A Winter Family Vacation: What To Pack

Packing for a winter vacation can be a trickier challenge than packing for summer vacations. Why? Because your natural impulse is to pack lots of thick fabrics and layers, and so you will quickly run out of space. When you’re trying to pack for the whole family, however, makes it become even more complex. You need to prioritize what is absolutely essential, what is a luxury and what you and the family will feel comfortable in, but the health and safety of everyone should come first. This guide will help you to focus on what is most important when packing for your winter vacation.

Clothing

Layering is the key to keeping warm in winter, but it needs to be done properly. If you simply keep adding layers without any thought you will be uncomfortable, could end up looking five times bigger and many not feel much benefit in terms of extra warmth. You should start with a light t-shirt or vest which you would be comfortable in when indoors. Next, you add a long sleeve top which you could stand outside in before adding a sweater or fleece which would keep you warm on a short walk outside. Finally, you finish with an outer layer which would keep you protected from wind, rain, and snow. With these layers you can add or remove as much as you need to. 

Outerwear 

Outerwear can be tricky when packing for a vacation as it can take up a lot of space, but it’s essential that you invest in high-quality coats for all the family. A good tip is to wear your outerwear to travel in, so it doesn’t take up space in your luggage. Gloverall has a great range of coats and jackets for all the family in a range of styles, including the stylish peacoat. 

Hats & gloves

Keeping your head, neck, ears, and hands warm and protected from the elements will make a huge difference to your comfort as a lot of body heat is often lost through our extremities. Avoid hats with pom-poms or flaps which don’t add any functional value and try to choose thin modern fabrics to maximize packing space.

You no longer need to pack thick wool gloves as you can now find lightweight and thin gloves which provide just as much warmth. In addition, many are also made from waterproof (or quick-dry) and breathable fabric, which makes them an improvement on the traditional wool gloves as you can wear them in lots of different environments and activities.

Shoes

You should travel in the shoes you will be wearing throughout your trip which should be comfortable, waterproof and sturdy. It’s best to choose darker colors which won’t show the scuffs or stains from slush or mud as clearly. 

Other accessories

There are some other items which you might want to consider packing. For example, sunscreen is essential even in winter to keep your family safe from sunburn. If you are traveling somewhere snowy the sun’s rays can reflect off of the snow and be every bit as damaging as sunbathing. Polarized sunglasses will also be helpful when you’re out in the snow or driving with sunlight in your eyes. If you are headed somewhere extremely cold, lower body base-layers might be useful to help keep you warm but still to move freely.