12 October 2026 · Noir & Lin
What to Wear on a Winter Trip to the Hills: A Simple Packing Guide
Packing for the hills in winter is different from dressing for a winter in the plains. Days can be bright and pleasant while nights turn sharply cold, and snow or rain can change things quickly. This guide covers what to pack for a winter trip to places like Manali, Shimla, Mussoorie or Darjeeling, and how to layer it so you stay warm without carrying half your wardrobe.
How cold does it get?
It varies by town, altitude and year, so always check the forecast for your dates before you pack. As a guide, temperatures in popular hill towns can fall below freezing during cold spells. Shimla has recorded lows of around −0.6 °C, and Manali has recorded around −5.4 °C after fresh snowfall. Higher places, and anywhere you go to see snow, are colder still.
The simple rule: three layers
- Base layer: thermal innerwear next to your skin, with a tee over it.
- Mid layer: a heavyweight hoodie or sweatshirt that traps warmth.
- Outer layer: a padded, windproof jacket. In snow, pick one that is water-resistant.
Layers work better than one very thick piece, because you can take one off when you step into a warm café and put it back on when the sun goes down.
1. Base layer
Thermals make the biggest difference for the least space in your bag. Over them, a tee works well for walking around town. If you plan to play in snow or trek, choose thermals over a plain cotton tee as your first layer: cotton stays damp once it gets wet and then feels cold.
2. Mid layer: the hoodie or sweatshirt
This is the layer you will see in every photo, and the one that does most of the work indoors. For the hills, a heavier fabric makes sense: 400 to 440 GSM fleece is noticeably warmer than a 300 GSM piece. A 300 GSM hoodie or sweatshirt is still useful as a lighter option for sunny afternoons or the drive up. Our GSM guide explains the difference.
A zip hoodie is handy on the road, because you can open it in a warm car and close it outside without taking anything off.
3. Outer layer: the jacket
A hoodie on its own is not enough outdoors on a cold hill-station evening, and it is not waterproof. Bring a proper jacket: padded or insulated for warmth, windproof for exposed viewpoints, and water-resistant if you expect snow or rain. If you wear an oversized hoodie, make sure the jacket is roomy enough to go over it comfortably.
Bottoms, shoes and accessories
- Bottoms: jeans are fine around town but get cold and heavy when wet. Wear thermal leggings underneath, and pack water-resistant trousers for snow.
- Shoes: closed shoes or boots with good grip. Roads and steps can be icy in the mornings.
- Socks: warm woollen socks, plus a spare pair in your day bag.
- Head, neck and hands: a beanie, a scarf or neck warmer, and gloves. Uncovered heads, necks and hands get cold quickly.
- Sun protection: sunglasses and sunscreen. Sunlight reflected off snow is bright and can burn.
A simple packing list for 4 to 5 days
| Item | How many | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal tops and leggings | 2 sets | Warmth without bulk |
| Tees | 3 to 4 | Over thermals, and for warm cafés |
| Heavyweight hoodie (400 GSM or more) | 1 to 2 | Main warm mid layer |
| Lighter hoodie or sweatshirt (300 GSM) | 1 | Sunny afternoons and travel days |
| Padded, windproof jacket | 1 | Essential outdoors at night and in snow |
| Jeans or trousers | 2 | One to wear, one spare if the other gets wet |
| Water-resistant trousers | 1 | If you plan to go to the snow |
| Woollen socks | 4 to 5 pairs | Cold feet ruin a day out |
| Beanie, gloves, scarf | 1 each | Keep head, hands and neck warm |
| Boots or shoes with grip | 1 pair | Icy roads and steps |
Four easy outfits
- Travel day: tee, zip hoodie, joggers or relaxed jeans, comfortable sneakers. Keep the jacket in the car.
- Walking around town: thermals, a heavyweight hoodie, jeans, jacket, beanie and boots.
- Snow day: thermals, hoodie, water-resistant jacket and trousers, gloves, woollen socks, waterproof boots.
- Evening café: a tee under a crewneck sweatshirt or hoodie, so you can take the jacket off indoors and still look put together.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hoodie enough for Manali in December?
Not on its own outdoors. Wear it as your mid layer, with thermals underneath and a padded, windproof jacket on top.
Oversized or regular-fit hoodie for a trip?
A regular fit slips under a jacket more easily. An oversized hoodie works too, as long as your jacket has room for it. Try them together before you leave.
Hoodie or sweatshirt for the hills?
Take at least one hoodie, because the hood helps on windy evenings. A crewneck sweatshirt is a good lighter extra. See hoodie vs sweatshirt.
What we make for your trip
Noir & Lin makes the tees and mid layers in this list. We do not make thermals or jackets, so pick those up from a specialist.
- Men's Solid Oversized Hoodie, 440 GSM: our heaviest, for the coldest days.
- Unisex Zip Hoodie, 400 GSM: warm and easy to open and close on the road.
- Unisex Hoodie, 300 GSM and Solid Sweatshirt, 300 GSM: lighter extras.
- Oversized tees, 240 GSM, to wear over thermals.
Before you buy, read how to wash a hoodie so it stays soft, and our winter hoodie buying guide.