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Preparing to see the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland in January, I always knew it was going to be cold.
For this reason, I would have to ensure I was packing more than enough thermals.
But I ended up being there in a particularly cold snap, where the temperature had plunged to a brutal -35°C (-31°F).
It was so cold, in fact, that when I later returned to London, I discover one of Finnish Lapland’s two airports – thankfully not the one I flew from – was forced to shut, leaving thousands of Brits stranded.
It was even too chilly for the huskies – that was the disappointing news we were given when we arrived at Apukka Resort for our GetYourGuide husky-sledding experience, although we still got to play in the snow with them.
But, thanks to having the packing essentials, I didn’t feel the cold too much in my five layers – even when I was whizzing around on a snowmobile – plus all the outdoor experiences I did included thermal overalls.
What I did make a mistake with, however, was packing my £200 Doc Martens boots – which, it turns out, are not built for snow, as I was slipping and sliding everywhere walking in them.
Here’s what to pack for your next cold adventure holiday – including the cool vaccuum gadget that helped me fit such bulky clothes into my hand luggage…
Hayley Minn spent a weekend in Rovaniemi, Finland – AKA Lapland – where temperatures were -35 degrees. She reveals what she packed
These thermal leggings from Passenger kept me so warm and cosy out in the snow. =
With their close-to-body fit, and elasticated waistband, they were really comfortable under all my layers.
While I wore them as my base layer in Finland, I’ve worn them around the house back in London too.
Was £79.95.
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I had to get the matching zip-up top to go with the leggings too.
It’s just as comfortable and warm.
It’s perfect for being out in the snow, under a thick jacket, but it’s also great on top of a gym vest when out running in the cold.
Was £89.95.
Read the rest of our best thermals – tried and tested
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For my jacket, I took this water resistant one from Dare2B.
It was one of the only winter coats I could find that was actually stylish, while also keeping me warm with tons of padding.
It comes in loads of colours, and the hood zips right up keeping a lot of my face out of the cold too.
Was £180.
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My husband also needed an excellently warm coat so opted for this one from Berghaus.
This waterproof jacket’s padded with Hydrodown® to keep you toasty warm in any weather, and there are plenty of pockets to keep your essentials in.
It also has a removable hood, although he had it up constantly in Finland – and, of course, it’s waterproof.
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With thick fleece inside, these gloves kept my hands so warm throughout my weekend in Finland.
And what’s even better is I could still use my phone while wearing them, as they’re touchscreen compatible.
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There were times that even my thermal gloves couldn’t keep my hands warm – so i put one of these in each pocket of my coat.
The rechargeable hand warmers have four levels of heat up to 58 degrees and between six and 15 hours of continuous heat.
Even when I put them on full blast, they lasted me all day.
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Of course I needed a few jumpers for a weekend away in Finland. This fluffy fleece from NEXT kept me so warm, and I love the print.
It was perfect for the flight too, making sure I was comfortable.
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This thermal top was perfect for wearing under my jumper – and it even comes with a built-in bra, which was so comfortable.
It’s thin too, which makes it really easy for layering – and comes in loads of colours.
Was £24.90.
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I got a couple of these thermal tops from Uniqlo in different colours too.
They’re so soft and kept me warm in the freezing temperatures all day.
Having used them as a thermal base in Finland, I’ve worn them on their own since I’ve got back.
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The matching thermal leggings were also perfect for the cold weather.
They’re so soft and comfortable, and really flattering.
They’re also seamless, making it easy to put overalls on top.
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This scarf from Regatta is so soft, and also absolutely massive.
As well as being very warm, it comes in loads of colours and is really versatile.
I used it to shield my face from the snow a few times, and have also used it as a blanket.
Was £40.
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These unisex thermal socks are made from merino wool, and kept my tootsies so warm.
As well as being really soft, they have great temperature regulation and excellent moisture control to keep feet fresh and odour free.
They come in packs of three in a range of colours.
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I was worried about how I’d fit such bulky clothes into my hand luggage – especially as I didn’t want to wear them all on the plane and overheat.
For that reason, this vacuum kit from Aerless was a life saviour.
You can get around 15 items in one bag, and save up to 60 per cent on space – and my carry-on case easily fit two of the bags.
The kit also comes with a compact rechargeable pump which I packed so I didn’t need to find a vacuum cleaner to repack.
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