Norway is the land of midnight sun and Northern Lights, and the saying “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”. With that in mind, here’s how to pack for your Norwegian adventure, all-weather ready!

Why this blog? Hi there! My name is Maddy and I’ve worked as an outdoor guide and travel writer since 2018. I live up on the chilly shores of Lake Superior and travel frequently for work. If you’re looking for a simple packing system that just works from town to trail, you’re in the right spot. I’m here to help equip you with a barebones, easy to carry simple packing system ready for Norway and other northern latitudes.

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Ultimate Norway Packing List:

When I visited Norway for two weeks we saw snow, pelting rain and gorgeous sunny days. It really is true that the weather on the North Atlantic changes on a dime. Luckily, there are a few key packing principles that can help you pack thoughtfully for a variety of weather conditions:

• Layers. Come with a good layering system that allows a few key pieces to keep you warm in a variety of conditions. This means baselayers, midlayers (often fleece) and outer layers.
• Rain gear. Near the coast you can often expect rain year-round. More important than just carrying rain gear, is remembering to actually use it when it’s raining so you don’t end up trying to dry out wet clothes before packing.
• Wool. There’s a reason wool is so popular in Norway! Wool stays warm when wet and has some innate water-resistance. This makes it ideal for everything from mountain hikes to rainy city walks in a place like Norway.

As always, I recommend you start with pieces from your wardrobe at home, then supplement with any needs before a trip.

Here’s a simple packing list to get you ready for your Norway adventure, from the bottom (baselayers) up (hard goods). Find a downloadable and printable packing list at the end of this article.

Base layers and Underwear to Pack for Norway

Base layers make up the bedrock of your packing system. They should be warm, sturdy pieces that are going to feel good next-to-skin. Here’s how I recommend structuring this side of packing:

• 2-3 wool base layers. Personally, I like a simple base layer that can double as a niceish top at a restaurant. I found that Kari Traa baselayers are popular in Norway and I was mistaken for a local few times wearing this top while hiking.
• One pair of underwear for every day of your trip + three. This is the formula I use to calculate how much underwear I’m likely to need, keeping in mind that on trips longer than two weeks I’m going to need to find laundry.
• 2-4 sports bras. I recommend Branwyn. I actually brought their essential racerback as one of three sports bras I brought to Norway and this is the only one I wore. It’s just more comfortable, and the antimicrobial properties of the wool mean it truly doesn’t smell.
• 1 pair of wool base layer pants. Ideal for wearing chilly days under your pants or for cold weather hikes. You 100% want these if you’re visiting in the autumn, winter or spring. You can probably sacrifice these in the summer.
• 1 pair of leggings. Ideal for activewear and can wear under pants in lieu of true base layers in a pinch.
• 2 pairs of shorts, to sleep in and/or hike in if summer. Personally, I always prefer to hike in pants.
• 2 cotton t-shirts, to sleep in or general wear
• 4 pairs of wool socks
• 1 pair cotton socks

To be totally honest, I tend to air on the light side when packing. I don’t mind having only two base layers to choose from; one that I always hike in and keep dirty and one that’s a little cleaner and I only wear out after a shower. This works for me as traveling light is worth being a little bit of a dirtbag, but it might not work for you.

Pictured above: Two outfits ready for town or a short hike, same building blocks.

Midlayers and Pants to Pack for Norway

Midlayers are the part of your travel capsule wardrobe that make up the bulk of what you’ll be seen wearing. This is what you’re wearing out at restaurants, or on top as you hike. Think: this is what you want to show up in photos.

• 1 grid fleece pullover
• 1 wool sweater (I actually recommend purchasing this in Norway!)
• 1 nice top for restaurants
• 1 pair of sturdy hiking pants. I highly recommend the Fjallraven Keb Curved.
• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 pair of thinner, multi-use pants

This is a pretty barebones list, but I’ve found that’s often enough. You can wear your pants a few times before they’re truly dirty and use of a baselayer can keep your midlayer tops clean for longer. The only thing I sometimes add for versatility is a cardigan, ideally a neutral knit that can go on over everything.

Pictured above: layering system examples with hiking in mind.

Outerlayers to Pack for Norway

An outer layer is what you put on last to protect you from the elements and will vary depending on the weather. If it’s pouring all day, your outer layer will likely be a rain jacket. If it’s misting and chilly, a wool sweater might be plenty. If it’s cold but you plan on being somewhat active, often a wool sweater with a thin puffer jacket underneath is my go-to winter hiking layering system.

• Raincoat. I typically like a thinner rain jacket while traveling, especially if I think I’ll be hiking in the rain. However, Norway is perhaps worth a thicker, less breathable rain jacket especially if you’re not planning on hiking more than four miles but still planning on spending a lot of time outside.
• Puffer jacket. The weight of jacket will depend on time of year. In the summer or autumn, you can likely get away with a thin, packable jacket. In the winter or early spring, you will want a thicker and warmer down jacket.
• Insulated or fleece vest. I like a vest for layering purposes. On an active but chilly day tossing a vest over a wool sweater can be a really great way to stay warm without overheating.
• Wool hat. Can buy high-quality hand knit goods in country.
• Mittens. Can buy high-quality hand knit goods in country.
• Winter: neck gaiter or scarf.

The perfect layering system is one that keeps you warm and dry, and is easy to adjust. If you’re walking around town in a base layer with a fleece, then wool sweater, you want it to be easy to pull off the sweater and tie it around your waist or put it in your backpacking. In true winter, if rain is off the table, a thick and warm parka may be a good choice.

Shoes to Pack for Norway

Choosing the right pair of shoes for traveling in my opinion comes down to comfort and versatility. Especially in Norway, you’ll want shoes that you can wear all day over long miles exploring comfortably, and shoes that are either waterproof or dry quickly. Here are some options to consider:

• Hiking boots or shoes. If winter, winter hiking boots.
• Winter: Muck boots
• Summer/fall: Bedrock clogs
• Running shoes/casual shoes.
• Ice cleats. Prevents wipeouts when walking, can buy locally.

I’m a two-pair of shoe traveler to be totally transparent. I bring a pair of trail runners and my bedrock clogs. If it’s true winter with snow, I’ll bring winter hiking boots and muck boots. That’s all you need and makes for easier packing.

Hard goods

Beyond clothes, here are a few key things to remember to pack for your Norwegian adventure:

• Camera
• Chargers
• External battery
• Laptop
• Book
• Toiletries (I am of the philosophy that you can buy any toiletries while you travel and only pack a toothbrush and paste)
• Medications
• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Headlamp (useful for hiking outside of summer season, or any trip during polar night)
• Power adapter Type F
• Trekking poles. I didn’t pack my beloved trekking poles and it was my deepest regret with all the hiking we did. If you plan on hiking and you’re checking a bag, toss these bad boys in, you won’t regret it.
• Passport, wallet, phone.

Plus, anything else that you personally need or want. I like to bring a knitting project while I travel, and because I work as a travel writer and content creator, I often carry additional cameras.

Bags & packing system for Norway

To keep my packing system as simple as possible, I try and pack everything into a Cotopaxi Allpa 35 L. For Norway specifically, I like to pack the Cotopaxi and check it, and bring a small hiking day pack as my carry on.

I highly recommend packing a small bag of emergency clothes in your carry on in case your checked bag doesn’t make it or you happen to spill a beer on yourself over the Atlantic (autobiographical).

I also recommend compression sacks. Better than packing cubes, these let you compress down your clothes to a fraction of their size. I compress one sack of emergency clothes in my carry on, and compress another in my checked backpack. Later, I’ll make one of the sacks dirty clothes only. The Sea to Summit compression sacks are also waterproof, which is an added bonus — you never know when you’ll be walking to a hotel in a downpour.

Headed to Norway? Consider exploring…

• This adorable city is often called the Gateway to the Arctic
• Head into the Norwegian mountains and off-the-beaten tourist path in this mountainous region
• Plan a one-week road trip through the Norwegian Arctic

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