Northern Norway November clothing?

[imck]

Off to Norway for 2 weeks in about 3 weeks time.

Couple of days in Oslo then up to Tromso, Senja and Kirkeness.
Mrs imck telling me I need to get some suitable clothing.

Unlikely to go out for long hikes, More like a wander for an hour or two.
Going on a whale watch cruise and a couple of nights on the Hurtigruten boat from Tromso to Kirkeness.

Don't want to overdo it and end up carrying unused expedition gear. Only have a car for 2-3 days half way through.
Don't really have a warm waterproof jacket so could probably do with one.
Will I need thermals? Socks? Decent gloves/hat?
Have some fairly thick soled Merrell walking shoes.

[N4LLY]

Obviously a good Gore-tex jacket.

Top tip. Ski trousers. Keep you cool when warm and warm when cold.
Waterproof, comfy and look smart.
Remember they are designed for you to exercies in.

I wore in Setember and in June on my North Norway fishing trips and performed most excellent.

These are what i would be after.... Nevica a good brand....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155214422708?hash=item2...

Edited by N4LLY on Sunday 8th October 18:36

[imck]

N4LLY said:

Obviously a good Gore-tex jacket.

Top tip. Ski trousers. Keep you cool when warm and warm when cold.
Waterproof, comfy and look smart.
Remember they are designed for you to exercies in.

I wore in Setember and in June on my North Norway fishing trips and performed most excellent.

These are what i would be after.... Nevica a good brand....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155214422708?hash=item2...

Edited by N4LLY on Sunday 8th October 18:36

Thanks
Would I need anything under them other than usual cotton boxers?

[N4LLY]

Nope, thermals would be overkill.
Gloves and hat yeah. They can go on and off as you please.

[imck]

N4LLY said:

Nope, thermals would be overkill.
Gloves and hat yeah. They can go on and off as you please.

Ordered

Thanks again.

[JQ]

N4LLY said:

Nevica a good brand....

20 years ago maybe. The brand name was bought by Mike Ashley in 2010 and the gear is manufactured and sold by Sports Direct, it’s as low quality as you can get these days. If you want decent quality salopettes that won’t break the bank you can’t go wrong with Decathlon or Sports pursuits (online).

My suggestions would be merino socks and base layers. And possibly some warm boots. The whale watching can at times be uncomfortably cold. They will give you a snow suit, but keeping your feet warm will be down to you I suspect.

[Snow and Rocks]

While gore-text is good, what is typically described as a gore text jacket is really just a waterproof shell with very little insulating qualities.

You can either go with several layers underneath or choose an thicker insulated jacket of some sort instead. Layers are obviously good if you're doing something physical as you can take them off if you get too warm but for standing around in the cold, most people go for a thicker insulated jacket. Down is best if it's dry, synthetics if you're likely to get wet.

[N4LLY]

JQ said:

20 years ago maybe. The brand name was bought by Mike Ashley in 2010 and the gear is manufactured and sold by Sports Direct, it’s as low quality as you can get these days. If you want decent quality salopettes that won’t break the bank you can’t go wrong with Decathlon or Sports pursuits (online).

My suggestions would be merino socks and base layers. And possibly some warm boots. The whale watching can at times be uncomfortably cold. They will give you a snow suit, but keeping your feet warm will be down to you I suspect.

I agree, Nevica, not what they used to be, i remember in the 80's a pair and they were £125.-- then.
Pure quality and lasted me 20+ years, inc fishing on beaches and boats.

Still our man is going for a stroll so i think will be more than fine with...
5000mm waterproof
5000mm breathability

[imck]

N4LLY said:

JQ said:

20 years ago maybe. The brand name was bought by Mike Ashley in 2010 and the gear is manufactured and sold by Sports Direct, it’s as low quality as you can get these days. If you want decent quality salopettes that won’t break the bank you can’t go wrong with Decathlon or Sports pursuits (online).

My suggestions would be merino socks and base layers. And possibly some warm boots. The whale watching can at times be uncomfortably cold. They will give you a snow suit, but keeping your feet warm will be down to you I suspect.

I agree, Nevica, not what they used to be, i remember in the 80's a pair and they were £125.-- then.
Pure quality and lasted me 20+ years, inc fishing on beaches and boats.

Still our man is going for a stroll so i think will be more than fine with...
5000mm waterproof
5000mm breathability

Have ordered merino socks, gloves, hat and neck/face warmer. Also some mittens and a waterproof jacket.
Layers will be easier for packing.
Ordered the trousers and some long sleeved base layers from Sports Direct.

Was in Iceland in Feb a few years ago. My extra pair of cotton socks didn't cut it standing outside waiting for the Northern Lights that never came.
I feel a little more prepared now. Will see how I get on. They have shops in Norway.

[Bobtherallyfan]

Always travel to Norway with a Craghoppers or Rab compresslite top. Weighs nothing and goes under a Goretex for insulation

[Suspicious_user]

Bobtherallyfan said:

Always travel to Norway with a Craghoppers or Rab compresslite top. Weighs nothing and goes under a Goretex for insulation

Layering is key, though I don’t fancy the North Sea in winter, been there, done that and it’s not an enjoyable experience

[bearman68]

I was in North Norway skiing in Feb. -17 most days.
As ever, I took my Buffalo top. Fabulously useful bit of kit, that I wear all the time when it gets cold, and excellent value for money. (Having said that, I just looked at the prices. I think I paid £80 for mine, but it's excellent value, because it gets used all the time)

https://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/products/mountain...

[TGCOTF-dewey]

Unless it cools rapidly, I wouldn't get too serious. I was in Oslo and Lillehammer week before last and wandered up to the top of the ski jump in a t shirt. It was about 17 degrees.

Brace yourself for beer prices though. 12-15 quid.

[craig1912]

N4LLY said:

I agree, Nevica, not what they used to be, i remember in the 80's a pair and they were £125.-- then.
Pure quality and lasted me 20+ years, inc fishing on beaches and boats.

Still our man is going for a stroll so i think will be more than fine with...
5000mm waterproof
5000mm breathability

Had to laugh when I saw Nevica recommended. I didn’t think they still existed. I had a Nevica gortex ski jacket and salopettes in the eighties. Top stuff that last years but cost even then around £200.

[oddman]

TGCOTF-dewey said:

Unless it cools rapidly, I wouldn't get too serious. I was in Oslo and Lillehammer week before last and wandered up to the top of the ski jump in a t shirt. It was about 17 degrees.

Brace yourself for beer prices though. 12-15 quid.

Tromsø is 1000km further north. Nov average temps will be hovering around zero with quite a lot of precipitation and wind speeds averaging 15km/h. There will be no sunlight.

I've skied in Tromsø in April and although around 0 degrees in the town it was very cold on the hills with brutal wind. We were very active and layers helped manage body temperature but as soon as we stopped we had to shelter as well as possible and layer up quickly. I would imagine out at sea will be much colder though you will be able to get shelter

If you're on the deck of a boat looking for northern lights I'd suggest waterproof shell. Salopettes Ski pants and long jacket to create big overlap. Gore-tex is overkill unless you're active and sweating. That being said Army surplus - Austrian and German you could get very decent goretex salopettes and jacket for £100.

Your hands, feet and head need to be really warm. If this were me I would have thermal merino layers, intermediate layers, a decent duvet jacket with hood and insulated boots

If you're flying to Tromsø and trying to make a rendez vous I would give yourself an extra day. Flight cancellations and luggage hiccups are not unknown

[TGCOTF-dewey]

oddman said:

Tromsø is 1000km further north. Nov average temps will be hovering around zero with quite a lot of precipitation and wind speeds averaging 15km/h. There will be no sunlight.

I've skied in Tromsø in April and although around 0 degrees in the town it was very cold on the hills with brutal wind. We were very active and layers helped manage body temperature but as soon as we stopped we had to shelter as well as possible and layer up quickly. I would imagine out at sea will be much colder though you will be able to get shelter

If you're on the deck of a boat looking for northern lights I'd suggest waterproof shell. Salopettes Ski pants and long jacket to create big overlap. Gore-tex is overkill unless you're active and sweating. That being said Army surplus - Austrian and German you could get very decent goretex salopettes and jacket for £100.

Your hands, feet and head need to be really warm. If this were me I would have thermal merino layers, intermediate layers, a decent duvet jacket with hood and insulated boots

If you're flying to Tromsø and trying to make a rendez vous I would give yourself an extra day. Flight cancellations and luggage hiccups are not unknown

Fair point.

That said I've skied in the Arctic circle at - 37 and because there's so little humidity it felt nowhere near that and basic kit was sufficient.

The reality is for the sort of trip the op is describing, if the weather is crap they'll likely end up staying indoors, negating the need for expensive gear.

Outdoor stuff is very expensive and it's easy to overdo it. It's really only worth it where strenuous exercise is part of the equation or you're far from shelter.

[deckster]

oddman said:

I've skied in Tromsø in April and although around 0 degrees in the town it was very cold on the hills with brutal wind. We were very active and layers helped manage body temperature but as soon as we stopped we had to shelter as well as possible and layer up quickly. I would imagine out at sea will be much colder though you will be able to get shelter

The wind point is really important when the temperature drops. I've skied at Levi in Finland, and at -25 degrees on a calm clear day it is comfortable in a light jacket and a face covering. Conversely at minus 10 with a 20km/h wind it's brutally cold. As oddman says, out at sea you're likely to be in the wind all the time.

[oddman]

This is me preparing for a ski descent. Approx 0 degree but 50-60km/h wind - felt very cold. I'm probably only 600m above sea level. I've got 2 thin layers of merino and a light insulating jacket under the shell gear. There'll be a down jacket or vest in my pack along with big gloves and extra hat/buff.

Hood up over helmet and goggles is very unusual for ski touring. I felt a bit like a space man. Obviously you need good light kit for any activity that involves sweating and gravity. Principles are still the same for less demanding activity but weight and packability aren't such a premium. As I said army surplus have some good kit but for example Decathlon are good value for new kit. Their own brands Wedze, Forclaz and Simond are unbeatable at their respective price points.

[imck]

The Nevica trousers arrived today. Think they will be fine for my needs. Just had jeans in Iceland brrrr.
The jeans were fine for most of the trip.
We are not going on long hikes or skiing. Just want something better than my normal clothes without going OTT

I am related to Shackleton and will find a seal to wrap myself in if it gets too bad.
Or go to a Norwegian shop.

[N4LLY]

Some mentions of "merino" wool.

I am a big fan of Dale of Norway jumbers, i have 4. The windstopper's are awesome.

https://eu.daleofnorway.com/explore-dale/inspirati...