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Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014

Sydney
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11 posts
3 reviews
6 helpful votes
Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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We will be traveling from Sydney Australia to Rovaniemi this December for Christmas. We will be leaving temperatures of mid 30 degrees and have not experienced temperatures below 3 degrees. Can you please advise what to wear, pack and what can be hired? We are only there for a few days can anyone also recommend what tours we should book, we are particular interested in the Northern Lights.

Thank you

Iva
Singapore, Singapore
Level Contributor
357 posts
32 reviews
29 helpful votes
1. Re: Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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Im going to visit Rovaniemi end of the year too and I found a few tour operators. They are also featured in TA.

http://www.laplandwelcome.fi/activities/winter-safaris-in-rovaniemi

http://www.laplandsafaris.com/en/

http://www.safartica.com/the-House-of-Adventures-ENG

Helsinki, Finland
Destination Expert
for Helsinki
Level Contributor
4,466 posts
8 reviews
3 helpful votes
2. Re: Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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This is our classic FAQ on the Lapland forum http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g189915-i2262-k1492049-What_to_wear_in_Lapland_website-Lapland.html#9049167

Rovaniemi, Finland
Level Contributor
3,398 posts
3. Re: Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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It's basically a ski gear of some sorts, a base layer and a mid-layer you would need. Ski gear is fine on the streets also. You would blend in with the rest of us.

You can go very high-tech with your winter clothing, but I wouldn't over-exaggerate with your needs. It's not an expedition you going to but a vacation. Always near services and warm interiors. In my own experience, on every-day use, some cheap technical underwear is perfect as a base layer. Even cotton will do, if not doing anything too physical. We never use silk for example (other than as a balaclava). A normal sweater works as a mid-layer. And for the outer layer just some ski jacket and pants you are comfortable with. Don't worry about extra waterproofness as you probably won’t need it - except for kids, who you can't keep out of snow. But for adults I would say something like 95% of us don't choose gore-tex, for example, on every-day use.

Lined shoes with a thick sole are important. But again for a short trip no need for anything fancy, but your shoes should be roomy enough to comfortably fit a woolen sock, and you should still be able to wiggle your toes. A woolen scarf, a warm hat and mittens.

Normal winter clothing is simple, but it's a different sport if you are actually doing sports or going to safaris. But then on safaris they offer you with a good gear, a snowsuit, boots, gloves etc. You can also hire a snowsuit, but I bet you would get uncomfortable with it within a day.

If you are worried about your ski jacket being too thin, put on another layer first. If you are worried not packing enough layers with you, then don't. Weather might not be that cold anyway, and we still have shops here also. And I'm pretty sure up here our selection of winter gear is better than what you have down there... :)

Tinbeerwah...
Level Contributor
6 posts
17 reviews
4 helpful votes
4. Re: Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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Hi Relza. Just saw your post. We are also heading from Sunny Coast to Rovaniemi for Christmas. Did you get any worthwhile information about what to wear etc? would be keen to hear where you are at with this.

Perhaps we can meet for a drink in Rovaniemi!!! We will be there from 17th Dec to 27th Dec.

Arsy, France
Level Contributor
3,328 posts
88 reviews
212 helpful votes
5. Re: Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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http://lapland.fruitbandit.com has all the info you need on what to wear

Rovaniemi, Finland
Level Contributor
73 posts
26 reviews
22 helpful votes
6. Re: Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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That info site is very good and covers it all, also it is a good idea to prepare yourself a little mentally if you can. You may experience a 60 degree change from sunny Australia to cold and dark Finland.

I guided an Australian family back in 2009 and they had come from a heatwave at home reaching as much as 40 degrees, while here it went down to -37 during the stay. They had done the preparations and found it cold, but endurable.

Also you might want to google lapland welcome formerly known as Wild Lapland Safaris and still under the same ownership/management and has not improved much unfortunately.

Edited: 9 years ago
Tinbeerwah...
Level Contributor
6 posts
17 reviews
4 helpful votes
7. Re: Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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Thanks so much.

Tel Aviv, Israel
6 posts
8. Re: Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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Does it make sense to buy any needed clothes in Rovaniemi? I mean price-wise. Would it be fair prices or is it cheaper the buy at ebay beforehand?

Rovaniemi, Finland
Level Contributor
3,398 posts
9. Re: Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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I buy practically all my clothes in Rovaniemi... :)

You can spend a fortune with high-end brands, if you wish, but for a shorter holiday there really is no need to. The difference between high-end and cheaper brands being mostly in material strength, seam quality, technical details etc. None which would matter, if you need the clothing only for a few days. As Rovaniemi is a proper town, the selection is wider than in ski resorts, which tend to offer only the high-end brands.

If you have time to shop around a little hypermarkets Prisma and Citymarket are good places to start. Also a small department store Anttila downtown, plus all the sports shops. Many flea markets also. Kontti, for example, which is run by the Red Cross.

But even if you could save a little, is it really worth spending one day of your holiday just shopping for basic winter gear? I would probably get most of my stuff online, and if there are some items that are hard to find or you are not sure of, like boots and base layer for example, buy those once you get to Rovaniemi.

Tel Aviv, Israel
6 posts
10. Re: Rovaniemi - SCH, what to wear December 2014
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Hi,

thanks a lot for your reply. It is very helpful :-)

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