How to pack light but travel warm in the winter

I prefer the poly as first layer and light wool as second layer and then fleece or wool sweaters but that is generally for skiing conditions in the 20s. Avoid cotton !!! A common expression in the mountains is, cotton kills.

If I was going to Denmark in November, I would use poly long underwear, top and bottom. Some type of a wool blend pants, (maybe a long sleeve turtle neck - I personally do not like turtle necks because they can make my neck too warm but you might like it), a long sleeve shirt, a medium weight merino wool sweater, a medium weight fleece vest, and good quality nylon shell jacket. Plus wool cap, gloves, and scarf.

Each layer could be removed or added to match temperature requires. If wearing everything, you could probably handle temps into the teens. Remember, unless you are engaging in some type of extensive outdoor activities you probably will not be outdoors that much,

Go to your nearest sporting goods store and ask them. They are used to advising skiers, hikers, campers, etc., on raw conditions.

Jennifer - There are 2 REI's in Houston. I go ask them about lite weight/cold weather gear. They'll probably tell you the same things Frank mentioned.

Here are the REI address
7538 Westheimer Rd,(713) 353-2582
17717 Tomball Parkway, (832) 237-8833

Jennifer, I live in the Atlanta area and am used to hot and humid weather, too. You basically have the right idea. When I go to Northern Germany in the winter, I wear a waterproof Goretex jacket lined with Thinsulate (this is not a fat and heavy jacket and it has a hood) from LL Bean over a fleece pullover and take a couple of cotton turtlenecks and a couple of cashmere turtlenecks for layering under the fleece. I take silk long underwear and warm scarf, hat and gloves and especially socks. Cashmere and silk are lightweight to pack and really warm. I have a pair of lined wool pants I only wear when I travel North and under my unlined pants I wear (dare I admit it) a pair of leg warmers a la 1980.

Goretex is good.

I have Windstopper jacket, pants, etc. Campmor and REI usually has a good selection. I get their emails weekly and they are have sales on now.

http://www.rei.com/

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Home_

Keep in mind that most of the buildings will be warm on the inside. If you over-layer and sweat while indoors, you will be even colder when you go outside.
Although I'm somewhat of an Arctic-phile, I generally recommend against long-underwear unless you'll be outside for hours at time in extremely cold weather... which does not include Denmark in November. As long as you wear a decent pair of outer pants and don't sit around outside for hours, your legs shouldn't get too cold. In Europe, outdoor cafes usually have heating lamps, so even in the winter a Texan can stay warm without dressing like a polar explorer.

For temps in the 30s, I prefer to layer with a wool or wool-cotton blend sweater. Polypropylene blends are great for Arctic temps, but because they don't breathe, you can get uncomfortabley sweaty (unless there's a gale-force wind). Wool and cotton breath much better.

Don't forget a scarf. You can wear several thick layers and still be cold if your neck remains exposed. Plus, if being stylish is a concern, you'll notice how many European women prominently (and elegantly) wear a scarf.

I'm a fan of polar fleece zip jackets. There are zillions of different weights and performance levels to polar fleece, so you could go to an outdoor store/REI to get some info and try some on. I normaly wear a light weight long sleeve t-shirt as a base layer, and if it rains I have a thin packable rain coat that goes fits over my fleece. Wool is always too bulky to me. However if you're going to Germany in winter, I would give up on packing light and get a knee legnth down coat. Forget fashion and packing light, go for warmth. I made that mistake too many times before I ended up buying a long down coat in Germany one winter.

I tried the layering method and found I was often too warm inside. A person can only take off just so many layers! I wished I had brought a knee length down coat. You could carry it on board with you instead of packing it. Then if you get warm indoors you can just take off one item to carry it. Many museums have a coat check. I wore tights under my pants instead of long underwear (pants too tight ;) ). My real problem areas were my feet and hands. I wore Uggs with warm socks and my feet were still cold. I would recommend very warm socks and maybe sock liners. My leather fleece-lined gloves didn't keep my hands warm enough so I ended up buying some with thinsulate. That helped a lot. Definitely a scarf will help. Don't forget a hat if your coat doesn't have a hood. Have a great time and don't worry too much about being cold. You can always buy something there if you need it.

We have been learning how to do this as we go. Going to London, Amsterdam & Paris in late March/early April. I can't wear wool next to my skin so I have L/S pima cotton tops or soft turtlenecks plus a couple of V-neck cashmere sweaters I got on sale at Land's End. I always take my silk long underwear, a scarf, and cashmere-lined kid gloves. My coat has a hood. If I need something warmer, I'll buy it while I'm there!
I agree with the writer who advised warm socks also.

I'm with Michelle. I've never been to Germany in December (and Denmark's climate is quite similar to Northern Germany) and felt too warm in my warm ski jacket or down winter coat. And that's what I'm going to wear this winter as well.

My biggest issue remains finding the right shoes. they have to be warm and waterproof. My daughter wants to wear her Uggs (not the original brand though) that would be quite warm but I'm not sure if they withstand any rains (we don't have rain in Calgary for our 6 months of winter). My little one could wear her snow boots which she wears daily here (Sorels in a very fashionable Herringbone print for which she found a matching umbrella!) but that kind of seems like overkill ...

a softshell type jacket is light, flexible, cuts out the wind, most are water repellant...great to layer with...i have a columbia one i got at a columbia outlet store for a good price...north face and marmot make real good ones...

I think silk long johns, plus silk glove and sock liners will be a big help. Look at WinterSilks.com and see what they have on sale. Silk is so thin you won't feel bulky, and it's easily washed by hand to drip-dry overnight.

I agree with those that said that you'll be too warm if you layer up with long underwear. At the most I'd bring silk long underwear, which are lighter than synthetic or wool. A good water resistant coat that you can take off indoors, and gloves and warm socks (Smartwool are awesome and not itchy) are what I'd bring.

Jennifer,

I'm not the right sex to give you the best advice but here's what I do. Maybe you can apply some of it to yourself.

Here is my normal packlist:

http://www.polyvore.com/mens_travel_pack_list/set?id=1440268

This pack list is written with shoulder season (May or September) travel North of the Alps in mind.

If I were going to Denmark in the winter. I would bring a heavier weight sweater (still washable wool) and a heavier weight fleece (I normally pack 100 weight, I'd bump it up to 200 or 300 weight). I would add a knit cap, knit gloves and silk long underwear. I'm still carry-on only.

As always I wear the heaviest/bulkiest stuff on the plane and pack the rest.

One thing I forgot to mention... compressor bags. Although less useful in the summer (they tend to wrinkle thinner clothes), these are great for maximizing space with bulky cold weather clothes.

The reason I like silk long underwear is it's warm and comfortable but light and not bulky at all. Perfect for packing.

"Polypropylene blends are great for Arctic temps, but because they don't breathe, you can get uncomfortabley sweaty"

Just wanted to point out that polypropylene keeps you dry by wicking (actually transporting) moisture away from the body. I'm not sure what the other poster was talking about regarding "polypropylene blends" but if you get a layer of polypropylene underwear it will keep you warm and dry unlike cotton.

wool socks