What clothes should we pack for a trip to Finnish Lapland in February?

Hello, We’re heading to Finnish Lapland near Rovaniemi as a family at the end of February with two kids (8 and 14 years old). We’ve got direct flights with Luxairstours. The itinerary is already set, but I’m wondering if anyone has traveled with Luxair before and knows exactly what kind of clothes they provide on the second day? The agency just told me it’s a heavy-duty cold-weather suit. I’m thinking we should get Sorel Caribou boots, maybe second-hand. Here’s what I’ve already planned: - Thermolactyl leggings and tights from Damart for the whole family as a base layer. - A first layer of Damart socks + Nordic Stocks socks in 70% merino wool for all four of us. - Loose fleece layers, including some Polartec. - Ski pants for hikes. - For my son and me, a The North Face Himalayan down parka with a hood. - A ski parka for my husband and my 14-year-old daughter (she *really* wants a Roxy one—I hope it’ll be warm enough). - For myself, for the flight and the first day at Santa’s village, I’ve packed The North Face winter hiking pants, a long-sleeve merino wool top from Decathlon (thin), a fleece, and my big parka.

I’m wondering if I should just pack fleece joggers or sweatpants for the kids and my husband, at least for the first and last days, to be comfortable on the plane? I’m also planning to buy balaclavas and neck warmers in addition to our beanies, as well as mittens for all of us. I really need advice because I have no idea—I’ve never been skiing! Also, for a 4-night, 5-day trip, should I pack a second set of base layers, like from Odlo?

Of course, I’ll be leaving cotton clothes out of the suitcase.

As you can tell, I’m someone who gets cold easily—especially my feet, hands, and ears—so that’s my biggest worry. I *don’t* want to be cold, even at -20°C during dog sledding, snowmobiling, or aurora hunting when we might be standing still. We won’t be in the city, and the kids will likely spend most of their time outside, as they usually do.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

Sorry for the long message, but I forgot to mention one small thing—I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to Lapland later in another spot and buy clothes then, but I’m trying to stick to a limited budget for now. I’ve bought everything during big sales, which is why I’m planning ahead. I know there are specialized brands like Icebreaker, but they’re a bit too expensive.

If I need to buy Sorel boots, do you recommend going one or two sizes up?

Thanks in advance.

hi! don’t overdress either, because if you move around—say, while snowshoeing or cross-country skiing—you’ll risk sweating. And when you sweat in the cold, you end up feeling even colder 🙁 Still, Rovaniemi is way up north, and temps can easily drop well below -20°C.

At -20°C, though, the cold doesn’t feel as intense as it sounds when you’re well bundled up, since it’s a dry cold. For shoes, make sure they’re a bit roomy so you can wear thick wool socks.

Thank you! I’ll try to remove a layer if it gets too warm, since there’s a ski resort nearby and we’re hoping to make the most of it—probably for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, we’ll see.

I’ve read reviews that Sorel boots run large. With two thick pairs of wool socks, should I go up one and a half sizes?

Thanks in advance.

hi, for sizing I can’t put myself in your shoes—you really need to try the shoes on first. If you order online, it seems complicated to me.

Hi there,

You're right to think carefully about what clothes to bring for Lapland. It’s a significant budget. We didn’t hesitate to spend on some high-quality technical layers. We used the three-layer system to stay well insulated. Kids can sometimes spend over an hour sitting still in a dog-sled, so they need to be well equipped—head, upper body, neck, hands, feet, and legs. We had glove liners plus gloves, and I also bought hand and foot warmers just in case. During northern lights outings, it can get *very* cold, and once again, you’re not moving much. I put together a full summary of the gear to pack for Rovaniemi at this link. Hope it helps!