Tool / packing
Build your cold kit
Four questions, one list. Adapt the kit to the temperature, your group, the length of the trip, and how long you will actually be outside.
Print or screenshot the result
Kit builder / four questions
01—04This list is a starting point, not a shopping list. Rent ski gear at the resort. Check airline baggage rules for hand warmers and batteries.
Your cold kit
−20 to −30°C
01 / Wear on the plane
10 items- Merino or synthetic base layer
- Fleece or light down mid layer
- Windproof down parka
- Insulated, waterproof boots
- Wool socks — 2–3 pairs
- Mittens + thin liner gloves
- Hat covering the ears
- Neck gaiter or balaclava
- Insulated snow pants — Not jeans
- Ski goggles — Wind and snow glare
02 / Pack in the bag
9 items- Power bank — Kept inside your coat
- Spare camera battery
- Microfibre cloth
- Lip balm and moisturiser
- Sunscreen — Snow reflection is strong
- Reusable water bottle
- Small day bag — For removed layers indoors
- Spare base layers — One per two days
- Small laundry kit
03 / Group extras
3 items- Travel insurance details — Cold injury coverage
- Hotel address in Chinese
- Backup payment method
04 / Leave at home
4 items- Cotton base layers — Holds sweat
- Jeans — Cold and slow to dry
- Tight boots — Cuts circulation
- Fashion coat — Not a windproof shell
How to use this
Pack for the edge, not the average
Harbin's average January high is around -12°C, but the ice park at night is colder, and wind changes everything. Build the kit for the coldest block of your trip, then remove layers indoors.
The list is not a shopping requirement. Most travellers already own a waterproof shell and a fleece. The items worth buying or renting are insulated boots, mittens, and a windproof outer layer.
For the reasoning behind each item, read the layering guide and the extremities guide.