Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Winter travel essentials for genuinely cold trips, all under $60
15
items Fifteen things for trips where it's properly cold: ski weekends, Christmas markets, northern lights, or visiting family somewhere snowy. Warmers, layers, grippy cleats for icy pavements, skin savers for wind and dry plane air, and a flask that keeps ...
I'm a Gold Amazon Influencer with 1,100+ product review videos and a mom of three, so I've packed plenty of bags and sorted a lot of good products from bad ones. I haven't tested every item here myself. These are picks with strong track records and h...
Contains affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
I'm a Gold Amazon Influencer with 1,100+ product review videos and a mom of three, so I've packed plenty of bags and sorted a lot of good products from bad ones. I haven't tested every item here myself. These are picks with strong track records and h...
Contains affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Sections
3
Stay warm outside
Layers and footing
Skin, sips and the flight there
Stay warm outside
Warmers, a hat, gloves and a neck gaiter for long days outside in real cold.
Air-activated warmers that give up to 10 hours of heat once you open them. Tuck a pair in your coat pockets before any long day outside. Cheap, light, and easy to share with whoever forgot theirs. They're single-use, so the rechargeable pick below is...
HotHands Hand Warmers, 10 Pairs
Adhesive warmers that stick to the outside of your socks over the toes and last around 8 hours. The fix for cold feet on ski days and long winter walks. Never put them directly on skin, and make sure your boots aren't too tight.
HotHands Toe Warmers, 6 Pairs
A rechargeable hand warmer that doubles as a power bank for your phone, which drains fast in the cold. Better long-term value than disposables if you head somewhere cold every year. One caveat: power banks go in carry-on, not checked luggage.
OCOOPA Rechargeable Hand Warmer, 10000mAh
A thick ribbed beanie that keeps its shape and its warmth, in colours that go with everything. It's listed as men's but it's a one-size unisex fit. One of those things people replace with exactly the same one.
Carhartt Knit Cuffed Beanie
Fleece gloves with touchscreen fingertips, so you can check maps and take photos without taking them off. Great for city winter trips and sightseeing. They're not waterproof, so for deep snow or skiing you'd want insulated ski gloves instead.
The North Face Etip Touchscreen Gloves
A thin merino tube you can wear as a scarf, headband or face cover against biting wind, and it packs down to almost nothing. Merino stays warm and doesn't hold smells the way synthetics do. The item most people forget on a winter packing list.
Buff Lightweight Merino Neck Gaiter
Layers and footing
Thin warm layers, merino socks, ice grips and goggles for snow and slippery streets.
A thin, soft thermal top that layers under a jumper without adding bulk. A cheap way to try layering before spending on merino. This is the mock-neck women's version, and prices vary a little by colour and size.
32 Degrees Cozy Heat Base Layer Top, Women's
Fleece-lined leggings that work under jeans or on their own for a cold day of sightseeing, with pockets and a water-resistant finish. Hugely popular with travellers who want warmth without packing bulk. Check the size chart before ordering.
BALEAF Fleece Lined Thermal Leggings
Merino wool socks that stay warm even when damp and resist smells over several wears, which means packing fewer pairs. Worth the price if you're walking all day in the cold. The women's version is linked; there's a men's cut too.
Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Socks, Women's
Stretchy coils that slip over your normal boots and grip packed snow and icy pavements. Put them on when the streets get treacherous, then peel them off indoors. Made for walking, not hiking steep ice. Order by shoe size.
Yaktrax Walk Traction Cleats
Anti-fog goggles with magnetic swap-out lenses for a fraction of what premium ski brands charge. They fit over most glasses (that's the OTG part). Also handy on very windy, bright snow days off the slopes.
OutdoorMaster Ski Goggles PRO, OTG
Skin, sips and the flight there
Skin savers for wind and dry air, a flask for hot drinks, and a pillow for the flight.
Beeswax lip balm for the cracked lips that come with cold wind and dry plane air. Four tubes means one in every coat pocket and bag, which is exactly how it gets used.
Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, 4-Pack
A thick barrier ointment for wind-chapped cheeks, cracked knuckles and dry hands after a day in the cold. Not glamorous, but it's a long-standing go-to for winter skin. A little goes a long way, so this size lasts ages.
Aquaphor Healing Ointment, 7 oz
The classic vacuum flask that keeps tea, coffee or soup hot for most of a day out, and the lid doubles as a cup. Cheaper and warmer than buying a drink at every stop. It's heavy when full, so it suits day trips more than all-day hiking.
Stanley Classic Legendary Vacuum Bottle, 1.5 qt
A memory foam neck pillow with a flatter back so it doesn't push your head forward against the seat, plus straps that clip to the headrest. Useful for the long-haul flight that usually starts a winter trip. Reviews are a bit more mixed than the rest ...
Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow