Clothing for Norway

shaynemawer

shaynemawer

shaynemawer

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Hi all, we are going to Norway end of November into December with Oslo, Tromso and Bergen the destinations. Just sorting out clothing for Tromso really as know the weather can be very cold and we are there 7 nights. Now we have sorted 100% merino wool base layer and know its key to layer up. I have a decent down jacket and water proof jacket, what i am struggling with is a decent pair of trousers. I don't wont ski trouser if i can help it, I'd rather have a decent walking type thermal trousers that i can then use for football etc. Anyone have any recommendations please ?.
 
Base layer with good over trousers that have full length dual side zips i found was a nice combo. Though what your activities are can hinder choice due to no ease of unlayering. I'd consider knee warmers or just over knee length base layer as another consideration.
 
We have a northern lights chase booked, but we get provided the suits etc for that.
Also have a reindeer and Sami visit, so will need warm clothing.
Plus, we have a hire vehicle and if the weather allows and isn't too bad. We will be venturing of at night on our own northern lights chase. So again, clothing for potential cold weather.
 
I was there between Christmas and NY in 2022 in Tromso. It was very cold (and unbelievably dark, even during the day) The suits they provide for the activities are superb though, just wear normal stuff underneath, they keep you really warm. They are big enough to fit a down jacket underneath but you likely won’t need to. They give you good boots too.
Walking about during the day in jeans with a jumper and down jacket was fine. Night time ok too as restaurants and bars etc are all heated. The only time I was properly cold was a northern lights bus tour where we got out and waited for the sky to do its thing.
I’ve done multi day hikes in the past, mountain stuff (Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc) and didn’t take any of that gear I used up there. In hindsight if I were to do it again I’d take a merino base top and leggings for the NL tour but that’s all I’d change. IMO you definitely don’t need ski pants or over trousers.
Footwear wise I took a pair of Air Force one high goretex, the “winterized” edition with the rugged sole and they were perfect. Again I don’t think you need proper boots.

Take plenty money with you though and some heart medication for when you see the food bills in restaurants :eek:
 
Vandle said:
I was there between Christmas and NY in 2022 in Tromso. It was very cold (and unbelievably dark, even during the day) The suits they provide for the activities are superb though, just wear normal stuff underneath, they keep you really warm. They are big enough to fit a down jacket underneath but you likely won’t need to. They give you good boots too.
Walking about during the day in jeans with a jumper and down jacket was fine. Night time ok too as restaurants and bars etc are all heated. The only time I was properly cold was a northern lights bus tour where we got out and waited for the sky to do its thing.
I’ve done multi day hikes in the past, mountain stuff (Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc) and didn’t take any of that gear I used up there. In hindsight if I were to do it again I’d take a merino base top and leggings for the NL tour but that’s all I’d change. IMO you definitely don’t need ski pants or over trousers.
Footwear wise I took a pair of Air Force one high goretex, the “winterized” edition with the rugged sole and they were perfect. Again I don’t think you need proper boots.

Take plenty money with you though and some heart medication for when you see the food bills in restaurants :eek:
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yeah, seen the food prices and not lucking forward to that part. We do have an AirBnb booked for Tromso so at least we will cook a few meals. Its if we go self driving later at night that am more bothered in making sure we have decent clothing as you say, can be very cold waiting.
Footware wise i have a decent pair of Vans with sherpa lining if the weather isnt too bad, but if it is i bought a pair of Animal boots last year that was super cheap £20, there waterproof, have a vibram sole and 200g primaloft. kept my feet toasty last winter. so with a decent pair of socks should do the trick.
 
You don't need to go mad.

I've been to North of Finland several times in middle of December, it's like -25c outside.

You just need thermal leggings and t-shirt on, and decent socks actually is probably the most important.

Other than that just just regular trousers, couple of t-shirt and a hoodie or jacket or whatever is fine, like you would wear in the UK, gloves and hat, a scarf is handy to wrap around your face.

Basically what I'm saying though other than the thermal layer, I had no other specialist gear, you don't need to go spending a fortune.

All these bell end tourists wearing these crazy things, I went into the shops there are they started talking me in Finnish because they thought I was local.

We went up a mountain as well one day it was proper ******* cold and windy there like you would 100% die in 10 minutes in shorts and t-shirt and I was fine.
 
BUDFORCE said:
You don't need to go mad.

I've been to North of Finland several times in middle of December, it's like -25c outside.

You just need thermal leggings and t-shirt on, and decent socks actually is probably the most important.

Other than that just just regular trousers, couple of t-shirt and a hoodie or jacket or whatever is fine, like you would wear in the UK, gloves and hat, a scarf is handy to wrap around your face.

Basically what I'm saying though other than the thermal layer, I had no other specialist gear, you don't need to go spending a fortune.

All these bell end tourists wearing these crazy things, I went into the shops there are they started talking me in Finnish because they thought I was local.

We went up a mountain as well one day it was proper ******* cold and windy there like you would 100% die in 10 minutes in shorts and t-shirt and I was fine.
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Yeh, I second this.

Very similar when doing treks/tours. Everyone goes way over the top. Way over kill. I guess it’s better to be over prepared than under though so there is that to bear in mind.

I’ve got merino wool base layers that I’ve had for years paired with my usual trekking trousers.
 
I have a Wellensteyn jacket & trousers that I was given for a short trip on a gas tanker in the North Sea. They are amazing but not something I am sure anyone can understand until they try them on and wander outside in extreme weather. Totally windproof. It just doesn't matter how hard the wind blows or how cold it is, it's like you are at home sat in the lounge. It's a world of difference from a normal cold weather gear in the UK. They are expensive but they scream quality. And if they need recommendation, they are issued as standard by a number of shipping companies.
As for gloves, Skiing gloves are the best. They are usually fine quality leather and extremely well insulated.
 
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I just got back from Stockholm - Sweden about 2 weeks ago, i was there for 4 days during a work visit. Stockholm is to the right of oslo in norway.

I was wearing jeans, t-shirt , 2 pairs of socks , trainers and a warm jacket

I survived - it was cold but not as cold as i thoguth it would be. (probably not as colder as it would be in the northern part of the country) and abit later in to the winter.


I have been to northern finland (lapland) before, this was in feb, this was very cold! given its in the artic circle, and it was skiing.

You will deffo need a warm coat.


I would say if your heading to the northern part of the country then get some thicker trousers and ensure if you usually use it take a hat and gloves, although if your lugging stuff around (backpacks and your hawling along a travel case on wheels, you can get a little sweaty)




Temps when i was in stockholm a couple of weeks ago were between 3oC low and around 7-9oC high still. But it will get lower as the months pass now. It was coldish, but no frost. There was one day i was there when the sun was out, and i was quite warm
 
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Regular clothes with thermal layers, as others have said, will be fine.

I'll be in Finland again at Christmas, only taking thermals, thermal socks and a regular winter jacket on top of regular clothes

Just keep your head, ears and hands covered and you'll be golden.

Humans adapt quicker to cold than heat. Best to wear layers, if you end being active you'll end up taking some off. If I'm skiing I'll end up just in my thermal top and coat because I'll end up getting too hot.

Well, that and my other clothes, I don't ski with my janglies out getting frost bite
 
Yeah most people extremely overkill when it comes to clothing

Base layer
T shirt / trousers.
Jacket and trousers
Gloves
Har
You'll be sweating most of the time.

Most people are t shirt Nike and puffer here on minus 20 lol
 
Seems to be a fine line of what to wear and purchase without over killing it. I'll have merino base layer and got some thin merino wool jumpers etc all ready. Think i'll end up getting some winter lined walking trousers that i can then reuse at football/Cadwell Park when it's cold.

Had looked at the Craghoppers Kiwi Pro II Lined Trousers the other day so there a shout, also seen on Decathlon something like this https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men's...sh100/_/R-p-311858?mc=8558721&c=graphite+grey or https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s...untain/_/R-p-324677?mc=8582600&c=smoked black

During the day don't think i'll be too bad, it's at night if we go for a drive in search of the lights and stop somewhere remote. Guessing it'll be very cold then.
 
What is sensible depends on where you are and how long it might take you to get to shelter if you get in trouble.

If you're yomping about hiking then you don't need much in the way of warm clothing at all. The tricky part is being able to not die if you trip and bust an ankle somewhere remote and get stuck unable to move and keep warm.

If you're just walking around urban areas when wool long johns and merino base layer, wool socks, and something windproof is fine. If you're going to be standing around outside then a down jacket or gilet at least.
 
wont be doing no hiking, but depending on weather and cloud cover. Will be going for late night drives away from Tromso and into the countryside to help find the northern lights.
 
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