Is it possible to pack essentials for cold-weather travel in carry-on luggage? While the temperatures on my Norwegian coastal voyage weren’t as brutal as some I’ve experienced in the Canadian North, my cold-weather packing list contributed to an enjoyable voyage on the Hurtigruten Norway Coastal Express. If you’re contemplating a similar voyage or a trip to a cold-weather destination, my detailed packing list offers some helpful ideas.

 

Packing considerations and approaches

A 25-day trip to Norway in the autumn of 2024 involved stays in Oslo and Bergen (with train and ferry connections between them). Anchoring the journey was a round-trip Hurtigruten Coastal Express voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes.

 

For my review, see Hurtigruten Norway Coastal Express Review and Guide.

 

Cold-weather gear would be needed for the 12-day Coastal Express voyage, where unpredictable weather involving rain, sunny periods, snow, icy conditions, and strong winds was expected. At the turnaround point of Kirkenes, historic averages suggested a daily spread of -1 to +3 Celsius (30 to 37 Fahrenheit).

Dress on board was casual, and the indoor temperature was set around 22 Celsius (71 Fahrenheit). Several presentations were held on deck, and the impressive coastal scenery and brief stops at coastal ports suggested spending many hours outdoors. An extensive selection of excursions was available at an added cost.

Layering was at the heart of my packing strategy for dealing with the warmer temperatures in the south, the cold weather on the Coastal Express, and transitioning from indoors to outdoors and vice versa. Most pieces were already part of my travel wardrobe except for a packable, waterproof rain jacket to cover at least four layers comfortably. One layer was a goose-down puffy jacket that needed a quality rain shell, so I made a list of desired characteristics and researched possibilities.

Other research involved reading as much as possible about the Coastal Express. I needed to know what was available on board (and didn’t need to be packed). While doing so, I kept a running list of other topics to research (e.g., seasickness prevention and treatment, hand warmers, and crampons for attaching to footwear) and maintained a shopping list once decisions were made on purchases.

Some excursions pointed to spending several hours outdoors. I looked into disposable hand warmers, and my research suggested restrictions on how many would be permitted in carry-on luggage. After reading reports of additional screening measures and confiscations at some airports, I decided in favour of the non-disposable, rechargeable variety. After researching possibilities, I chose a lightweight, two-piece magnetic version from Ocoopa.

 

Detailed packing list for cold-weather travel

LUGGAGE

I prefer the nested approach where my ‘personal item,’ empty or partially packed, nests inside my main carry-on bag when circumstances warrant. I carry a bungee luggage strap for those occasions when attaching my personal item and a jacket to the handle of my rolling bag is more convenient. 

Carry-on bag

The Osprey Daylite Carry-on Wheeled Duffel 40 is a soft-sided hybrid bag with removable backpack straps. It has a capacity of 40 litres and weighs 2.2 kg (4.94 lb).

Personal item

My personal item needs to be packable and the Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack fits the bill. It has a waterproof main compartment and two side pockets that can be cinched to secure a water bottle, travel umbrella, or easy-to-access essentials. It has a capacity of 18 litres and weighs only 194 grams (6.8 oz).

Crossbody purse

For most trips, I prefer a lightweight crossbody purse that serves as a document holder on transit days when it can be worn door to door, removed only at security screening checkpoints when it’s packed inside another bag. For the Norway trip, I took the Tom Bihn Side Kick. It measures 9.6 x 7.5 x 2.8 in / 24.5 x 19 x 7 cm and weighs 230 g / 8.1 oz. It holds daily essentials such as a pocket camera, phone, phone bank, slim wallet, and comfort items for in-flight use and when used as a day bag. Like other Tom Bihn bags, it has several O-rings for tethering items requiring extra security.

Luggage accessories included:

• Air Tags (Apple) in silicone case keychains (Hatalkin)
• A bungee luggage strap (GuanjunX) easily attaches a jacket or a personal item to a rolling bag.
• Web Dominators tame the dangling straps on the Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack.
• A whistle can be handy in an emergency. There’s one built into the sternum strap of my daypack, and a JetScream is attached to my purse.
• A compass (Suunto Clipper) is attached to the sternum strap of the daypack.
• Retractable coil straps with lobster claw clasps attach items to internal bag hardware, making it difficult to lose something by carelessness or falling prey to pickpockets.
• A few packing organizers kept items such as underwear and shirts organized and accessible. A compression cube (Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Compression Cube Set) squashed bulky items into compact packages. A dry bag is handy for temporarily stashing wet outerwear. 
• A small yarn stuff sack (Tom Bihn) houses tech accessories
• A zippered see-through case keeps an itinerary, receipts, and paper collectibles organized.

These posts have additional information:

• Osprey Daylite Carry-On Wheeled Duffel 40 review of a hybrid travel bag
• How to use a bungee luggage strap with a rolling suitcase
• Effectively tame dangling straps with Web Dominator
• 12 must-have features of a phone wallet case for travel
• The best compression packing cubes ever made
• 12 Tested examples of packing cubes and other organizers
• 10 Useful reasons to travel with dry bags

 

ESSENTIALS

• On transit days, my packable travel purse carried my passport in a small protective case, a trusted traveller card (NEXUS), and a laminated emergency contact card. These slip easily into a PacSafe RFID-blocking sleeve.
• A slim, minimalist RFID-blocking wallet carried one financial card, an emergency contact card, and my business card. I love the FurArt design with a built-in O-ring for securing the wallet to an attachment point.
• A Smartish phone wallet case has a secure pocket for a driver’s licence, a laminated emergency medical insurance policy card, and an emergency contact card.   
• A laminated copy of the information page of my passport is always carried in each bag.
• Hidden stashes of emergency cash and backup financial cards were hidden throughout my luggage.
• I wear a RoadID Wrist ID Elite bracelet, especially when travelling solo.

These posts have more information:

• 12 must-have features of a phone wallet case for travel
• How to make a traveller’s emergency contact card in 5 easy steps
• 9 Tested reasons to carry laminated copies of your passport
• A simple emergency ID bracelet for travellers saves lives

 

TOILETRIES

Two Tom Bihn 3D Clear Organizer Cubes keep liquids and non-liquids separate. Each has a built-in hook. They’re compact and pack more efficiently than a single-hanging toiletries kit. The ‘liquids bag’ serves as a 3-1-1 bag, so there’s no need to pack and unpack liquids before and after security screening. A small dry bag (Outdoor Research Dry Ditty Sacks) offers additional protection against leakages.

Liquids, gels, powders, and pastes are decanted into smaller containers:

• volumizing spray (Bumble and bumble BB Thickening Go Big Plumping Treatment)
• styling cream (Bed Head Manipulator Texturizing Putty)
• facial moisturizer (Aloderma Pure Aloe Vera Gel)
• moisturizer (CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30)
• hydrating facial mist (Mario Badescu)
• hand cream (The Body Shop Shea Butter sample)
• lip glowy balm, Berry (Laneige)
• lens cleaner (Green Oak)

Solids and other non-liquids are packed in a separate bag:

• toothbrush cover
• bamboo toothbrush (Woobamboo Slim Soft)
• toothpaste tablets with fluoride (GloBoid: 62 tablets) 
• floss
• deodorant (Crystal Body Deodorant)
• sunscreen stick (Shiseido 50+)
• cocoa butter stick (Cococare)
• all-purpose soap bar (Dr Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soap – Lavender)
• facial soap bar (Kiss My Face olive oil and lavender)
• soap bar case (Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case)
• shampoo and soap bar cases (PUL wet bags from Etsy: EcoAdorable)
• shampoo bar (Viori Purple)
• travel bottle covers silicone sleeves (Brandly Goods)
• nail file

 

FOOTWEAR and ACCESSORIES

Shoes were my nagging concern. Unfortunately, feet change and my hiking boots purchased several years ago would not have delivered a comfortable experience. Fortunately, my trip was early enough in the season that I decided to risk relying on my Saucony walking shoes fitted with crampon cleats for icy conditions. Had it been in the dead of winter, I would have explored other options.  

• closed-toe walking shoes (Saucony Progrid Integrity ST2 Black/Grey) are lightweight and comfortable, with a water-resistant leather exterior that received waterproofing treatment before the trip.
• crampon cleats (Limm Ice Snow Traction Cleats)   
• (2) pairs of merino socks (SmartWool) and lightweight ankle socks for indoor floors and sleepwear (Serisimple low-cut bamboo ankle socks)
• compression socks for flights (Rikedom Sports Graduated Compression Socks 15 – 20 mmHg)
• thongs/flip-flops are essential for hostel showers or an option for wearing indoors. Havaianas Slim are durable, lightweight, and comfortable.

 

CLOTHING and ACCESSORIES

• (5) quick-drying panties (a mixture of ExOfficio Give ‘N Go, Terramar Seamless Performance Bikini, Stay GLDN Essential Bikini, and Jockey Seamfree Bikini)
• Pocket Panties (H&R)
• (2) reusable panty liners (Etsy: Lily Pads)
• a bralette (Stay GLDN), and an incredibly comfortable bra top (UNIQLO Heat Tech Bra Sleeveless Top)

• (3) base layer short-sleeved tops: Smartwool Charcoal Heather (56% merino), Icebreaker Tech Lite Crewe 150 (87% merino), and a short-sleeved Qualfort V-neck shirt (70% bamboo, 30% cotton)
• short-sleeved button-up shirt (Eddie Bauer Guide Shirt)
• long-sleeved button-up shirt (Columbia Silver Ridge)

• long-sleeved mid-layer (Patagonia Concord Tundra Women’s Capilene Midweight Zip Neck Polyester)
• long-sleeved mid-layer hoody (Icebreaker Quantum Zip Hood Gritstone)
• shirt (1) to double as sleepwear
• trousers with pockets (MIER Quick-Dry Lightweight Women’s Hiking Pants Graphite Grey)
• leggings with pockets (Lululemon Fast and Free HR Crop 19” Black)
• base layer leggings (Icebreaker Oasis 100% merino)

 

OUTERWEAR and ACCESSORIES

• women’s lightweight vest with hidden pockets (ScottEvest SeV)
• goose down packable jacket (Arc’teryx Thorium A Hoody 750 fill)
• waterproof, windproof jacket (Black Diamond Stormline Stretch Rain Shell)
• waterproof rain pants (Marmot Women’s Pre-Cip Pant)

• pashmina
• reversible neckwarmer wool Buff (100% merino)
• extra-long wool Buff (100% merino)
• woollen mittens
• woollen headband/ear warmer
• woollen hat

For additional information, see:

• Pack a pashmina: the best multipurpose item in a travel bag
• A multipurpose essential: Buff for the packing light traveller

 

GADGETS and ACCESSORIES

• pocket camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS200), camera charger
• iPhone 14 Pro, charger, wallet phone case with pocket slot (Smartish Wallet Slayer)
• iPad Mini, charger, camera adapter (Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader)
• touch screen pen
• power bank (TG90)
• wired in-ear noise-cancelling headphones for flights (Bose Quiet Comfort 20)
• wired in-ear headphones as a sleep-aid (Bose SoundTrue Ultra)
• USB data blocker (PortaPow 3rd Generation)
• keychain charger cable, 6-in-one (Rolling Square inCharge X)
• 4-in-1 Multi-Charging Cable (One is Enough)
• AC to USB Power Adapter (Lencent 45W)
• Lightning-to-jack adapters
• Flashlight (Olight I1R 2Pro)
• Magnetic rechargeable hand warmers (Ocoopa)

 

MISCELLANEOUS

• braided travel clothesline (Design Go Go) with suction cups removed
• needle and thread packed in pocket handwash case
• duct tape card (See 31 Practical uses of duct tape when you travel)
• reading glasses, emergency reading glasses (ThinOPTICS)
• sunglasses, retainer (Croakies Terra Cord Max), soft protective pouch
• refillable water bottle (Hydrte Slim)
• slim pen (Zebra Mini Ballpoint)
• multi-tool (Nite Ize DoohicKey Key Tool) attached to day pack
• bling: a ring and one pair of earrings.
• business cards

 

COMFORT PACK

• pocket hand wash leaves (Sea to Summit)
• 6 towel tablets (P4X bamboo towels)
• 4-ply bamboo tissue travel pack (Terre)
• hand sanitizer (Purell)
• hand cream (Body Shop Shea Butter sample)
• lip balm (Burt’s Bees)
• sanitizing wipes (Purell)
• surface wipes for plane (Flygiene)

 

WELLNESS SUPPLIES

• oil of oregano (Sundance)
• C+ Zinc Immune Support Gummies (Nature’s Truth)
• Saccaromyces boulardii (Naka Platinum 10 billion)
• Multivitamin drink mix (Ener-C cranberry)
• hydration tablets (NUUN Sport Hydration)
• activated charcoal capsules (Organika)
• grapefruit seed extract (Nutribiotic)
• black elderberry pastilles (Sambucol)
• lemon ginger lozenges (Belly Comfort)
• pressure-filtering ear plugs (EarPlanes)

 

FIRST-AID KIT

I packed a selection of OTC medication and first-aid supplies, including seasickness prevention and treatment: Sea Bands, anti-nauseant medication, and lemon ginger lozenges (Belly Comfort). First-aid supplies fit in a soft-sided Tom Bihn organizer, small enough to carry in a personal item and daypack.

For more information, see 16 Tips on how to assemble a perfect travel first-aid kit for details.

 

Assessment: cold-weather packing list

The nesting approach to carry-on travel continues to work for me. My personal item carries everything I need during a flight, while my main carry-on bag remains stowed in the overhead locker. At my destination, partially unpacking and rearranging the contents of my personal item in my carry-on wheeled luggage makes it easy to negotiate public transportation. Within airports, the bungee luggage strap helps create a compact package with a jacket and personal item securely attached to my rolling bag.

The Osprey Daylite Carry-on Wheeled Duffel 40 Daylite has a large main compartment that lacks internal organization. This is an advantage as extra pockets and zippers add weight, and I have the flexibility to use various lightweight packing cubes or organizers to meet my organizational needs. I appreciate the two-rod retractable handle and the two all-terrain wheels that handle a variety of surfaces.

While on board the Hurtigruten Coastal Express, each morning, I packed my Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack with layers for layering up and venturing out on deck at a moment’s notice. Also, it proved handy in the dining room when left on a chair to head to the buffet. The crew were quick to clear tables for the next guests, and the bag indicated I’d be back.

Weather conditions were such that the crampon cleats weren’t used but I don’t regret packing them. However, I appreciated the rechargeable hand warmers for spending long periods on deck.

 

I was satisfied with my clothing choices except for the two button-up shirts. I wore the short-sleeved button-up shirt on the outbound flights; the rest of the time, it and the long-sleeved shirt remained packed. (The long-sleeved shirt is my go-to choice for dressier wear; it’s just that no occasion presented itself on this trip.)

On board, I rotated two base-layer merino shirts. Merino is an excellent choice as a base layer because it is lightweight, odour-resistant, naturally breathable, and wicks moisture away from the skin. They were the only pieces in my layering system that needed laundering during the trip. Merino fabrics require infrequent handwashing and dry quickly. I also rotated three lightweight panties that dried overnight.

My collection of base layers, mid-layers, and outer layers worked beautifully. None of them were bulky sweaters, sweatshirts, or heavy coats that consume more space than thinner, insulating, and packable pieces. An appreciated feature was that three layers had hoods, and each zipped to cover my neck and chin to create a snug fit around the face. What a difference these pieces created! A woollen hat (and a merino Buff to cover the nose if necessary) provided additional protection. The three layers with hoods were a long-sleeved Icebreaker Quantum Zip Hoodie, an Arc’teryx Thorium A Hoody, and a waterproof, windproof Black Diamond Stormline Stretch Rain Shell.

The Black Diamond Stormline Stretch Rain Shell was my only clothing purchase. The Stormline Stretch became an obvious choice after I created a list of ‘must-have’ and ‘nice-to-have’ features. It needed to join my travel wardrobe as a versatile piece to wear as a breathable, single layer in warm, humid climates and an outer, windproof layer in cold conditions. In Norway, on the ferry from Flåm to Bergen and later on the Coastal Express, it allowed me to spend several hours on deck by keeping cold wind on the outside and warm air created by the insulating layers on the inside.

 

Conclusion

Enjoying cold-weather destinations with carry-on luggage is possible with the right gear. A lightweight setup of layers you may already have beats bulky, heavy choices that demand more space in your luggage than they deserve. 

 

If you found this post helpful, please share it by selecting one or more social media buttons. What essentials are on your cold-weather packing list? Please share your thoughts in the comments. Thank you.

 

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