During my final week spent in the US, my mind was preoccupied with one thing: prepping and packing for winter in Sweden.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Sweden? In the MIDDLE OF WINTER? Are you NUTS?!
Ahem. Sort of.
In all honesty, though, I’ve been traveling in hot or tropical places almost exclusively for the last four years. When making the decision to travel to Sweden in the winter, I realized I was finally ready for something different; not to mention I’m long-overdue for a white Christmas.
But let’s get one thing out in the open from the get-go: I am not, by ANY stretch of the imagination, an efficient packer. And suddenly I’m expected to pack light when all I’m going to be wearing are wools and downs and things with ‘sweat’ in the name?
Needless to say, packing for winter in Sweden has easily been my greatest challenge yet. Here’s a look at the madness behind my method.
What I Did Right
Before I get into the item-by-item breakdown of what I packed for Sweden, there are a few things I need to make a note of.
First of all, I nearly lost it the night before departure as I realized there was no way in hell the 77-liter Eagle Creek wheeled backpack I’d been using for the last year was going to zip closed on top of my overflowing mountain of wool and fleece. Luckily, moments before total meltdown occurred, my generous family gave me one of my Christmas presents early–a SwissGear 28″ 4-Wheeled Spinner suitcase. I literally shrieked with joy at the sight of it. After having tried so hard for SO LONG to fit the backpacker archetype of a light/minimalist packer, it felt good to indulge my overpacking ways and still have extra space in my bag for once.
Secondly, because I did want to give myself some hard limits, I did once again employ my Eagle Creek packing cubes. They do keep a bag nicely organized, whether it’s full or not, and they don’t add any bulk or weight.
Lastly, one major difference between this trip and previous ones is that I learned to say NO to excess shoes. Over the summer in Europe, I swear to god I was carrying 8 pairs of shoes at one point. Sandals, mostly, but still! It was insane! This time it was one pair on my feet and two in the bag (one for fashion, one for fitness) and nothing unnecessary. Not even a pair of flip-flops “in case I need them.”
Trip Notes
Primary Destination: Stockholm, Sweden
Duration: At least 3 months
Average Temperatures: December -1°C/30°F; January -1°C/30°F; February -5°C/23°F
Stockholm is a big, trendy city. Like New York’s sophisticated older sister, you might say. As such, I planned to wear a lot of black (because it’s versatile, doesn’t soil easily, and always looks chic) and kept casual “backpacker-y” clothes to a bare minimum. I also planned for travel to other parts of Sweden as well, where snow will be more likely.
Related post: 10 Travel Tips for Stockholm
What I Packed for Winter in Sweden
Luggage
One checked bag, one carry-on, and one personal item. I don’t care how long the trip is or even if I’m moving permanently–you’ll never see me at an airport with more than this!
- SwissGear 28″ Spinner
- Canvas backpack
- Leather messenger bag
Outerwear
My jacket, a long down jacket with a furry hood (pictured above), was far and away the most valuable thing I brought. It looks great and keeps me super warm–don’t skimp on your jacket!
- Columbia Polar Freeze Down Jacket
- Beanie
- Gloves
- Raincoat
- Fleece ear muffs
Related post: How Swedes Stay Happy & Healthy All Winter Long
Clothes
This may seem like a lot, but knowing how pricey things can be in Sweden, I didn’t want to have to purchase much (if anything) when I got here in terms of clothes. I can’t promise I won’t slip up and wander into an H&M or one of Stockholm’s cool thrift stores one day, but c’mon…I’m not made of stone.
- 3 pullover sweaters
- 1 hoodie
- 1 cardigan
- 1 chambray shirt
- 2 flannel shirts
- 3 thermal long-sleeved shirts
- 3 blouses
- 1 pair dark skinny jeans
- 1 pair red khakis
- 4 dresses
- 1 skirt
- 2 fitted tanks
- 2 pairs long spandex pants
- 1 pair thick footless tights
- 1 pair opaque tights
- 2 pairs running shorts
- 2 casual tees
- 2 sport bras
- 2 regular bras
- 3 pairs wool socks
- 2 pairs athletic socks
- Plenty of underwear
Accessories
I don’t wear much jewelry apart from a few small pieces that never come off, like rings and stud earrings. I’m addicted to sunglasses, but used a lot of restraint this time and only allowed myself one pair.
- 1 watch
- 3 statement necklaces
- 2 scarves
- Small black purse
- Fashion hat
- 1 pair sunglasses
- Prescription eyeglasses
Shoes
Totally nailed this. Self-five! I’m a Steve Madden fangirl–follow the links below to steal my style.
- Boots
- Heeled booties
- Running shoes/trainers
Related post: 25 Enchanting Photos of Sweden in the Winter
Makeup & Toiletries
To save precious space, I planned to buy the majority of my toiletries upon arrival. My makeup routine is pretty minimal…but I do sort of have a lipstick obsession and am always trying new colors. I’ve omitted obvious things like brushes, toothbrush, bobby pins, etc.
- Hairspray
- Antiperspirant
- Cleansing towelettes
- Perfume
- Concealer
- Blush
- Bronzer
- Becca shimmering skin perfector
- Too Faced eyeshadow primer
- Mascara
- Smashbox eyebrow pencil
- 5 shades of lipstick (at least)
Electronics
As a blogger/online freelancer/photography nut, you know I love my cameras and electronics. These are my essentials, no matter where I am.
- 13-inch MacBook Air
- Unlocked iPhone + Lifeproof case
- GoPro Hero3+
- Seagate Backup 2 Terabyte External Hard Drive
- Canon Rebel SL1
- 50mm f/1.8 Lens
- Universal All-in-One Power Adapter
So, there you have it, everything I packed for a winter in Sweden. It’s probably not perfect and I’ll more than likely need a few things eventually, but for a long-term trip to a cold place, I think I did pretty well. I hope my list can serve as a template or starting point for anyone thinking of making their own trip to Scandinavia in the winter. The winter months get a bad rap over here, but so far it’s not so bad!
Want more packing lists? Check out these related posts:
- The Digital Nomad’s Packing List: Tech & Accessories I Can’t Travel Without
- The Only Travel Towel You’ll Ever Need
- My Carry-On Flight Essentials
- The Travel and Photography Gear I Never Leave Home Without
- Packing for A Week in San Francisco
Packing for winter in Sweden was a major challenge for me! What’s been your toughest destination to pack for?
Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links. I receive a small commission should you use one to make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.
