Being from Portland, we all know a thing or two about dressing for cold weather. But if you’re traveling to somewhere farther north, on the East Coast or in Europe, you’ll definitely want to revamp your winter wardrobe, especially if you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors. With that in mind, make sure these practical winter clothing items are packed in your bag before you head off on your next adventure.

Practical Tops to Pack

At home, you can wear as many cozy sweaters and jackets as you want. But, while they may be warm and comfortable, these items are bulky, heavy and tend to take up a lot of valuable room inside your suitcase. Because of that, we recommend you take only one to three sweaters with you and fill out the rest of your wardrobe with layers. Layering is one of our go-to favorite travel hacks, especially in the winter months.

A great layering system is to start with a tank top or T-shirt, then add a long-sleeve top, a sweater and finally a vest and/or jacket. Since base layers tend to be thinner and lighter, you can get away with packing several of them. The best part is that if you ever get too warm or too cold, you can simply add or remove layers until you’re comfortable.

Stay Warm in Cozy Sweaters

Like we mentioned, travelers probably want to limit the amount of sweaters they bring to two or three. Just make sure the sweaters you do pack are extra durable and extra comfortable. Some of our favorite sustainable sweater brands are SmartWool, Aventura and Beyond Threads. When you shop those brands, you’ll definitely be able to find pieces that are stylish and able to keep you warm, even when temperatures dip down into the 20s and 30s. Here are some bonus tips to keep in mind while looking for good travel sweaters:

• Sweaters with hoods can help keep your ears warm and protect you from rain or snow
• Pockets are a traveler’s best friend and are perfect for holding maps, tickets, gloves and other gear
• Zip-up or button-up sweaters can help make taking layers on and off easier

Socks that Keep Your Toes Toasty

Finally, all winter travelers need a few pairs of warm wool socks. We recommend SmartWool socks specifically, because they’re geared for both travel and cold-weather wear at the same time. SmartWool socks are made from Merino wool, the natural, renewable fibers grown from Merino sheep in places like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The wool works to regulate body temperature and keep your toes toasty warm.

When wearing these socks, you won’t have to worry about sweat or moisture, because they’re ultra-breathable, quick drying and odor resistant. SmartWool socks are also cushioned and equipped with arch support, which is essential for long hours spent sightseeing. Sore feet are a surefire way to spoil a day of travel, but with comfortable socks, you’ll be ready to explore in comfort.

Embrace the Chill with New Clothes from Paloma Clothing

If you need to stock up on warm tops, sweaters or socks this winter, you can find everything you need just in time for your trip here at Paloma Clothing. Look up our online store at shoppalomaclothing.com or come in and browse the racks and feel free to ask an associate for more travel packing tips at 6316 SW Capitol Hwy in Portland, OR. You can also contact us online for additional information.