank close to your body in a pocket to avoid letting the mercury drop too much. You can also store them next to a bottle of hot water when you’re sleeping.
For those travelling in China during winter, you might want to install some of these must-have Chinese apps before you fly too.
All geared up for winter? Then you might like these seven Winter Olympics cities, winter sports hotspots and winter-only activities (that aren’t sports).