It can be hard to know what to pack for a cold winter holiday – whether you’re off on a Christmas market getaway or a winter sports trip – or even just an icy city break.
It’s even harder if you’re travelling hand luggage only, as those bulky items of clothing start to take up precious space in your bag!
Take a look at our list of essentials for your winter holiday that will keep you cosy and help you pack effectively.
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Packing Essentials for Cold Winter Holidays
1. Thermal layers
These are absolutely essential for cold days – plus it makes sense when packing light to layer up! I get mine from Uniqlo but Marks & Spencer also does some good ones.
You can get a variety of thermal layers in various degrees of warmth, including leggings, tights, vests and tops. These long sleeve crew necks are great for layering. If you get really cold, you could even layer tights under leggings or trousers.
2. Thin outer layers
The key here is to keep your outer layers thin – so you can layer up accordingly on top of your thermal base layers.
Remember, if you’re swapping out your base layers more consistently, you probably don’t need a new set of these each and every day.
3. Down jacket
Now I have one of these from Uniqlo and I bring it on all of my cold trips – it comes with a small carry case that it packs down into.
Even if you don’t bring the case, you can still squish it into your bag in a tight corner. Despite its size and light weight, it manages to keep me super warm and has a hood attached.
Uniqlo makes different lengths and versions of these and some are more expensive but I do think it’s an investment. If it’s a bit steep for you right now, Uniqlo has sales every so often so it’s worth checking regularly.
If your coat is on the bulkier side, make sure you wear it on the plane to help with luggage space!
4. Hat
You’ll kick yourself if you forget to pack a hat!! Not only are they great for keeping heat in and covering your ears, you can spend less time styling your hair!
Just choose one, and wear it on your flight or pop in your pocket to keep your bag light.
5. Scarf & Gloves
A scarf and gloves are also absolute essentials for any cold holiday. Obviously heavy duty mittens and gloves keep the heat in better, but I’ve found really good mittens with HEATTECH from Uniqlo which have a flap so you can still use your fingers but still get your fingers back inside easily afterwards.
I would also bring your regular thin socks, and then one pair of thick socks so you can layer them on top and just change the thin ones daily.
6. Shoes
If you’ve only got a small bag, you probably need to choose one pair of shoes and COMMIT. If you have to take a second pair, then use make sure you wear your heaviest and bulkiest shoes on the plane.
Depending on the type and weather of the trip, I’ll either choose a nice boot or a heavy duty walking-style shoe.
7. Hand warmers
I’ll tell you now – there’s nothing more depressing than having bitterly cold hands on holiday. Regular gloves can do the trick, but for a quicker dose of warmth get yourself some hand warmers. You can even get foot ones to pop in your shoes or socks.
Some you activate by cracking, and you can reuse them by putting them in boiling water to solidify again. Others are USB rechargeable, so your type of holiday may dictate which is best for your needs.
8. Vac bags
Packing for a cold trip often means bringing bulkier items so it’s harder to use a small bag – especially if that’s the free underseat cabin bag on the low cost airlines.
My top tips would be to wear your bulkiest items on the plane, but failing that, get yourself a vacuum bag which will get all the air out and compress your items.
You can get ones with small electric pumps like Monvane or if you don’t want to compromise on any extra space, get the Packmate roll by hand ones. Simply use your own elbow grease to get the air out of these – no hoover or pump needed!!
9. Power bank
You don’t want to be caught out with no power – especially when it’s cold!! We all rely on our phones so much when travelling, from taking snaps to navigating on the maps. Plus – did you know that colder weather can make phone batteries drain faster? So, save yourself a headache by investing in a good power bank.
I like this one from VRURC because it’s the perfect mix of small enough but hefty enough that you know it will last. It can also charge up to four devices at once and displays the battery percentage on the side digitally.
10. Umbrella
Winter holidays won’t always be beautiful crisp days – weather can be unpredictable and it’s best to be prepared. Make sure you pack an umbrella with you for those unexpected downpours, and this one is super small so won’t take up too much extra space in your bag. You can’t go wrong!
11. Thermal travel mug
Who doesn’t want a hot steaming cup of tea or joe when the weather’s baltic ? Good for warming your hands too, these thermal mugs will help keep your drink hot for longer. Great for travel days, day trips outside or even just making a cuppa in your hotel room.
12. Snood
A snood is ideal for chilly and unpredictable weather! It’s basically a handy 2-in-1 contraption that starts off as a circular scarf but can be brought up over the nose and mouth to keep them nice and warm.
13. Face SPF
Have you thought about how – if you’re skiing or snowboarding – the sun actually reflects back off the snow and there’s a higher possibility for you to burn!
Make sure you’re protecting your skin by investing in a good face SPF, ideally SPF 50+.
14. Laundry pods
Some people bring laundry sachets when they travel – but I just pop a few laundry pods from home into a small tupperware so they don’t burst and pack that into my bag.
Washing clothes means you can pack less and some hotels don’t provide detergent!
15. Headlamp
Whether the hotel has a power cut or you’re doing winter sports and the sun sets early, a headlamp can be a good idea. It shouldn’t take up too much space either!!
Don't Forget These Packing Essentials for Cold Winter Holidays
Whether you’re a winter weather lover or you want to try out a colder destination, we’ve got you covered with everything you need for your cold winter holiday. Wrap up warm and have a blast!!
