What to wear for reindeer sledding
Twenty minutes sitting still in a sled at minus ten is colder than an hour of walking around town. Three of the five tours we compare lend you nothing warm, so what you put on in the morning decides whether you enjoy the ride or count the minutes.
Who lends you what
| Tour | Lent to you | Bring yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Our pick, Tromsø Arctic Reindeer | Nothing listed | Everything (the operator asks for two layers, gloves, hat and winter boots) |
| Closest camp, sled option | Nothing listed | Everything |
| Tromsø Lapland | Snowsuit and boot covers | Warm layers, hat, gloves, scarf |
| Evening sled and dinner | Nothing listed | Everything, and colder after dark |
| Camp Tamok | Thermal suit, winter boots, mittens, hat | Base layers and a scarf |
Even with a suit on top, what you wear underneath decides how long you stay warm. The suits are windproof shells with padding, not magic.
The layers, from the skin out
- Base layer: long thermal underwear, top and bottom, in wool or synthetic. Not cotton, which stays damp and cold.
- Middle layer: a wool sweater or a fleece. Two thin layers beat one thick one.
- Outer layer: a windproof, insulated winter jacket that covers your bottom, and insulated or ski trousers. Jeans alone are a mistake.
- Head and neck: a hat that covers your ears, and a scarf or neck gaiter you can pull over your nose in the sled.
- Hands: mittens over thin liner gloves. Mittens keep fingers warmer; the liners let you use a phone for a moment.
- Feet: insulated winter boots with a good grip, one size roomy enough for thick wool socks. Tight boots mean cold toes.
Feet are the problem
In the sled your feet stretch out in front of you, motionless, close to the snow. Every review that complains about the cold complains about feet. Wool socks, not cotton, and a spare pair in your bag if your boots get wet at the feeding pen. If you only own fashion boots, either buy proper ones in Tromsø, where the sports shops are well stocked, or choose Camp Tamok, which lends winter boots, or Tromsø Lapland, which lends boot covers.
Dress for the feeding, too
The feeding pen is the dirty part. Hungry reindeer push, drool and step on toes, and the snow in the pen is not always white. Wear outer layers you do not mind getting dirty, keep scarves tucked in so nobody chews them, and leave the expensive gloves for the ride. What the ride itself is like is in its own guide.
The tour that dresses you
Camp Tamok includes a thermal suit, winter boots, mittens and a hat with its ~$333 wilderness day, and serves stew by the fire.
Packing from a cruise cabin
Cruise suitcases rarely hold Arctic gear. If you are short, prioritize in this order: boots, mittens, a hat, a scarf, thermal leggings. Those five matter more than the jacket, because you can layer two sweaters under a normal coat. Ice cleats that slip over your shoes help on the icy quays and sidewalks and are sold cheaply in town. Our cruise guide has the rest of the day planned.
For children
Children lose heat faster and complain later. Dress them one layer warmer than yourself, put their mittens on a string, and bring a spare hat. A snack and a warm drink in a flask help between the ride and the lavvu. Sledding with children has more.
After dark
On the evening tour, temperatures drop once the sun is gone and you may stand outside watching the sky after dinner. Add a layer and bring hand warmers. A small headlamp is useful at the camp, but keep it switched off near the reindeer and when others are looking for the aurora. The evening tours are compared in their own guide.