What to wear husky sledding in Tromsø
What the operator gives you
All six products issue a thermal suit and winter boots. Most include mittens and a hat. One kennel stocks overalls from child sizes up to XXXL and boots to EU 45, which covers most people but not everyone — if you have unusually large feet, say so when you book. Some supplied sportswear is not waterproof, which matters in a coastal thaw rather than in dry inland cold.
Issued at the camp
- A thermal suit that goes over your own clothes
- Winter boots, usually to EU 45
- Mittens and a hat on most tours
- A lávvu or hut with a fire at the end of the run
Pack these yourself
- Base layers — bring your own wool
- Thin gloves to wear inside the mittens
- Sunglasses or goggles, and sunscreen from late winter
- Anything cotton, which you should leave in the hotel
Why cotton is the classic mistake
Cotton absorbs sweat and holds it against your skin. You will sweat — driving a sled involves jogging uphill and bracing on the runners, which is exactly the kind of effort that soaks a T-shirt. Then you stand still at the dog yard for twenty minutes and that damp cotton pulls heat out of you. Merino wool moves moisture away and keeps insulating when it is damp. That is the whole argument, and it is why every handler I have worked with wears wool next to the skin in March as well as January.
The layer system that works
Thick wool against the skin. Wool, fleece or down as the middle layer. Windproof outer, which the issued suit provides. Where damp is likely — a coastal camp in a mild week — choose wool over down for the middle layer, because down loses most of its insulation once it is wet. Warm wool socks, one pair, not three: boots that are packed too tight cut off circulation and cold feet follow.
Bring thin gloves you can work a camera with. The issued mittens are warm and useless for anything fiddly, and the standard mistake is taking them off bare-handed at −15 °C. Photography in that cold has its own page at taking photos in the cold.
Eyes, face and sun
Sunglasses or goggles earn their place from February onward, when the sun is back and bouncing off snow, and goggles help in wind at any point in the season. Sunscreen matters from late winter on for the same reason. In deep December there is no sun to speak of — the month averages 0.0 hours above the horizon — so eye cover there is about wind and flying snow, not glare.
How cold you should actually dress for
Coastal camps run near the town average, which is a January mean of about −3.3 °C. Tamokdalen runs −10 to −20 °C and occasionally −30 °C. Dress for the camp you booked, not for Tromsø. The numbers are laid out on how cold it gets, and the camp differences on the camps page.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own snowsuit for husky sledding in Tromsø?
No. Every product here issues a thermal suit and winter boots, and most add mittens and a hat. You bring the layers underneath. What each tour includes is listed on the all-tours page.
What should I wear under the thermal suit?
Wool next to the skin, then a wool jumper or fleece. Avoid cotton entirely, including socks and underwear. Bring thin gloves for inside the mittens, and eye cover. What to expect explains when you will be standing still.
Are the boots warm enough in Tamokdalen?
The issued winter boots are made for it, but wear one pair of wool socks rather than layering until the boot is tight. Circulation matters more than sock count at −20 °C.
Will I be cold on the sled?
Driving keeps you warm; riding as the passenger does not, because you are sitting still in the wind. Partners swap halfway on most self-drive products, which evens it out. See self-drive vs guided.