Winter Travel Packing List: What to Pack for a Cold Weather Trip
Winter Travel Packing List: What to Pack for a Cold Weather Trip
The winter travel season is in full force, so whether you’re hitting the slopes, wandering through a winter wonderland, exploring cute Christmas markets, or walking through beautiful Hallmark movie-inspired towns, you’ll need to pack your suitcase accordingly for your cold-weather trip in order to stay warm.
Having trouble figuring out what to pack for a winter trip? Packing for a winter vacation can be tough, but it’s not impossible. Cold weather items are bulkier and can take up a lot of space, but proper planning can help you get the most out of your suitcase, without sacrificing warmth. This packing guide features stylish cold weather essentials and tips to help you pack smarter for winter travel!
What to pack for your winter trip
After many winter trips to destinations like Vermont and Utah, I’ve quickly learned which cold-weather essentials are absolutely necessary, and how to maximize space in my suitcase. Here’s a packing list to help you decide what to pack for your winter vacation.
Winter travel packing list:
Heavy coat
Down jacket
Sweaters
Long sleeve tops
Fleece-lined leggings
Denim jeans
Beanies, scarves, gloves, & socks
Winter boots
Use this packing list as a rough guide on what to pack for your winter trip. You can add and subtract from each category based on weather, how many days you will be traveling, and to accommodate for the size of your suitcase.
Coats and jackets
Coats and jackets are an obvious must-have for any winter vacation! However, the type of outerwear you need to pack depends on the weather in your destination. Trench and teddy coats are great for a stylish, layered look, while down jackets and parkas are best suited for winter activities. Not only are down jackets super warm, they’re easier to pack into a suitcase as well.
Sweaters
I love a good oversized sweater all year round, but they’re especially perfect for winter trips! Sweaters are great for layering and lounging, plus they’re easy to style when dressing up or down.
Warm layers
Warm layers are super important when packing for a winter trip! They fit comfortably in your suitcase, and they also allow you to control your body heat by adding and subtracting them to your liking. Long sleeve tops and bottoms, as well as thermals and sherpa-lined leggings (a life-saver for super cold climates!) are all perfect layers to add to your winter packing list.
Winter boots
There are lots of different styles of cute winter boots to choose from! I tend to pack 1 pair of waterproof snow boots for winter activities and 1 pair of casual boots/booties for everyday wear or a night out.
Accessories
Winter accessories not only complete a cute outfit, but they help to keep your extremities warm in cold climates. I always make sure to pack a neutral beanie (versatile for all types of outfits), a thick, fluffy scarf, 1 pair of light gloves for casual use, 1 thick pair of gloves for winter activities, and a pair of high wool socks (they keep your toes warm and you can fold them over at the top of your boots to keep snow out).
Tips on how to pack for a winter trip
I’ve had my share of hits and misses when it came to packing for my previous winter trips. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of packing for your winter vacation…
Check the weather before you go! Not all winter destinations are created equal, so it’s important to know the temperatures of your location before you go. Some places may have a mild winter, while others could be below freezing, so make sure to check the weather forecast before you go!
Plan your outfits in advance. In order to prevent overpacking, or even worse, under-packing for your winter trip, plan all of your outfits ahead of time! Create an outfit for each activity or event, and challenge yourself to find creative ways to rewear certain pieces.
Keep it neutral. Creating vacation outfits can get a bit complicated if you have a colorful wardrobe. The best way to avoid bringing too many outfits is to pack neutral colors. This way it’s easy to mix and match anything you bring with you on your trip!
Choose the right material. When it comes to winter attire, keeping yourself both warm and dry is key! The best way to ensure that is to wear materials that not only trap heat, but resist moisture as well. Keywords and materials to look for when packing for a winter trip: waterproof, moisture-wicking, thermal, fleece-lined, down-filled, and merino wool.
Roll, tuck, or vacuum seal your clothes. There are tons of ways to maximize space in you suitcase, and if you’re packing for a winter vacation, you’re going to need as much room as possible! Try tightly rolling some of your items and stacking them together, or even tucking them into other items in your suitcase, such as shoes. For bulkier items, use a travel-friendly space saver bag, or compression packing cubes to easily compress your items as thinly as possible.
Wear it on the plane. The downside of packing for a winter vacation, is that winter clothing tends to be bulkier, which means your suitcase can fill up fast. If you fear running out of space in your suitcase, opt for wearing some of your layering items during your flight. Most airlines keep the air cool in the cabin so you’ll be nice and warm. If you feel hot you can always remove them and use them as cushions to make your seat more comfortable during your flight. Another tip, wear your bulkiest jacket on the flight, you can use it as a seat cushion, or even a pillow!
Need some cold weather style inspiration?
Here are some cute and stylish winter travel outfits to wear on your trip!
