Weather gear for February in Europe

http://www.sunrisesunset.com/ The above link gives the amount of daylight in Feb, which will be shorter at northern latitudes that time of year and will affect how much you can do/see in a day. http://www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp The above link gives the weather, input locations near cities and a time frame, up to 2 weeks.

We were in Paris a few years ago in February and was glad I had my wool coat even though I had layers on as well. I did not have on boots, just what I would call all weather shoes and that was fine. Weather was raw.

If you planning on spending any amount of time outside in Paris, then you should definitely have the wool coat, scarft, hat and gloves. If I'm going to be outside for a long period of time, I usually wear long underwear (I have some thin, lightweight stuff that fits under most of my pants). What type of boots are you talking about - snow? ankle? Tall? You'll want warm footwear; waterproof is best. Make sure it's something you can stand in for long periods of time (think museums).

Adding to Dina's comment about wearing long underwear outside: If I am going to be outside all day in winter I wear insulated long-sleeved undershirts as an extra layer. However, I find most buildings and undergrounds to be quite warm, and if I'm wearing thermal undergarments I feel as if I'm boiling in my own juices. I prefer to layer from the outside in, instead of the inside out, if you know what I mean. You can always remove a sweater or fleece layer in public, but you can't easily remove thermal underwear. I think other people on the Helpline have said the same regarding the warmth inside buildings. I would also wear wool-blend socks, such as Smartwool. I usually wear pants rather than skirts, but if you like skirts you'd need some warm tights or leggings with them. For shoes, I wear either leather oxford or slip-on styles, and for really cold temps and/or rain I am partial to my Ecco ankle boots that have a thermal layer.

I second what DD wrote. Unless you plan to be outside for hours at a time, thermal underwear isn't appropriate. You'll start sweating as soon as you enter a building, which will make the underwear even less effective when return outside. I don't even wear long underwear when I ski.

JoAnn I know many RS readers are more interested in function than style. But with so many options for stylish warm comfortable boots, I would choose these. Also boots are perfect if you wear skirts or dresses with tights. Parisian women wear boots everywhere. Like the long underwear, be careful how warm they are, since inside buildings your feet may sweat. Then you will be worse off than before. Bobbie

Thank you for your thoughts. I am going to start shopping for this trip soon, and wanted to be wise in some of my purchases. I've been to Europe in spring and summer, but never in winter before, so appreciate the feedback. It is always a challenge to pack what you need only and not for "just in case". The consensus here seems to be that my wool coat is needed in Paris, too. That helps me plan.

You probably won't need sunglasses in Norway. :) As always layer. I prefer a good water-proof shell, that I can layer under, rather than a heavy coat. You will probably be indoors in Norway most of the time so be prepared to bundle up occasionally and dress normally, maybe with a sweater, the rest of the time. The days will certainly be shorter than MN. The weather depending on where you are may be more maritime than the cold you get in MN (just guessing here, I've never been to Norway in Feb). As a general rule. I like water-proof shoes and wool layers/socks in the winter. I'd probably add silk underwear, gloves, a ski cap, and warm (but not bulky) scarf for this trip.

I am an avid amateur photographer. I always take disposable handwarmers for winter trips. I can only wear thin gloves (at best) when I'm snapping pix and my hands get really cold. It's nice to be able to warm them up in my pockets.