What to pack for Tromsø in February
February is one of the best months for the northern lights in Tromsø. The polar night is over, the days are lengthening fast, and the long, dark evenings are ideal for aurora hunting. The city sits on the coast, so it is milder than you might expect for 350 miles north of the Arctic Circle, but it is snowy, icy and windy.
So the list is built for standing still in the cold. Chasing the aurora means hours outside at night, often inland where it is much colder, with little to do but wait. Thermal layers, a very warm coat, insulated boots and good gloves matter more than anything else.
Checked
The weather
- Daytime high
- 28°F
- −2°C in the city. Inland valleys are much colder.
- Overnight low
- 19°F
- −7°C on the coast. Aurora chases can drop below 0°F.
- Snowy days
- ~15
- Snow on the ground all month, and icy sidewalks.
- Daylight
- 5–9 h
- Growing fast through the month after the polar night.
The capsule
A week, one traveler, Gilt palette. Gray and ivory warmth with a gold turtleneck, for the Arctic nights. A capsule is a few clothes in one palette (a base color, a neutral and an accent) that all go together. The full list below adds what sits outside it.
Layers
Long down parka
Insulated midlayer
Wool sweater
Tops
Merino base layer
Merino turtleneck
Mock-neck knit
Bottoms
Insulated snow pants
Thermal leggings
Dark jeans
Shoes
Insulated snow boots
Three days from this capsule
Shown for one traveler. Packlier packs a capsule like this for each person on the trip.
The full list
Clothes
- Long, insulated parka with a hood
- Insulated snow pants
- Two merino base layer tops
- Two pairs of thermal leggings
- Fleece or insulated midlayer
- Two warm sweaters
- Jeans or pants for the city
- Thick wool socks, one pair a day
- Swimsuit for saunas and hot tubs
Shoes
- Insulated, waterproof boots with a deep tread
- Slip-on ice cleats
Cold
- Wool beanie that covers your ears
- Insulated gloves or mittens, plus thin liners
- Scarf or neck gaiter
- Hand and toe warmers
- Headlamp
- Insulated flask
Documents and tech
- Passport
- Travel insurance details
- Card for tap-to-pay; cash is almost never needed
- Aurora and dog-sledding tours, booked ahead
- Type C/F plug adapter (230V)
- Power bank and spare camera batteries
- Small tripod for aurora photos
Toiletries
- Rich moisturizer and lip balm
- Eye drops for the dry air
- Any prescriptions, in your carry-on
Gear worth the space
A long down parka
It should cover your hips and have a good hood. Standing still at night is much colder than skiing or walking.
Insulated boots
Rated for well below zero, with a thick sole, because cold comes up from the snow while you wait.
Merino base layers
They keep you warm without bulk, and they do not smell after several nights of wear.
Hand and toe warmers
Cheap, light and good for hours. Most aurora chases involve a lot of waiting.
Aurora chases can drop below 0°F. Packlier packs for your nights of standing still, and still fits your bag.
Tell it where, when, why, which bag and which palette, and it packs the capsule, checks it against the bag and adds everything that is not clothing. Launching this year on Android, with iOS to follow.
One email at launch, nothing else.