There is no such thing as bad weather....as long as you are well dressed!
How to Dress for a Husky Tour
Our guests come from all over the world and many have never experienced real Arctic temperatures before. Knowing what to wear can make a huge difference to how much you enjoy your time outside with the dogs.
The secret to staying warm isn't simply putting on as many clothes as possible. It's about layering properly, staying dry and leaving enough room for air between your layers.
And there is one thing you will hear us say again and again...
WOOL WOOL WOOL — NO COTTON!!
The Secret Is in the Layers
The air trapped between your layers is what helps keep you warm. This means loose-fitting clothing is generally much better than squeezing yourself into lots of tight layers.
We recommend starting with a good wool or merino wool base layer, adding a fleece or wool middle layer and finishing with a warm, windproof outer layer.
The same applies to your feet. Don't squeeze several pairs of socks into your boots — one good pair of wool socks with enough room around your feet can be much warmer than several tight pairs.
A Few Things We've Learned From the Cold
After many years of spending our winters outside with the dogs, there are a few things we have learned that can make a big difference to how warm and comfortable you feel.
Don't Squeeze Your Feet Into Too Many Socks
More socks don't necessarily mean warmer feet!
Your feet need room for warm air to circulate. If you squeeze several pairs of socks into your boots, everything becomes tight and your feet can actually get colder.
One good pair of wool socks with enough room around your feet is much better than several tight pairs.
And yes... WOOL WOOL WOOL — NO COTTON!!
We Don't Recommend Heating Pads
Heating pads might sound like a great idea, but we actually don't recommend using them inside your boots or gloves.
They can make your hands or feet sweat. Once that moisture gets cold, you end up wet — and wet in Arctic temperatures means cold.
Good wool, enough room for air and staying dry works much better.
What About Your Hands?
Mittens are generally warmer than gloves because your fingers share their warmth.
If you are driving your own dog team, however, it's also useful to have a pair of thinner gloves that you can actually work in. Harnessing dogs and clipping lines while wearing enormous ski gloves isn't particularly easy!
Bring your warm mittens, but also bring a thinner pair of gloves if you will be working with the dogs.
Glasses & Contact Lenses
Glasses can be a bit troublesome in very cold temperatures. They can fog up easily, particularly when wearing a balaclava or neck gaiter over your mouth and nose.
If you normally wear contact lenses and are comfortable using them, we highly recommend them for your time outside.
And One Last Thing....
Please come properly dressed for the weather.
We do have Arctic overalls, warm winter boots, hats and mittens available if needed, but good clothing underneath is still important — and arriving already prepared means we can spend less time getting dressed and more time outside with the dogs!
Not sure what you actually need to bring with you?
Check out our packing list recommendations!
