My Winter Travel Gear Favorites as a Southerner Who Loves the Arctic

Winter is my favorite season. As someone who lives in New Orleans, my winter wardrobe would be laughed at by a Yankee. Well, at least it was laughable. Since I don’t live in an area where it snows, I tend to spend my winters traveling around the Arctic. Obviously, I needed to step up my winter wardrobe if I wanted to actually enjoy my Arctic adventures. I’ve tested a lot of winter gear over the years, and I’m ready to share the best winter gear I always bring with me on my travels. From the best winter jackets to the best winter accessories, let this be your ultimate guide to what to wear this winter.

The Norwegians have a saying: There is no bad weather, only bad clothing. This doesn’t mean you have to shell out big bucks for name brands. I’ve built my winter wardrobe piece by piece while keeping my wallet happy—and I haven’t frozen… yet.

The Best Winter Travel Gear

The best winter travel gear differs for everyone. Your budget and the landscape play a large role here. Everything I’ve listed below are the products I actually use. These may be my favorite winter essentials, but they are far from the only ones on the market. Find what works for you!

1. Winter Jackets

My favorite winter jackets are both waterproof and windproof. I didn’t realize how important windproof jackets were until I found myself battling hurricane-force arctic winds that cut straight through me. 

My Pooluly ski jacket went with me everywhere. I loved how many pockets it had! It truly was a solid, waterproof, and windproof jacket that kept me warm and dry even in the worst winter conditions. Sadly, one of the zippers broke while I was fiddling with it on a layover in JFK. RIP, jacket; you served me well.

I recently picked up this ski jacket from Want Do, and I love it! It has plenty of zippered pockets (a must for me), and it also has a mesh pocket on the inside, which is the perfect spot for my camera. It keeps it safe, but I can still grab it pretty quickly. My only regret is the size — I sized up so I could comfortably layer underneath, and the jacket kind of swallows me. It’s not a deal breaker; I’d just recommend going with your true size if you get one. 

Both of these jackets come in a variety of colors, and they’re both under $75. I loved my basic black-on-black aesthetic, but I went with a vibrant blue for my second jacket. I love how it pops in photos! 

2. Winter Pants

Keeping with the waterproof and windproof theme, these ski pants by Postropaky are my favorite. I love them so much I have two pairs! They are fleece-lined, waterproof, and windproof. They will keep you warm and dry whether you want to or not. 

The bottom of these pants has a zipper, which allows you to easily pull them over hiking shoes or ski boots. They also have an elastic waist that makes it easy to layer. These are true to size, and I always wear a pair of fleece leggings underneath, and I’m always comfy. (That’s not necessary — I’m just always cold.)

3. Traction Cleats

All it takes is one slip on the ice to ruin your day (or worse). Since I closely resemble that famous scene where Bambi walks on ice, I had to buy a pair of traction cleats to take with me on my travels. Yaktrax is a leader in the industry, and they’re very affordable (about $20). 

They fold up super tiny and can be tossed in your luggage (yes, you can take these in your carry-on) and come in handy when you need them. Whether you’re shoveling your driveway or trying to make your way down a path to a frozen waterfall, these will serve you well. 

And they’re super easy to put on. I’ve tried these with three different pairs of boots, and they slide over my shoes very easily. They’re meant to be snug, but you won’t struggle to put them on. Once they’re on, consider yourself 4WD enabled. 

4. Winter Hats

I’ve gone through so many different winter hats that it’s embarrassing. Those crochet winter hats with the pom look adorable… until you realize that the wind slides right through that fabric. Plus, they stretch out with every wear, so by day three, your hat is constantly sliding down your head. 

A lined hat is the way to go. These satin-lined winter hats have become my go-to for the last two years for a few different reasons. I love the satin interior — it keeps my hair from frizzing! I also love that the pom is detachable. This makes the hats easy to wash, plus it’s easy to remove if, say, you need to wear a helmet. I love going on glacier hikes and exploring ice caves in the water, and you need a helmet for that. The pom seriously gets in the way of your helmet, but you want to wear a hat because it’s cold. See the issue?

Furtalk has a wide range of winter hats and beanies, and they come in an endless range of colors. Yes, please!

5. Winter Scarf

I love a good, fashionable winter scarf. Honestly, I probably have too many for someone who lives in Louisiana. While these scarves serve a purpose, they’re not what ends up in my suitcase.

Neck gaiters are the way to go — especially in single-digit weather. Yes, that means trading fashion for function, but when the temperature is 8 degrees, it’s necessary. I love my faux fur-lined neck gaiter. I can pull it above my nose when I need to, and I love that it can also cover my ears and make for a pretty sealed-off situation from the elements. 

It also packs up easily in my suitcase. I stick my camera lens in it for an extra layer of protection when I’m traveling — works like a charm!

6. Winter Gloves

Gloves are similar to winter hats. Those crochet gloves look great, but it doesn’t take long to realize that the wind cuts straight through them. Plus, I think we’ve all gone with the cheaper option only to realize that they’re not touchscreen-friendly (like they advertised).

I want my gloves to be touchscreen-friendly and warm but not so bulky that I lose dexterity. I’ve gone through my fair share of testing winter gloves, and I’ve finally settled on these winter gloves by Simari. They are windproof, water resistant, and touch-screen friendly. The cashmere lining feels like butter, and even though I wish they were waterproof (not water resistant), it’s a compromise I’m willing to accept since they work so well.

7. Fleece-lined Leggings

I’m always cold. I’m cold right now. Even though winter is my favorite season, I do not like being cold. Fleece-lined leggings are a staple in my winter wardrobe, and they should be in yours, too. 

This 3-pack of fleece-lined leggings is perfect. First, they have pockets! Second, they come in a wide range of colors. I tend to stay in the navy-black-grey side of the color wheel, but you can go as bright as you want with these. 

These act as my thermal layer when I’m out and about galavanting around the winter landscape, and they’ve always done me right. They aren’t joking when they say high-waisted, though. I wear these under my ski pants (mentioned above), and I’m always warm and toasty. They do pass the squat test, so you can also wear these on their own.

8. Winter Boots

This area was a trial and error for me. I don’t live in an area where I need super boots to get around, but I do need them for traveling. I’m on my third pair of winter boots in three years, and I think I’ve cracked the code. 

Even if you don’t need waterproof boots, it’s worthwhile to have them. The first pair of hiking shoes I got were not waterproof, and I found that out the hard way. I stepped into a puddle with the confidence of someone wearing waterproof boots, and I was quickly humbled. Lesson learned. 

I loved my second pair of hiking boots. They were waterproof, comfortable, and cute! They tackled glacier hikes and ice caves in Iceland and Via Ferrata cliff climbs in the Lofoten Islands with ease. My only struggle with them was how hard they were to put on. They needed to be laced up, and once they were on — they’re on.

And they set off every alarm at every TSA. That’s not a huge deal, but when you have TSA pre-check, not having to take off your shoes is a nice perk. I’d like to keep that perk.

I traded those in for my newest and best pair of hiking shoes, and I’m in love. These look like sneakers but act like boots, and they check off all my boxes. They are 100% waterproof, extremely comfortable, and a breeze to slip on and off. I can actually just step into these and walk off, which is a luxury I didn’t know I needed. They’re also under $50, which is music to my wallet’s ears. 

9. Layers

Fleece is my best friend when it comes to layers. Typically, I’ll wear an activewear t-shirt (this 5-pack by Real Essentials, specifically) as a base layer and then a fleece jacket under my winter coat. 

If I know the temperatures are going to be dropping and I’ll be outside for long durations (northern lights hunts), I’ll add a Sherpa-lined hoodie for extra protection. 

For the fleece jackets, I love the ones I snagged from Amazon. I have a pullover version and a zipper version, and they both do the trick! I like having one of each just in case there’s a rare moment where I’m hot (I won’t be) and want to peel off layers. That has never happened, but when that day comes — me and my zippered fleece are ready.

The activewear base layer is ideal for a few reasons. First, it’s just plain comfy. Second, it’s designed to wick away moisture, so you will still sweat (even in the cold). I personally love them because they dry quickly. I can wash them while I’m traveling and hang them to dry, and they’re ready to rock in the morning. Another perk is that they pack down super small in your bag!

10. Socks

People swear by Merino wool. For years, I just wore two pairs of socks (a normal ankle sock and a fuzzy sock) because I was on a tight budget. My feet were never cold, but I knew I’d have to get some winter socks eventually. 

I finally bought some Merino wool hiking socks, and I get the hype. They are comfy, moisture-wicking, have arch support, and are breathable — they do all the things a sock is supposed to do. I was worried they were going to be itchy, but I was thankfully proven wrong! 

You can get a 5-pack for under $20, which is a deal in my book! They come in a few different colors, all of them in some variation of a color-block pattern. Yes, those are my feet in the photo above, and no, I do not match my socks. Life’s too short, y’all.

Now that you’ve got all the best winter gear, how about we put it to the test? These 12 destinations are picture-perfect for outdoor adventures this winter.