Going to Lapland what do I need?

[CaptainFussyPants]

After a shitty year last year, said fuck it and booked to go to see Santa in Lapland as a Christmas surprise. Now I’m panicking about what I need to take? The information they send says they provide snow suit and gloves and boots. Are they suitable? Is there anything else I need to take? It says no jeans, but I live in jeans so don’t own anything else. Will cheap joggers do? Why about for the kids? What do they need? Two primary school children and a toddler if that helps!

Base layers. Cheap ones will do
Thick socks
Jogging bottoms and comfy tops/fleeces for under your suit
Warm hat and scarf
Thick mittens were invaluable when we went as they're warmer than gloves as your fingers are together and keep warmer.
I got most stuff from Aldi in their ski sale or on ebay
Have fun!

Those handwarmers that you break and they heat up
Something to put keep your phone in. The cold can damage it.
A balaclava to cover your face. It really is cold.
Very thick socks.

Snug fitting layers are best and preferably not cotton as that isn’t so good at keeping you warm (I hate man made fabrics but had to live in polyester base layers to keep warm!)

If you have one or two layers under your snow suit you’ll be perfectly warm and comfortable.

Presume they’ll also provide gloves etc but take warm hats and ear warmers/head bands. I bought a pack of those stretchy snood type scarves (Buff is the famous brand but lots of cheap copies on eBay/Amazon) which were perfect as a scarf/ear warmer/hair band etc as needed.

Food and drink is pretty expensive out there so we took some snacks and porridge etc for our self-caterered days.

Things we took but didn’t really use - waterproof phone cases, little duck shaped snowball moulds and a glass globe for taking cool photos. Took one I think . Having a phone/camera with good night vision is handy for northern lights photos. They came out crap on my phone but DP had a newer model and his were excellent.

Have an amazing time! We went just us adults as our DC are all teens now - would have been magical with little ones.

Thermal tights - I got some from either Aldi or Lidl, same with my gloves. Also a good base layer - mine’s an ancient Helly Hansen one. We did get really warm though!!

As pp have said, a thermal base layer is crucial. It's great fun but really, really cold!

I haven’t been to Lapland, but have been to Iceland.

I wore snug gloves made of neoprene (or similar), which didn’t affect my dexterity too much. When necessary, I wore a thick pair of mittens over the top.

Also:
Hiking boots with good soles that grip, which are big enough to wear with thick socks.

Lightweight waterproofs (jacket and trousers).

If you’re interested in viewing the Northern Lights, bring a camera that can take long exposure shots, a lightweight tripod and spare batteries (batteries don’t last as long in the cold).

Oops, I should have read about what they’ll be providing. But I’d definitely recommend the neoprene under gloves.

Jeans aren’t ideal as they’re relatively heavy and take a long time to dry if they get wet. Joggers might be better.

I’ve been with husband and kids. Take distinctive hats as you all look he same in the snow suits and it’s dark most of the time! Also keep your phone warm as the cold drains the battery. Take a spare. It’s great !

I think thermals are essential for most people but I get hot very easily so when I wore them, along with other layers, and the snowsuit, and I ended up so hot I had sweat pouring down my face. In Lapland.

Covid-proof travel insurance (sorry)

Lots of thinner layers works best. Definitely thermals, thermal glove liners are good too.
The clothing they provide is very good.
How old is the toddler? Most companies don't recommend taking under 4's as its too cold. Our 4 year old really struggled with the cold and stopped enjoying the outdoor activities really quickly.

We took our four when they were young. The scariest thing that has ever happened to us was one of ours wandering off ahead of us in the twilight and all the kids looking identical.

So my advice is to take bright hats and scarves so that you can quickly and easily identify your children.

@SoniaFouler me and my daughter were the same!

Lapland is very, very expensive. Big tip is to take tea bags, sachets of hot chocolate and cereal bars etc, it really costs a lot to even get a round of hot drinks in the hotel bar.
Be prepared for very little daylight, it makes you disorientated too, feels like bedtime at 6pm as it’s been dark all day.
The suits/boots provided are very good.
Ex travel company holiday brochure writer her, went to Lapland several times with my job.
It’s amazing.
The cold took my breath away, but the hotels are roasting warm.
When we came out of the airport, the inside of my nostrils froze. It was minus 18 and one day was minus 22. Our warmest day was -11.

Oh and I bought thermal pyjamas from Primark and wore underwear, thermal tights, the thermal pj bottoms on my bottom half, a thermal vest, long sleeved thermal top and sweatshirt on my top half. With the snowsuit on top. Balaclavas are best. Plus waterproof thermal gloves.
And don’t be surprised if the kids simply want to play in the snow on sledges all the time. The food can be interesting, reindeer was on the menu.

@SoniaFouler

I think thermals are essential for most people but I get hot very easily so when I wore them, along with other layers, and the snowsuit, and I ended up so hot I had sweat pouring down my face. In Lapland.

Good point. Layers are essential so that you can cool off easily too! I have photos of me with my coat undone hopping over the Arctic circle.

Waterproof gloves - two pairs each so they can dry out. Thick socks and base layers. Check the weather before you go, it was only minus one when we went - we melted!

Thanks everyone! I’ve written a massive list now :) I tend to run warm so I’m not too worried about me, but I don’t want the kids getting cold (and to start whining!)
I’ve got the insurance booked and checked it’s covid covered. Never been so worried in my life! Thanks everyone!

Warm everything, we did a day trip Dec 2019, it was so so cold. Lots of layers, head torches, hand warmers.. have fun it's fab!

I wear thin gloves and thicker ski type ones over. Good shoes and good socks is very important. You can wear thinner socks and thicker over, just like the gloves. If you’re going on a snowmobile or dog sled you need a balaclava. If your phone dies in the cold (it will) put it under your arm pit (!) for a while.

There are hats with built in torches that are good. Balaclavas or warm scarves are necessary if you don’t want to get frost bites on your face especially chin and cheeks.

We are going for 3 nights at the beginning of December. I've got base layers ( most of my stuff came from decathlon as they are very reasonable and up to the job. Dh, me 3 dc 9,12 and 29!

They provide snow boots and a snowsuit, so base layers, fleece jumper, fleece joggers, hat ( you can get them with inbuilt led lights from Amazon ) silk glove liners, ski gloves, buff, balaclava, silk socks and then thermal socks.

I've heard the hotels are roasting so I'm bringing t shirts for the evenings. Board games as our resort only has two hotels and a supermarket so not sure there is loads to do in the evenings, I expect to be v tired though with all of the activities and we will be doing lots of sledging and looking for the Northern lights in the evenings.

The hand warmers you can buy are supposed to be good so I've bought a few pairs of those, a snowman kit for building the ubiquitous snowman ☃️

I'll take a few snacks and drinks too as I've heard it's very expensive, I've bought all the adults a phone pouch to keep the battery from draining.

Don't forget to book your lft covid test before you go as apparently they ask on return to the U.K. for proof of it ( I think you take it two days after coming back.

A festive jumper for the meal on the last night? I think that's everything we have sorted out so far anyway. V, v excited now as only 4 weeks away!

@Wagsandclaws you’re going the same time as us! I can’t wait! How do I book the test, I can’t find information anywhere?

Lots of people have said head torches, why? I’m not arguing, just genuinely confused why I’d need one?

So glad to find this thread - we're going at the beginning of December as well - I guess it's time for a trip to Decathlon!

Fur knickers.