Clothing advice for your winter trip to Lapland & the Arctic.
The Ultimate Guide – Live Update 2026
This is the most comprehensive, evolving handbook for your arctic clothing, compiled by the experts at Holmstock Travel. Because warm feet are the absolute basis of any Lapland trip, we kick off this guide with:
Part 1: Socks & Shoes. In the coming weeks, we will expand this page live with the best advice for thermal clothing, jackets, and accessories. Bookmark this page!
Choose your clothes wisely!
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Experience is key! Why you should leave your regular socks at home.
This is the most comprehensive, growing handbook for your Arctic clothing equipment, compiled by the experts at Holmstock Travel. Because warm feet are the absolute foundation of any Lapland trip, we're kicking off this guide with
Part 1: Socks & Shoes. In the coming weeks, we will live update this page with the best advice for thermal clothing, jackets, and accessories. Save this page to your favourites!
Some items you can buy directly from Holmstock Travel, here in the online store. For other items, advisory products that require a more personal approach, we provide you with tips and, where possible, sources for purchasing them.
Years of experience in the Arctic cold
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What should I bring, what should I buy?!
With temperatures as low as -35°C, wintery Lapland experiences a freezing cold that is almost beyond words. Over the years, we have traversed this extreme wilderness through all weathers. We know exactly what we are talking about: the Arctic climate is beautiful, but it is also an element that must be approached with deep respect. Cold is serious. Without the right equipment, a dream trip can quickly turn into a bitter experience. But with the right preparation, you will enjoy the overwhelming nature intensely and comfortably.
With the independent advice of the specialists at Holmstock Travel and our experienced, mostly Scandinavian, partners, you will be perfectly prepared. This way, your Arctic adventure is guaranteed to be warm, enjoyable, and safe.
Let's start with your feet.
Why are warm feet so important, and where do most people go wrong right away?
The answer is simple: In extreme cold, your body always protects your vital organs first. As soon as your torso cools down, your circulatory system constricts blood flow to your limbs. Your toes are therefore the very first victim of arctic frost. Once your feet are cold, it's impossible to warm up the rest of your body. Most travelers make two mistakes right away when preparing:
- The cotton mistake: People habitually wear their thickest everyday (cotton) athletic socks, or even wear multiple pairs. Cotton retains perspiration like a sponge. This moisture will freeze instantly and draw warmth from your body. In Lapland, clammy feet guaranteed mean frozen feet.
- The constriction mistake: Travelers buy thick socks but wear them in shoes of their normal size. This causes the foot to be tightly constricted. Your toes can no longer move freely, and there's no room for air. Without a circulating layer of air around the sock, wool has no insulation value, your circulation stagnates, and your toes will still freeze.
To prevent these mistakes and keep your feet warm and dry, we work closely with top brands such as Woolwear of Scandinavia. Their socks are specifically designed to solve this arctic moisture and insulation problem.
Honest advice: It doesn't always have to be an expensive top brand.
Let one thing be clear: We don't simply recommend expensive top brands because it sounds trendy. In many cases, a specific product is simply the safest choice for a traveler unaccustomed to the cold.
Our experience in the north has taught us that the locals themselves don't exclusively wear expensive high-tech clothing. Locals rely on generations of passed-down knowledge. They know clever, simple alternatives and are also hardened by the climate from a young age.
As a holiday traveler, you lack that built-in 'arctic thermostat'. What is a perfectly fine alternative for a local might be just too cold for you. Where possible, we naturally take this into account and provide you with clever, down-to-earth insider tips. But for your feet, we simply take no risks: Norwegian wool from Woolwear is the most reliable foundation for that.
Ready for a real Holmstock experience?
Discuss your wishes directly with our experts.
Which socks are best for spotting the Northern Lights?
Spotting the Northern Lights is a magical experience, but also the ultimate test for your feet. Why? Because when chasing the Northern Lights, you often stand still for hours on an icy surface, deep in the night, in temperatures that plummet towards -30°C. As soon as you stop moving, your muscles' active heat production ceases, and the cold relentlessly penetrates your shoes through the snow. An active hiking sock won't suffice here. For the Northern Lights, our guides swear by the ultimate combination of the arctic layering system:
- The Base (moisture wicking): A wafer-thin merino sock that wicks sweat directly away from your skin. Because moist skin freezes instantly when stationary.
- The Insulation (still air): An extremely thick, Norwegian ragg or Eskimo sock made of pure wool. Its coarse structure traps the maximum amount of warm air, acting as a thick insulating blanket around your feet.
Below you will find the exact sock combination we recommend for a comfortable and warm night in Lapland under the magical Northern Lights.
The ideal blend for icy cold:
Use the thin merino sock as a base layer to wick away moisture, and choose a thick lamb's wool sock for perfect insulation.
The golden rule: Room in your shoe!
The best wool sock won't work if your foot is cramped. Make sure your winter shoes or snow boots are 1 to 2 sizes larger than your normal shoe size. There *must* be a thin layer of air circulating around your Woolwear socks, because it's that still air that provides the insulation. Are your toes pinched? Then blood circulation stops, and in the arctic cold, you're guaranteed to get icy feet.
Click here and order your socks directly through Holmstock Travel, quickly, safely, and easily:
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Woolwear Eskimo Lamswollen Sok 80%C1, Antraciet
Regular price €19,95 EURRegular priceUnit price per -
Woolwear Eskimo Lamswollen Sok 80%C1, Ecru
Regular price €19,95 EURRegular priceUnit price per -
Dunne merino wollen sokken met 75% merino wol van WOOLWEAR®
Regular price €19,95 EURRegular priceUnit price per
-20 degrees Celsius without a coat?!
... yes, that's also possible. Linda isn't even wearing gloves during an arctic walk here. We've truly tried and done everything. What works and what doesn't, and especially why that is. That's the experience we'd like to share with you.
Shoes for Lapland
These Nutukas, the original, grass-insulated, reindeer leather shoes of the Saami, are not the best choice for you as a traveler 😉.
These elf-like shoes, with their striking upturned toes and beautiful decorations, certainly capture the imagination.
Which shoe or boot for Lapland?
What you definitely should NOT wear: Classic hiking boots!
Of course, you'll want to take your sturdy leather hiking boots from Meindl or Lowa with you on your trip to the north. We completely understand. After all, they are fantastic, robust shoes.
However, our experience is that a regular hiking boot, perfectly suited for normal hiking socks in European above-zero temperatures, completely fails in the arctic climate. Leather and the stiff synthetic soles of regular hiking boots are masters at conducting cold. As soon as the freezing cold takes hold of the material, the -20°C temperature acts like an icy wave, passing directly through the sole and leather into your feet. Moreover, the hard synthetic material of a normal hiking boot is not designed for extreme cold; the rubber becomes rock hard and loses all grip, causing you to slip on the ice.
In addition, the body heat emitted by your foot creates an insidious effect on the bottom of your shoe. The snow you are standing on melts ever so slightly due to your sole's warmth, only to immediately transform back into pure ice due to the extreme outside temperature.
Within no time, the snow freezes into a gigantic, rock-hard lump under your tread. You can no longer even stand normally or stably, let alone walk comfortably. Do you want to prevent frozen toes? Then use suitable winter boots. Your hiking boots might be fine for the journey to your destination or perhaps... halfway.
What is the best boot for the Arctic?
When you choose safety, you choose certified boots specially designed for extreme cold. Here at Holmstock Travel, we have years of experience with various top brands in the Arctic wilderness. We will give you a brief overview of the best-known and most reliable brands.
Since no two feet are alike, the right fit is crucial to prevent pressure (and thus cold). Do you want personal advice on the right footwear, fitting, and purchasing? Then we warmly recommend visiting a specialized physical store. An excellent example of this is Outdoorable Lifestyle in Culemborg, where specialists take the time to find what truly suits your feet. Of course, Google can also point you to an outdoor specialist near you.
Buying your own boots: The top picks and a tip
If you're going to buy boots yourself, we recommend looking at renowned arctic top brands such as Sorel, Baffin or Kamik. For all three brands, make sure you choose a model with a removable felt or resin liner (inner boot). This inner boot can easily be removed from the boot in the evening in the cabin to dry by the stove. This way, you'll never start your adventure the next morning with cold, damp boots.
Here are the three most famous brands plus an extra tip.
1. Baffin (Most expensive – from approx. € 200 to as much as € 450)
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Why the most expensive: Baffin does not make fashionable lifestyle boots, but pure hardcore expedition footwear. Here you pay for the advanced, patented 7-layer inner boots and the extremely light, insulating materials. Models such as the Baffin Impact or Baffin Selkirk are specially designed for extreme polar explorers and guides who stand still for hours in the deepest sub-zero temperatures.
Baffin men's collection / Baffin women's collection
2. Sorel (Mid-range – from approx. € 160 to € 260)
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Why mid-range: Sorel (especially known for the iconic Sorel Caribou) is the most famous boot on the streets. The brand combines fashion with functionality. The boots are very heavy and robust due to the thick leather and the heavy rubber galosh. Sorel is firmly in the mid-range in terms of price, where you also partly pay for the well-known brand name and iconic design.
Sorel men's collection / Sorel women's collection
3. Kamik (Cheapest top brand – from approx. € 90 to € 180)
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Why the most affordable: Kamik is the no-nonsense brother of Sorel and Baffin. This Canadian family business opts for a straightforward approach. Models such as the Kamik Nation Plus or Kamik Cody use traditional, extremely strong felt liners (such as the 3-layer Zylex system). They offer almost the same warmth performance as Sorel, but are often significantly more affordably priced and lighter in weight.
Kamik men's collection / Kamik women's collection
Our tip:
In February 2026, Patrick had to part with his Sorel boots. The boots he had featured a snow sole, which often required him to use ice spikes attached with rubber bands around the boot's foot. The Sorels got damaged, and it was time for something new.
Shortly before the trip, we bought the Quechua Snowboot NH900 at Decathlon. We actually stumbled upon it by chance. For only € 99, it turned out to be an excellent purchase.
During the opening ceremony in Jokkmokk at -30 degrees Celsius, we stood still for hours. In combination with the right socks, there was no moment of cold feet.
Our conclusion: A really excellent boot with loose inserts. Also great for walking some distance and therefore perfectly suited for a winter holiday in Lapland. Slightly less finish quality but certainly a great deal!
Quechua men's model /
When writing this article, we also looked at the women's section. Unfortunately, Decathlon does not offer the same boot with a loose insert there. Without being able to give specific advice, this women's boot is also offered with a -30 rating: Quechua women's model
Renting boots and clothing for the excursion: Are you then completely ready?
Many organized Arctic winter trips and individual excursions include professional thermal suits and heavy snow boots as standard. This is super practical and safe, as it means you don't have to immediately invest hundreds of euros in clothing that you will probably never wear again in the Benelux. But pay close attention: this equipment is often only provided for the exact duration of the activity.
This raises a crucial question: what do you wear outside of the excursions? Because even when you walk from your cabin to the central restaurant during the day, quickly go grocery shopping in the village, or spontaneously run outside at night because the northern lights unexpectedly appear, it's still -25°C outside. You simply cannot walk around in your regular sneakers or leather hiking boots then. So, make sure you – in addition to your Woolwear socks – always have a good, affordable pair of winter boots with you (like the tested Decathlon Quechua NH900) for all moments outside of the planned tours.
Your questions are welcome!
... come and sit by the fire, it's so much easier to talk that way. A good trip is always tailor-made. Let us know what you're looking for, what your wishes are, and how we can work together to create a fantastic plan. Your journey starts here: