We’re just back from a trip that exposed us to some pretty extreme winter conditions in the heart of the Austrian and Swiss Alps. We figured we’d done our fair share of preparation prior to leaving, but the fates brought in an Arctic cold snap that meant temperatures plunged to a frigid -21°C whilst we were away.

Now, if you’re interested, we have an article that is focused purely on what preparations we made for the van so that the van would “survive”. You can check that out here: Preparing our Campervan for -20°C Winter Conditions.

This post, however, is focused on some of the essential gear we purchased that helped us survive these rather chilly conditions and actually enjoy ourselves whilst doing it!

Merino Wool Base Layers

These things are an absolute game changer. If you had to buy one thing to help you survive, I’d recommend a good merino wool base layer set.

We opted for a set of Danish Endurance merino wool base layers that we basically lived in. This set in particular is made from a blend that is antibacterial and odour-free. I would recommend a second pair to rotate through for hygiene reasons, but these are definitely a top priority.

We wore them underneath our outer clothes during the day, and then kept them on under our comfier clothes when we were relaxing at night. They are generally comfy and, more importantly, not itchy!

Warm Socks

Cold feet can drain all enjoyment from a trip and make you generally miserable. You can just about get away with the merino wool base layers mentioned above, but eventually your toes are going to be craving respite from the biting cold.

Save those poor little toes from torment and despair with insulated socks! We opted again for the Danish Endurance socks and they proved great. I did somehow forget to pack the ski socks I’d also purchased from Danish Endurance in the campervan, which was an expensive realisation the day before we’d booked our ski passes.

Realistically, most insulated socks will do here. You don’t have to opt for anything super expensive, but having a few of these packed away for your trip will make a huge difference.

Insulated Down Jackets

A good quality down jacket is going to set you back a bit, but this is another super important purchase that can protect you against the wind and snow and keep you comfortable.

The only downside is that it’s a bit of a pain to wash properly; it often needs several cycles in the dryer with dryer balls to keep it fluffed up. Apart from that, I generally live in it throughout autumn and winter.

My particular poison is this Rab Down Jacket - I highly recommend going into a reputable outdoor store and trying them on though. If you’re going to spend a whole heap of cash on something like this, you want to make sure it’s the perfect fit and suits you.

Winter / Ski Gloves

We thought we were prepared with the gloves that we use on our hikes, but they are primarily designed for keeping your hands warm when you’re quite active and constantly moving.

Camping is a different vibe, there’s a good mix of being active and just relaxing and generally relaxing around the van and chilling out. As such, we ended up purchasing a good pair of ski gloves to help keep our hands nice and toasty.

If you want to really boost the comfort, mittens are a level above - there’s less surface area through which heat can escape. However, you do sacrifice the ability to use your fingers to their full extent.