12 Tips to Dress for Subzero Temperatures in the Arctic Circle
Those HotHands warmers? Useless. Let me tell you the right brands.
Photo by J.R. Edited by Lonely Girl, Lonely World.
I worked in Lapland, Finland, from November 22 - December 29, 2023.
The Arctic Circle is an expansive region full of natural beauty and life-affirming landscapes, whichever of the 8 cold countries you go to (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United States (Alaska), Canada, Denmark (Greenland), and Iceland — courtesy of this site).
Nobody, however, wants to get stuck in subzero temperatures ranging from an average -10°C to -70°C without proper mits, hats, and ‘quip.
Here are some tried-and-true tips to help get you through the chilling cold of the Arctic Circle, plus some warnings and watch-out-for’s:
Gloves are no good. Wear mittens.
In the Arctic Circle, body temperature is your best friend. You want as much skin-on-skin contact as possible when dressing. This is especially important for your extremities (fingers and toes), as they tend to frost over and lose blood flow much faster in cold environments.
Wear mittens that will allow your fingers to touch each other and make the most of that body heat. Use gloves only if you need to operate finicky equipment like cameras but have both kinds on hand (pun intended).
Tip: An expensive pair of snowproof gloves/mittens doesn’t mean it’ll keep you warm. I ended up switching to my $5 fake-fur mittens when my fingers almost froze in the gloves, and they did more than a good job.
Same with socks.
Same logic applies to your socks and toes. I made the mistake of wearing individually toed socks one time, and gee, did my feet regret it. More fabric does not equal more warmth. Stick to your regular socks that leave all your toes touching.
Leave room for your toes.
If you book an organized tour, your operator should provide you proper snow boots with a very wide toe box. Snow People is a good brand that does this right, though, from personal experience, their boots might still leak with use.
Leaving wiggle room for your toes allows you to stretch and move them inside your boots, generating that coveted body heat for warmth. Your toes may very well still feel like they’re freezing; just keep moving. Tight shoes are a definite no-no.
Tip: Look for brands by Indigenous peoples. Some of their ancestors have lived in similar cold environments for centuries, and they’re experts at the snow boot. I recommend Manitobah Mukluk’s “Waterproof Snowy Owl” boot — which can survive temperatures down to -20°C — for their furred calf-length shaft. The only downside is their toe box is very narrow, so find a different pair with a wide toe box if you’re going to be outside a lot.
Use Japanese warmers.
Where warmers are concerned, Japanese brands are the best. Called “kairo,” many Japanese heat packs or pocket warmers are good for 24 hours (and if you have it tucked under a sweater or close to your skin like over your underwear, they can last for another half to full day!).
There are specific kairo marketed towards women on their periods, to relieve abdomen pains or cramps. These ones are sticky on one side to attach to the outside of your underwear or undershirt (NEVER directly on skin!), but they work for anyone and for anywhere (I haven’t tried them in shoes, so be careful with your experimentation). They’re also thin, so it’s easy to hide them if you need to.
One of the most popular brands is KIRIBAI (桐灰カイロ). Look for them at Asian grocery stores, Japanese or Korean cosmetics stores, or online.
Read more about Japanese kairo here.
I tried some generic Western warmers during my time in the Arctic Circle, but they were lumpy, small, and got cold way too fast. A kairo can be a lifesaver.
If you don’t have kairo, a small hot water bottle does the trick.
Tip: Kairo is activated upon exposure to oxygen. To help speed up the process, knead the pack once you’ve ripped it open to let as much of the charcoal and wood ash react to the oxygen as possible.
Tip: Cold can quicken the urination process, since your body’s energies are spent trying to keep your core warm. Sticking a kairo over your underwear may help reduce some of that energy output and keep you from running to the washroom every 10 minutes.
A good down jacket never fails.
It’s always worth it to spend more on a quality down jacket (preferably a knee-length or full-body one) than a thin one from Uniqlo. It may not be compressible, but it’ll serve you well in both daily life and in the Arctic.
Get one with a hood to shield your face as well.
For winter attire, it’s a good idea to look for brands native to cold countries like Canada or Finland. Canada Goose and Moose Knuckles are two options. You can also find great deals and quality in China, though the labeled brand may be unknown. Contrary to popular belief, not everything “made in China” breaks down after one use.
Wear your hair in braids/plaits/buns.
If you have long hair, tie it up. Style it in braids or anything that keeps your strands together. It’s common for hair (including eyelashes) to freeze in the Arctic, and when they do (you’ll know when your hair turns completely white), do not touch it. If you touch your hair when it’s frozen, it will snap right off.
Don’t worry, it’s not dangerous. Just wait until it thaws in a warmer spot, and you’ll be good.
Be judicious with the layers.
Of course, you’ll want to wear some layers, but don’t feel like you need to have on 3 long-johns with 4 sweaters and a jacket over that. Remember the golden rule: use body temperature. If your layers are inhibiting your ability to move comfortably, you won’t be warm no matter what.
Efficiency is the key here. A good pair of snowpants, snow boots, and a down jacket will serve you much more than layers upon layers of knitwear.
Snowpants are a girl’s (and guy’s) best friend.
A proper pair of snowpants (the kind with that glossy finish) is a definite must in the Arctic. One layer of thick leggings inside and my snowpants on top was enough to keep my legs toasty all day, every day. In fact, I had many a moment when my legs were sweating.
Snowpants are great for general winter too (dog owners, I’m winking at you). Check the tag for their temperature range. Suspenders are a nice touch if you want assurance they’ll stay up throughout the day. Other bonus features to look out for include zippered pockets, a built-in keychain, snow gaiters, and an adjustable waistband.
Look out for snowpants with Recco® Reflectors, basically a tracking device built into the leg of one pant (you’ll see it as a raised tag). If you’re ever lost in an avalanche, special Recco scanners can detect your location using the reflector. It’s an amazing safety feature that’s worth the money for peace of mind.
My Chalet Extreme Womens Waterproof Ski Pants from Mountain Warehouse has all the above features, and they’re extremely comfortable. The only downside is that they’re a bit too long for me. Petite options are available, though perhaps not in your desired style.
Tip: Buy during the off season or during large sales. Snowpants can go for 30-60% off the regular price. Also check if online and in-store discounts are different.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
The good thing about the Arctic chill is that it’s a dry cold. If it was a wet cold — where the chill literally seeps into you like ice — and still -27°C, I’m not sure any amount of correct dressing would help.
I recommend Vaseline for your lips and to protect any minor scratches/cuts (put a bandaid over it afterwards). Any kind will do, but the original or lip-targeted ones are best.
Bring a heavy-duty moisturizer like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for the rest of your face and body.
Sunglasses optional.
This is more of a personal preference, but if you’re spending time in the Arctic Circle in the dead of winter, only seeing 2 hours of daylight each day (not even sunlight), and not driving, you’ll survive without sunglasses (spoken from personal experience). It really gets dark very fast.
Drivers will need sunglasses just in case. You can still pack a pair if you want to be safe.
Sunscreen is advised even in winter because the snow can potentially reflect even more UV rays than in summer. How often you apply it, I’ll leave up to you. You’ll probably be sporting a neck gaiter, which covers half your face anyway (and the thought of pressing your cheeks into days-old leftover sunscreen from your gaiter is not pleasing).
Neck gaiters are lifesavers.
Neck gaiters, snoods, whatever you call them — get one before you go to the Arctic. They keep that exposed bit of neck snugly warm. Your cheeks can also get frostbite; a gaiter will help reduce that hazard.
They also rein in some humidity for you while you breathe, good if you have a scratchy cough.
Some gaiters come with an adaptable hood/hat. You’ll see skiers wear this kind a lot.
Tip: COVID masks work too, but they don’t cover your neck, head, or ears.
Bring contact lenses.
If you don’t want glasses fogging up from wearing a gaiter (plus anytime you walk inside from the cold), pop some contacts in.
I was worried the plastic of contacts would shatter in my eye in the Arctic (that’s painful enough in everyday life), but thankfully they stayed whole and happy all day, every day.
Contacts can withstand cold temperatures of up to -60°C. (Source: FAQs About Wearing Contact Lenses in the Winter - Hakim Optical.)
Tip: Bring eye drops to help remove them if they get too dry. I use Japanese brand Rohto (they have day and night versions, but I use them whenever).
Exposing your body to below-freezing temperatures forces it to expend more energy to keep you warm. Having some carbs or sugary snacks might help keep your focus up, just don’t sacrifice balanced nutrition for sweets. Our trainer said the male body can burn around 6000 calories a day in the Arctic.
I’m not sure how accurate this is. As a female, I not only didn’t lose weight, I actually gained 4 pounds after 6 weeks there, and that’s with constant movement everyday from morning till night. But, I did notice I got hungry more often. Don’t count on being in the Arctic as your path to weight management.
All in all, living, working, or vacationing in the Arctic Circle in winter takes some resilience. Make the most of it by dressing right, eating right, and laughing lots!
Photo by Lonely Girl, Lonely World.