Should I rent or buy outdoor clothes for my holiday in Lapland? | Wild Nordic

Should I rent or buy outdoor clothes for my holiday in Lapland?

If you already have winter clothing

In case you have already been to a Nordic country, or on a winter holiday, and have purchased outdoor winter clothes, feel free to take them with you. Check first that they are warm enough and that you have enough space in your suitcases. Once on site, if you realize that they are not warm enough, don’t worry, you can always find a place to rent overalls.

What to buy

You will need:

-footwear, at least one size bigger to let the air flow, waterproof and warm

-mittens, also big, waterproof and warm

-wool socks (made from real wool)

-outer jacket, waterproof and warm, but light weight. It must also protect from the wind

-outer pants. Same style as the jacket

You can find all of these in most sport shops. You can also try to find a good deal from secondhand shops online, like Vinted, but it might take some time to find a good deal.

This equipment will cost you 250-500€ per person (270-540$ / 213-425£ / 409-818A$), with a typical coat costing about 70-200€ (75-216$ / 60-170£ / 115-227A$) and the shoes 80-250€ (86-270$ / 68-270£ / 130-409A$). Supposing you have children, it is quite an investment as the equipment will not be reusable for long. For example, if you’re traveling as a family of four, the total cost could easily run you upwards of 2000€ – that’s 2000€ taken away from potential fun and activities that you could be doing on your holiday!

Black winter boot cut open to showcase woolen sock underneath. Outfit rental, dressing - Villi Pohjola / Wild Nordic Finland @wildnordicfinland

The cheaper option: renting

There are many places that rent thermal winter clothing. The easiest is to book them from the company that you will have safaris with. They could include:

-Woolen socks (have you own merino socks under them)

-Winter boots: ask at least one size bigger than your usual size. Air in the boot, between your sock and the tip of the shoe, keeps your feet warm.

-Thermal overall: ask one size bigger than your usual size. You need to be able to comfortably sit in them, for example for a snowmobile safari.

-Mittens (have your own merino or thin wool gloves under them)

Nowadays, renting is a very popular choice. First, it is cheaper: renting thermal clothing is relatively easy to find and costs 20-35€ per person per day (22-38$ / 17-30£ / 33-57A$). Second, it saves a lot of space in your suitcase; space that you can fill with things you’ll buy in Lapland. Third and finally, it is the best solution if you have children. Buying them new winter clothing will keep them warm while they’re here, but will have a very short life span, as they’ll grow out of them quickly.

Pro tip: Don’t lose your party and take matching, colorful scarves with you! Why? Renting thermal clothing is very popular and you will find a lot of people dressed like you. When you take off your overall for example in a restaurant, there is a good chance that someone else will have mistaken your overall for theirs. By adding a bit of distinguishable color to your attire, you can help to prevent someone else mistaking your gear for theirs.

Man wearing winter overall suit with snowmobile helmet

Interested in saving space and money on your Lapland holiday? Wild Nordic offers rental equipment at an affordable price. And from three safaris with us, the rental is free of charge!

Still wondering what to back? Have a look at our other articles: Lapland Fashion: Fit in, Stay wram, and Embrace the adventure, as well as Lapland Adventure: Packing for Unforgettable Memories.

written: 4.6.2024