How to Dress for Winter Like a Norwegian- 2023 Edition

We have updated our most popular Chronicle from last year with this year's favorites!!!

“There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” This is as close as Norway gets to a national motto and it was a saying we heard countless times while living in Oslo. It is also very true. Clothing choices can make all the difference whether you are slogging across the open plains or darting in and out of buildings. What follows is a very Norwegian guide to bundling up this winter!

Base Layers- The most critical element.

The material against your skin can make your day hot, cold or even itchy. Merino wool, the wonder fiber, solves all of these problems. For those that know merino, this is hardly news… but for those that may lump all wool together into one scratchy classification, give merino a chance, it is amazing. Merino carries the classic wool properties of continuing to warm you even when it is wet while also being anti-microbial (pushing away germs) and anti-fungal (pushing away smells), so unless you spill your gravy on it, you shouldn’t have to wash it very often. This saves water and also wear and tear on the garment. The clincher is that since the merino material has a small diameter it bends easier than other wool particles and thus doesn’t itch you.

Since merino has all of these wonderful properties it has taken over the base layer world. Kari Traa’s gorgeous patterned pieces look so nice you can wear them as a top like the Smekker, but she is most known for the full kit system like the Rose Light with matching pants. We Norwegians have wowed us with their Sno line top and bottom which is the best merino in the shop. The black color is elegant and dare we say...sexy??? For men, we really like the Voss Zip-up as it can be a base and mid layer. For a full kit, our go-to is the Basar system from 66 North, top and bottom.

 If wool isn't your thing we have some fantastic synthetics from Kari for her (up and down). For men, our current favorites include these Craft Core Essence Bottoms and the Straumnes Half-Zip from 66! Check out all of our base layers here.

Mid Layers- adding warmth.

Building out from the base we turn to mid layers, and add diversity in material and style. The Mid Layer is meant to be the insulation so they tend to have a lot more substance than the base layer. Norwegians tend to back their base layer up with another layer of wool, whether it is more merino or boiled or lamb’s wool. Our very favorite item in the whole store is Amundsen's hooded laced sweaters for men  and women (with more set to arrive the middle part of November, email us at aktiv@aktivstyle.com to reserve one). Felted merino at the front give it protection from wind, while its old school hockey jersey feel sets it apart from all other sweaters. Amundsen has expanded their line to include the new Boiled Ski Sweaters for men and women with either a classic pattern or the Norwegian flag in all it's glory!

We are very pleased to welcome Streamlines to our shop and their amazing, authentic Norwegian sweaters. The story of the Eriksen family is the story of skiing (and sweaters) in Norway and the United States. The Merino/Alpaca construction along with the classic design make these pieces instantly wearable and also immediate heirlooms. They are made to be worn and handed down. 

Not to be outdone, Dahlie has fantastic wind protection in their half-zip options with the Comfy sweaters for women and men. 

If wool is not for you, fleece (made from polyester) is used in many different ways.    Zippers, it is worth mentioning, are vital to temperature control as the area between your chest and neck has a lot more say into your body temperature than other places. Moving your zipper up or down a few inches can make all the difference between boiling and freezing! Haglof's Mid Hede Hood for men and women is just about the softest thing around...and far from "mid". 66North has returned with the Tindur for women in a lovely pink while Elevenate's Skier's Hood speaks for itself. We have a vast selection of hoodies and sweater for all your midlayer needs!

Outer Layers- the goal is blocking the wind and wet!

When it comes to outer layers, there is great variation from the shells to the heavy winter parkas. Norwegians tend to prefer shells that are windproof and waterproof. Amundsen has adapted their signature shell to a full zip version for women and men and is a current favorite of ours. If you like a little insulation, the Motion Hood for men and women by Elevenate are amazing--built for the ski hill but stylish enough for everywhere and the colors are out of this world.  

For that walking sleeping bag feeling, we have the Sarek which is unlike anything you have ever seen and this year there is a full zip option. Ultra long, this sleek down pull-over was designed for horseback riding but perfect for time spent on sidelines, in a rink or just out and about. Speaking of down, one of our favorites for him is the L.I.M. Down Jacket by Haglöfs. Another great one from Haglöfs is the Chill Down Parka for women. We love the length of it!

Pants!!!  Cords are back baby and Elevenate has a great version for women and men. Nate's new favorite travel pants are the Anchor by Rúngne of Norway, they are incredibly stretchy! For outdoor cardio, the Ruth Thermal Tights for women are fabulous, as are the Adv Essence Wind Pants for men.

Since Norway is the size of Montana  and clothing philosophies can vary greatly from Tromsø to Kristiansand and all points in between this will not be a complete representation of Nordic trends, but it definitely hits the high points we experienced throughout the country during our time there.

Har Det Bra!