Grips first
If you bring one thing, bring ice grips, the kind that slip over your boots with small spikes or chains. They matter more than any jacket on this trail. Some tours include them (snow grips at ToTheNorth, spikes at Arctic Aurora Experience); for others the listing says nothing about grips. One reviewer was asked to rent spikes on arrival, another broke a leg on the descent without them. Very bulky snow boots are hard to fit with spikes, as The Treasure of Lapland points out in its listing, so pick boots with a defined sole.
What tours hand out
Overalls and boots are common but not universal. Arctic GM lends thermal overalls; Wild about Lapland lists professional winter clothing and boots; Beyond Arctic warm clothing and winter boots; BookLapland overalls rated to about −40 °C and boots on both of its options; Lapland Outdoor Adventures overalls, winter shoes and hiking poles. Several listings name no clothing at all. Base layers, hats and gloves are your own on every tour that mentions them.
Layers to bring
- Thermal underwear, wool or synthetic, top and bottom
- A warm mid layer you can open on the climb
- Hat, neck warmer or scarf, and warm gloves; a thin pair underneath helps for photos
- Thick wool socks and a spare pair
- Warm, waterproof boots if the tour does not lend them
- A head torch in December, and a small thermos if the tour includes no drinks
The Treasure of Lapland lists almost exactly this on its booking page: thermal underwear, a winter coat, hat, gloves, thick socks, warm boots and warm trousers.
At the fire
The stop at the fire is where people get cold, because they stand still after sweating on the trail. One reviewer suggested shortening the campfire stop for that reason. Put on your extra layer before you stop, not after you start shivering.
