“What should I actually wear?” is the question I get most before any snowmobile trip, usually followed by someone asking whether their ski jacket will do. It won’t, not on its own, and the reason has more to do with wind speed than temperature.
Layering for extreme cold at speed
Standing still at −15°C is one kind of cold. Riding at 40 km/h into that same air is another, since wind strips heat far faster than still air does. The layering system that actually works here has three parts:
- Base layer: thermal, moisture-wicking, worn against the skin. Wool is better than synthetic here for most people.
- Mid layer: fleece, wool or down, the part doing most of the insulating.
- Outer shell: windproof and waterproof, cutting the wind-chill effect that a snowmobile creates on its own.
Skip cotton entirely, including cotton socks and t-shirts underneath everything else. It holds moisture against the skin instead of moving it away, and wet cotton next to skin at −15°C cools you faster than having no layer there at all.
Gear provided by your guide vs. what to bring yourself
MyArctic provides the outer system for every snowmobile trip: suit, insulated boots, gloves, helmet, snow goggles and balaclava. This is worth knowing before you spend money on a snowmobile-specific parka you’ll wear exactly once. What we don’t provide is what goes underneath it and a short list of personal items:
- Thermal base layers, top and bottom
- A mid layer (fleece or wool jumper)
- Thick wool or thermal socks, and a spare pair
- Thin liner gloves to wear inside the insulated gloves we provide
- UV-rated sunglasses if the trip runs in daylight; snow glare is intense even under thin cloud
- Sunscreen and lip balm, even in winter
A headlamp with fresh batteries is worth packing for anything running near or during polar night: cold drains battery charge fast, and a dead headlamp at a fuel stop is a genuinely inconvenient problem rather than a minor one.
Small details that matter more than people expect
A thermos of something hot makes a bigger difference on a full-day route than any single piece of clothing, and high-energy snacks (nuts, chocolate, a protein bar) matter more at −20°C than they would on a normal day out, since the body burns through calories faster just to stay warm. If you take regular medication, bring it with you rather than assuming you’ll find a pharmacy along the route; once you’re on the ice, you’re on the ice.
FAQ
Do I need to buy a snowmobile suit before I arrive?
No. MyArctic provides the full outer system, suit included. Buying your own is an unnecessary expense for a one-off trip.
Is my regular ski jacket warm enough underneath the provided suit?
Usually yes as a mid layer, but check it isn’t your only layer, a proper base layer underneath still matters at speed.
What’s the single biggest mistake first-timers make with clothing?
Wearing cotton against the skin, usually a t-shirt or regular socks, then being surprised at how cold they get once moving.
This is exactly the kit list we brief every guest on before a MyArctic snowmobile expedition. Read Snowmobiles in Svalbard for the rest of what to know before you book.