Practical Tips for a Canadian Winter Vacation
Before you pack your bags, make sure you know to expect. Winter travel requires a different approach.
What to Pack for a Winter Vacation
What to pack depends in part on where you intend to go and what you want to do. If you plan on spending much of your time exploring the outdoors, you need durable, highly-rated winter gear to protect you from the cold temperatures. Generally, you should bring plenty of layers — undershirts, leggings, sweaters — as well as basic winter gear (hats, gloves, thick socks, scarves, jackets, winter boots and snow pants)
Luckily, you can rent warm winter gear for most of these activities and tours. Otherwise, you should bring everything you'd normally pack on a vacation (toiletries, phones and chargers, etc.)
Navigating Canadian Winter Weather in Canada
Winter weather can range from mild in Vancouver (average winter temperatures from November to February are 45 Fahrenheit) to extreme cold in the Northern regions. If you'll be somewhere temperatures tend to be low, or even put you at risk of hypothermia without the right gear, you need to ensure you pack the right clothes to stay safe. Try to follow these tips to make your outdoor excursions more comfortable:
- Dress in layers that are easy to put on and remove so you can add or remove layers as necessary to adjust how warm you feel.
- Keep Merino wool as your innermost layer touching your skin for leggings and tops. Add a layer of flannel or a thick, Merino wool sweater.
- Lined leggings or long johns can keep your legs warmer, especially if you're wearing jeans instead of snow pants.
- Bring both a heavy, bulky coat and a more travel-friendly, lightweight down coat, which can be used as an extra layer under your heavy coat for particularly cold days. Many tour suppliers offer winter coat and boot rentals.
Bring winter hats to keep your ears and head warm. Gloves are essential to protecting your fingers. Many pairs are compatible with phones' touchscreens these days.
- Bring wool socks and don't be afraid to wear two pairs on particularly cold days when you'll be outdoors.
- Bring a good pair of weatherproof, waterproof snow boots to protect your feet.
