Before we set off for the trip, our tour manager texted us that we ought to be prepared for -20 degree celsius but the temperature in Norway and Finland was mainly above zero degree celsius. Only the first day in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi did the temperature plunge to -11 degree celsius, but even then, the cold was manageable. I was wearing a pair of thick stockings and a pair of furry leg coverings not even meant to insulate.
Some things I think are useful:
1) Thermal wear from the Ultra Warm series of Universal Traveller (RM338) and Uniqlo (S$39.90)
Uniqlo thermal wear received lacklustre reviews on different platforms. My third sister who had been to Antartica said that she shivered in Uniqlo's thermal wear, although it was not known which series she wore.
She insisted that we should get at least a set of Universal Traveller's thermal wear and drove us to JB Premium Outlet to get them.
It cost RM338 per set which included a top and a pair of pants.
My third sister advised us to get the size that fit quite snugly or body-hugging so that heat can be trapped.
Uniqlo's thermal top and bottom are sold separately. Can't remember the cost of the top but the pants cost S$39.90 or RM129.90. Prices should not differ too much from each other.
At first, I only wore the Universal Traveller's set as it was verified by my sister as being 'good'. It was also thinner and softer than Uniqlo's.
When I put on Uniqlo's set, I realised its ability to keep me warm wasn't inferior to Universal Traveller's.
2) Thermal singlet (桑蚕丝保暖背心）- 52RMB or S$9.50 for 2
I found most of my winter wear on Tao Bao. This kept me warm and it came with bra cups, which means I didn't have to wear a bra separately.
It has a very fine layer of material on the inner side so it feels fitting and comfortable. It was advertised as mulberry silk singlet which is meant to trap heat.
3) White furry earmuffs (毛绒耳罩) - 28RMB or S$5.71
I probably bought close to a dozen earmuffs but I used this most of the time as it can be easily matched with hats of any colour. It can also be worn on its own, hatless.
I find that those with furry headbands cling to the head or the hat better than those that are not furry. Without the fur which create friction, the earmuffs could slip off the head or hat.
The furry earmuffs also look better in pictures.
4) Thick leggings (光腿神器 ) -74.9RMB or S$13.75
I NEEDED to wear a skirt. It was driving me crazy wearing pants EVERY DAY. It wasn't exactly comfortable as I bought the stockings which covered the toes. It was pulling in and squeezing my toes while I wore it. It also scratched quite easily. I made two holes when I was putting it on. Nevertheless, this helped to protect my legs from the cold at -11 degree celsius, at Santa Claus Village, but not without another pair of leg protectors which brings me to ...
5) Leg warmers (长毛腿套）- 22.9RMB or S$5.14
It offered a second layer of protection on top of my thick leggings although it felt thin.
A tour groupmate came up to me to compliment that they looked pretty.
6) Snow boots 雪地靴
199RMB or S$37
198RMB or S$38.78
We were advised to shop at Timberland for S$200 boots but they were too stiff and uncomfortable for us.
I decided to take a chance on Tao Bao and I bought two pairs for each of us just in case one of them didn't work.
My elder sister didn't believe Tao Bao cheapo stuff would be any good so she bought another pair of high-cut boots for my mother at Decathlon.
It turned out that my mother's boots were slippery on ice and snow while mine gripped well. I didn't even need the crampons most of the time but my mother had to put them on whenever she was out of the hotels.
These boots were comfortable and kept my feet warm. And they were so cheap!
I ended up preferring the white ones as they were lighter, more fitting and more comfortable to wear.
7) Crampons or spikes (冰爪）- 12.8RMB or S$2.38
These worked very well. My only gripe was they were very tight and hard to put on. I guess it's not a problem if you are a guy but I had a hard time pulling them each time I put them on. My index finger's nail came off when I was exerting my strength pulling it and it chipped at the part where my skin was attached. It bled quite a bit. I gave up wearing them after that due to my injury.
Fortunately, my boots had enough traction to grip the surface of icy grounds.
I bought a tonne of clothes, hats, scarves and gloves on Tao Bao, simply because they were so cheap. I must have ended up spending more than I had budgeted for.
I was quite skeptical like most people though. I was worried that the outfits I bought would not keep me warm since they were so cheap. It turned out that Tao Bao was cheap and good.
On hindsight, I should have got my down jackets on Tao Bao too. I bought two down jackets - one from Winter Time (S$350) and the other from Universal Traveller (S$269) for each of us. They already cost me more than $1000. My elder sister went out and bought my mother another parka jacket for another S$300+. My mother ended up wearing it most of the time *roll eyes*
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