Scandi Tips for How to Stay Warm Outdoors in Winter

Scandi Tips for How to Stay Warm When Enjoying the Outdoors this Winter

When it comes to properly cold weather and snowy conditions, the Nordic countries know how to deal with it all. Scandinavian winters are long, dark and cold. The weather conditions can often be quite harsh but that doesn’t stop kids from playing outdoors every day and families enjoying outdoorsy winter activities. Let’s explore how to stay warm outdoors this winter, with some useful tips from Scandinavia.

Proper Layering & Dressing for the Activity

Layering is an important part of staying warm when it’s cold outside. Skip the synthetic thermals and opt for woolen thermals – trousers and a long-sleeved top – to wear under your regular clothes. Wool keeps you warm but also lets your body regulate its temperature better which means you will not get sweaty. If you are planning to be outdoors for a while when the temperatures are low, continue the layering with a warm jumper or a light down jacket with a waterproof and windproof jacket as the final layer.

Then you need to dress for the activities you’ll be doing outdoors. If you are just walking, then you might not need any extra trousers over your thermal long johns and regular trousers. But if you’re planning to have fun in the snow by sledging or having a snowball fight, then waterproof overtrousers (like ski trousers) are great for kids and grown-ups alike.

Protect the Extremities

The extremities are often the first to feel cold so ensure that they are protected with proper winter gear:

Warm Feet: Choose warm winter shoes or boots that have a thick sole to isolate from the ground. You can also use insoles made from wool inside your boots for extra warmth. The right kind of socks, made from wool if possible, will also help keep your toes toasty. Ensure that you still have a little bit of space left in your shoes to move your toes and to have a pocket of air to keep your feet warm. A Scandi hack is to buy winter shoes a size too big to allow for winter socks while keeping the air gap for warm feet.

Hats, Gloves & Scarf: A warm insulated hat is a must to keep warm and good quality warm gloves or mittens are too. Mittens help your hands stay warm better so choose them if you are prone to cold hands. I always go for waterproof and windproof options for gloves for both the children and myself. Then hands will stay warm even when you’re playing in the snow. If you know you will not get your gloves wet, then you can opt for a regular thermal option. To keep the cold out of the top of your jacket, a scarf or a snood is a great option. I love fleece snoods for this purpose as they feel soft on your face too.

Don’t Forget Your Face

Icy winds and sub-zero temperatures can soon wreak havoc on your face. A good snood and hat can partially protect your face but it’s also a good idea to put a protective layer of Weleda Calendula Weather Protection Cream on cheeks and lips especially. The water-free formula will not freeze on your skin and provides a natural protective layer for skin and lips.

Warm Up from the Inside

Last but not least, warm up from the inside while you’re out. You’ll often see Scandinavians with flasks or hot chocolate, tea or coffee, soup or warm fruit drinks to enjoy while out and about in the cold weather. It’s a great way to warm up quickly! Also have things to eat with you for yourself and the kids. Buns are are an easy classic option that goes well with the hot drinks – an outdoor fika. Grilling hot dogs in the snow is another option that is popular in the Nordic countries – or you could take some that you’ve cooked at home and pop them in a flask to keep them warm.