Are you planning your first trip to Lapland ? How exciting ! But maybe you’re a little bit worried about how to be prepared for the weather there, especially when you know that it can be -30°C outside. 
What I am about to write will be the same advice that I could give for nordic weather in general in winter, whether you go to Sweden, Norway or Finland.
Remember also that in Lapland, the cold is dry, so it does not feel as cold as you can maybe imagine.

What you should wear : layers, layers, and layers.

Why are layers the key? Simply because if you are cold, you can add a layer, and if you get too warm, you can take a layer off.  

. 1. Base layer : Thermal underwears : both long sleeved and long legged. These are really something you should have and if you can, choose thermals with Merino wool. It’s more expensive, but it will keep you warmer, it’s softer and it’s more breathable than the synthetics ones. I have this one that I highly recommend, it’s warm and comfortable, and I really like the turtle neck.

2 . Mid layer : A comfy and warm top /hoodie/sweater. I personally use a hooded jacket for this layer, that I can open if necessary.  

3 . Insulation layer : This one is, to me, optional, depending on your activity, or on the temperature. You can for example pack in your backpack a light warm down jacket if you need extra warmth during the day.

4. Outer layer : Last but not least, you’ll of course need a warm, windproof and waterproof coat. 

/!\ Try to avoid cotton which is not advised because it keeps the humidity from your sweat, and you’ll eventually be cold because of that.

How to chose your equipment properly

Snow pants

I cannot think about a better option than ski pants (with thermal underwear pants) (I don’t think I need to explain why jeans are really a bad idea). You can also choose a snow suit, but I personally prefer to wear a snow pant and a snow jacket. In both cases, choose one comfy, of course with waterproof materials, and I would also recommend going for ankle gaiters to prevent snow from entering your snow boots. 

Boots  

It’s a good idea to invest in a pair of snow boots before your trip to Lapland. No doubt you will need some that are waterproof. You need to choose them at least one size bigger than what you normally wear, and I insist on this point. If you’re too tight in your shoes, it will reduce your blood circulation, and you will feel really cold. Moreover, I recommend wearing one or two pairs of wool socks, as you guess you’ll need to have some space for that in your shoes.
If it can help, don’t hesitate to bring two pairs of wool socks in a store when trying shoes to know which size you should take to be comfortable.

Socks
As I mentioned in the boots part, you’ll need pairs of thick wool socks so that your feet can stay warm. Remember that if it’s really a cold day, you can wear two pairs at the same time. One good option is also to wear silk socks as a base layer, then wool socks as a second layer. 

Mittens :
Mittens are way warmer than gloves, and I learned that once I was already in Finnish Lapland during my first trip there. I had gloves, and my fingers were so cold. Then one day, I borrowed some mittens, and you have no idea how much I wanted them after that. 5 years later I was back in Finnish Lapland, with this time a pair of mittens, and it was way way better ! Don’t forget to combine them with silk under gloves for a better isolation (and when you’ll need to remove your mitten to take a picture, you’ll thank me). I still bring a pair of wool gloves when it’s not that cold outside, but for the really cold days I have bought this model from Reusch , and I love them!

Beanie and scarf :
A thick wool beanie and scarf are really mandatory ! You’ll need to cover your ears to keep your head warm. I also have a neck warmer that I use for the really cold days in Lapland.

 Yaktrax :
I once went to Bergen in Norway during winter, and even if it wasn’t in Lapland, it was still snowy and most of all : icy ! And you have no idea how hard it was to walk on slippery ice (and you have no chance of avoiding it), on a going up road, with my snow boots. I spent most of the time on the ground, trying to put a good face even though I was falling every ten steps I did.
When I came back home, I was so frustrated and I bought Yaktrax, just in case, for next time. Then I went to Finnish Lapland, and even though it’s not really necessary on the snow, it was useful walking in the frozen sidewalks in the city center. It’s not a mandatory accessory, but it can be useful. 

Last tips to survive outside

• Don’t go outside with wet hair.
• Don’t wear makeup, especially mascara (contains water and of course water freezes).
• Bring lip balm with you.
• Moisturize after you shower.
• If you get overheated (yes it can happen), remove one of your layers.
• Try to stay active, even while waiting for northern lights. (My bestfriend taught me how to dance the Madison when we were freezing while waiting). 

I really hope all of this can help you to pack for your trip to Finland. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below.