Clothing advice - Tromso February

[EllieFredrickson]

DH and I are off to Tromso in mid February to try and see the Northern Lights. Neither of us has done 'cold' holidays before as we don't ski. What do we need clothing wise? Tour cos provide thermal suits for Northern Lights chase but what do we need generally to be comfy? I think it's icy in the city so a bit worried about falling over. I also suffer sometimes from chilblains.

Thinking of looking in Decathlon/Mountain Warehouse /TK Maxx.

Any advice gratefully received!

Layers.
Merino wool t-shirts or long sleeve vests with similar leggings.
A HAT is a MUST.
Wool socks .

I'm going somewhere similarly chilly and have been advised to layer up. So merino base layers, then ski trousers, a fleece and ski coat. If it's colder then add another layer between base layer and ski trousers.

Very warm socks with grippy snow boots and a hat - can also layer up with that.

What to avoid us cotton against the skin as if you get sweaty, it just gets cold and wet.

*and another fleece type jumper.

It's really not a stylish trip!

I've found decent ski trousers at decathlon but for warm socks I'm looking elsewhere as their "wool" socks have about 10% wool.

Oh yes and mittens - glove liners with waterproof, down mittens.

These were the most useful thing we had when we went to Tromso...

https://www.blacks.co.uk/footwear/106397-yak-trax-walker-snow-grips.html/518535/?istCompanyId=d92b362f-ac8a-4a8a-87ca-c56eafad7955&istFeedId=2f99410f-1124-43d5-8232-86c184f09479&istItemId=awxptpxi&istBid=tzxx&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4r6Mg8mL5wIVibHtCh0VhASNEAQYASABEgIHLDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

They were easy to take on and off when we went inside. We saw so many tourists go flying on patches of ice.

And yes some good base layers and proper hiking socks/hiking boots.

Thanks all really useful.
Bringme those grips look great.

Has anyone hired boots when there?

We took all of the above to Iceland, bought everything from Decathlon, decent prices. The only thing to add is we bought some hand warmers as well, handy for when you’re standing around outside in the cold.

From trip to Iceland in February, great recommendations above and I'd add:
YakTrax if icy - get the ones that have the strap over the toe
Trapper style hat you can do up under the chin that covers the ears
Properly waterproof boots
Merino base layer
Layers to wear as typically it's often very warm inside and you'll want to peel them off
I bought a lot of my gear on eBay - Rohan winter trousers etc and keep an eye on Lidl for their merino base layers or Sportpursuit where I got some really comfy and very warm, breathable Isobaa base layers. You can wear merino for a few days so don't worry about have a few sets.
Proper waterproof, warm gloves and socks - I've got Sealskinz ones and they are great.
Hope you have an amazing time and see the lights. (One more suggestion which really enhanced our wonderful but freezing boat trip where we saw the lights and they truly were magical - we took Zojirushi flasks of boozy coffee - stayed hot all evening and a real joy to sip on at midnight. We used them each day when out walking in the snow.)

Just to update this in case it's useful for anyone.

Yaktrax were brilliant and definitely necessary - I only fell over once (when I wasn't wearing them) ....

Got winter boots from Mountain Warehouse. Because of my fat ankles/calves needed to size up by 2 sizes but just dealt with this with 3 pairs of socks. Merino socks great - got men's for the bottom layer from M&S and the hiking socks over the top.

Merino base layers from Go Outdoors and then ski jacket and trousers from Decathlon.

2 hats - a woolly one and then a flappy eared one over the top.

Had silk liners and mitten gloves which were toasty warm but a pig to get on.

We had a brilliant time and yes we did see the lights!