Updated October 2026 · By TripPack
For a cold-weather trip, pack a warm coat (wear it on travel day), thermal base layers, a sweater or fleece, a hat, gloves and a scarf, and waterproof boots. TripPack adds these when your destination’s average low for your dates is 3°C (37°F) or below, or any night drops to −2°C (28°F).
TripPack’s cold weather packing list reads the forecast (or last year’s weather for trips more than about two weeks out) for your destination and dates, then adds winter gear only when the numbers call for it. Enter your trip above to get your own list. Below is how the rules work and what a checklist can’t tell you.
| Weather for your dates | What TripPack adds |
|---|---|
| Cool: average high below 17°C (63°F) | Warm sweater or fleece, plus a light jacket until it gets cold enough for a coat |
| Cold: average low 3°C (37°F) or below, or any night −2°C (28°F) or below | Winter coat, thermal base layers (2 sets for 4+ nights), warm hat, gloves & scarf, waterproof boots, a second sweater for 5+ nights, lip balm with SPF, hand cream |
| Snow: more than 0.5 cm of snowfall on any day | Waterproof boots |
| Wet: rain on 25% of days or more | Packable rain jacket; compact umbrella (except on hiking and beach trips) |
| Ski / snow trip type | Ski or snow pants, hand & toe warmers, snow boots for the village, and kids’ snow gear if kids are coming |
What should I pack for a cold weather trip?
Here is the clothing TripPack lists for a 5-night city trip with a checked bag when the typical weather is about −4°C (25°F) at night and 2°C (36°F) by day, with some snow. It sits on top of the usual documents, toiletries and tech.
| Item | How many | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Winter coat | 1 | Wear it on travel day to save space |
| Thermal base layers (top + bottom) | 2 sets | Thin warmth under normal clothes |
| Warm sweater or fleece | 2 | The middle layer you take off indoors |
| Warm hat, gloves & scarf | 1 set | Ears, fingers and face get cold first |
| Waterproof boots | 1 pair | Snow, slush and wet sidewalks |
| Socks | 6 | Nights + 1, TripPack’s rule for socks and underwear |
| Tops / T-shirts | 5 | Worn under the sweater |
| Pants / jeans | 3 | Thermals go underneath on the coldest days |
| Lip balm with SPF, hand cream | 1 each | Cold wind dries skin |
How do I layer for cold weather?
Think in three layers you can add or remove: a thin base layer against your skin (thermal top and leggings), a warm middle layer (sweater or fleece), and an outer layer that blocks wind and wet (your coat). Layers let you stay warm outside and still take something off in heated trains, museums and restaurants. Staying dry matters as much as staying warm: the CDC notes that hypothermia can happen even above 40°F (4°C) when someone gets chilled from rain, sweat or cold water.
Why does wind make it feel so much colder?
Wind pulls heat from your skin faster. The US National Weather Service’s wind chill chart shows that at 0°F (−18°C) with a 15 mph wind, it feels like −19°F (−28°C), and exposed skin can freeze in 30 minutes. If your forecast is windy, cover your face and ears, and choose an outer layer that blocks wind. The CDC says frostbite usually affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes, which is why the hat, gloves and scarf are on the list.
How do I fit winter clothes in a suitcase?
- Wear the bulkiest things on the plane: coat, boots and your thickest sweater.
- Pick thin, warm layers. A thermal top and a fleece pack much smaller than a second heavy sweater.
- Rewear outer layers. Sweaters, pants and coats don’t need changing every day; underwear, socks and base layers do.
- Use compression cubes for sweaters and thermals.
- Plan for laundry on long trips. Toggle “Laundry where I’m staying” above and TripPack caps clothes at a week’s worth.
Can I bring hand warmers on a plane?
Yes. TSA allows hand warmers in both carry-on and checked bags, though the officer at the checkpoint makes the final call. Heated gloves, socks and jackets run on lithium batteries: the FAA requires spare lithium batteries, like power banks, to travel in your carry-on, not your checked bag.
What if I’m driving somewhere cold?
For a winter road trip, pack the car as well as the suitcase. The CDC’s emergency car kit list includes a phone charger, extra hats, coats, mittens and blankets, a windshield scraper, a shovel, a flashlight and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, water and snacks, a first aid kit, and tow chains or rope. Choose “Road trip” above and TripPack adds driving items to your list.
FAQ
What temperature counts as cold weather in TripPack?
TripPack treats a trip as cold when the average low for your dates is 3°C (37°F) or below, or when any night drops to −2°C (28°F) or below. Then it adds a winter coat, thermal base layers, a hat, gloves and scarf, and waterproof boots.
How many thermal base layers should I pack?
TripPack packs one set for trips of up to 3 nights and two sets for 4 nights or more, so one can dry while you wear the other.
Can I bring hand warmers in my carry-on?
Yes. TSA allows hand warmers in carry-on and checked bags. Spare lithium batteries for heated clothing must go in your carry-on.
Sources
- National Weather Service: wind chill chart — checked Oct 19, 2026
- CDC: preventing hypothermia — page dated Aug 25, 2026; checked Oct 19, 2026
- CDC: preventing frostbite — page dated Aug 25, 2026; checked Oct 19, 2026
- CDC: preparing for a winter storm (emergency car kit) — checked Oct 19, 2026
- TSA What Can I Bring: hand warmers — last updated Apr 17, 2017; checked Oct 19, 2026
- FAA PackSafe: lithium batteries — checked Oct 16, 2026
- Open-Meteo: weather forecast and historical weather APIs — data source for TripPack’s weather; checked Oct 19, 2026