I currently live in Minneapolis, MN but I was born and raised in Missouri, the land of strange and inconsistent seasons including a usually tame winter of an average 20-40 degrees F and occasionally 60s when we least expect it and balmy summers in the 90s with high humidity though sometimes we get surprised by chilly days as well. I remember the first winter I started driving and I was introduced the the true Missouri winter which most often includes a lot of ice rather than snow due to the warmer day temps and sudden night freezes. I can also remember days of heat warnings advising us to stay inside and stay hydrated. But, it was balanced, Fall was beautiful, Spring was rainy but it was always bright out.
I graduated from college 5 years ago in the middle of winter in Missouri. About a week later, I hopped on a plane for Finland for the first time. I can still remember the first time I saw the landscape of Rovaniemi, Finland from the airplane window, snow covered trees and beautiful landscapes with such wide open land I had never seen. Above everything else it looked so peaceful. was so excited…then I stepped off the plane and into the air and for a moment I hesitated considering jumping back on the plane and heading back south. It was COLD! Like really cold. So cold that I didn’t feel like there would be enough clothes on the planet to keep me warm. Now, I realize there are many people who endure this climate and would call me a baby for complaining but give me a little slack, I left 40 degree weather and landed myself in sub zero temperatures! It was unnatural and my blood was too thin to not be totally shocked. New Years Eve that year the temperature hit a real low of 35 degrees BELOW zero. I think at a certain point you get so cold that you actually begin to feel warm as your brain begins to shut down…it was crazy. BUT, I battled through, learned a great deal about proper winter gear over the next few trips to Finland and my move to MN (currently in the teens which is actually going to be a happy memory in a month when it gets REALLY cold up here) but now I’m becoming a pro!
So, after that long introduction, this post is about two things- Finland weather (more specifically Rovaniemi, Finland weather) and some tips for clothing to manage the cold. For starters, the cold is in response to Rovaniemi, Finland’s location. The city rests right on the Arctic Circle so cold should be expected. Currently though, it doesn’t appear to be bad. You can view the current temp above courtesy of Weather Underground, which is actually warmer than Minneapolis currently. I’ve also added a weather update to the left side bar so you can stay updated on current temps.
Beyond the cold though, it’s typically really dark in northern Finland in winter and you never really see the sun. Below is a photo taken at about 1pm in the afternoon from Rovaniemi and you’ll see what I mean by not really seeing the sun. You know it’s there but you don’t actually see the shape- kind of off on the horizon.
This is typically what the end of December is like before things start to turn around in January. So, not only are you on the Arctic Circle, in the middle of winter, you don’t have the sun to warm things up. This was why I was so cold (for me at least but I’m a total wimp in the cold). But, thanks to global warming I believe, last year was strange. Not much snow and it wasn’t that cold so this year everything might be different, I’ll find out I’m sure.
Anyways, so, when it’s cold, what do we do about this? All about the layers and most importantly the right layers. And one VERY important word you should memorize: GORE-TEX. All my time in Finland I have fallen in love with four big brands: Haglöfs, Peak (awesome website video intro), Halti and Millet with Haglöfs being my favorite by far. Not just because the logo is cool and the name is fun to say (pronounced in English kind of like Hoglufs) but it is so perfect, totally warm and so many offerings. My favorite item of clothing in winter is one of my two Haglöfs micro fleece. They are awesome. Looks like there are new models out too so I think I know my souvenir for this trip. While we’re in the Haglöfs department I also must mention the down coat that lacks words to describe the level of warmth! Bought it last winter and go nowhere without it in Minneapolis currently! I forgot, I also must mention my snow shoes that stay in Finland- brought so much stuff back with me the first time that they couldn’t fit in my suitcase so they now live in Finland. My North Face boots. Gore-Tex, waterproof, windproof, nothing getting through these things. Great to have in Finland for sledding and playing in the snow- because when I’m there I’m on vacation and when on vacation, you just gotta play! 
So, the best of the rest. Peak is awesome in the fleece and hat department. Halti, I currently use their long underwear which is awesome and kind of an always on accessory. And Millet is my sort of early winter/before it gets REALLY cold out. You’ll find depending on your level of ideal warmth and reaction to cold to dictate what’s best for you but all of these brands are heavily used within Finland and you’ll find recommendations for all from just about anyone. Looking at each of the websites you can also see the professional athletes that utilize which ones which could be helpful to you winter sport people who want to use what the pros use. So…try out what you might like (and what you can find based on where you are) and stay warm! The graphics below are setup to go to each company website as an FYI.
What am I taking this trip in the cold gear department? My Haglöfs down coat, my favorite baby blue Haglöfs microfleece jacket, my North Face Gore-tex jacket (because it packs well and is light in case the weather is warmer than expected), Halti long underwear, My Under Armour cold gear tights and shirt for outdoor fun and my Merrel boots. Hats and gloves are a given!
*Please note, you’ll find more known U.S. brands such as North Face and Columbia to work out really well, I’m just sharing some of my favorites I’ve picked up from Finland to spread a wide variety of good clothing options out there.
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