Winter getaways can be adventurous and exciting in the mountains or calming and serene at the spa. To prepare for winter getaways to cold countries, there are many steps and layers that go into the packing process. As a Southern Californian, I don’t often encounter weather that dips below 60-degrees. As I prepped for a winter vacation to Banff and Alberta, Canada, I needed to put together the ultimate ski trip packing list complete with lots of layers and synthetics to keep me warm and cozy on the mountain. Here is our ultimate guide to packing for a winter vacation:

There are two important things two remember when packing for a trip to cold countries: pack lots of layers and synthetic clothing. It’s important to start off with a strong synthetic base layer, which will keep you warm while wicking away any sweat. Cotton is the enemy because it traps sweat instead of wicking it away like synthetics, causing cold sweats and discomfort in the cold weather. After that, a warm fleece should go over the synthetic under layer, followed by a jacket. The bottom layers are similar to that of the top: start with a synthetic under layer followed by warm, fleece lined ski pants on top.

Insulated, waterproof, cold-weather shoes are of the utmost importance when visiting a cold weather country. You’ll want rubber soles, strong insulation, and depending on how cold the weather is – you may want boots that go all the way up the calf.

Depending on what your winter activities are, you’ll want to make sure that you are comfortable walking and moving around in your boots. Also make sure to have enough room for thick, ski socks and/or wool socks.

When it comes to cold weather outfits and packing for cold countries, there are many accessories that will help keep you warm when you’re in the great outdoors.