What to pack for −20 °C under the Finnmark northern lights
The nights that show the aurora over Finnmark are usually the coldest ones. This guide covers how cold it gets inland from Alta and why a moving snowmobile or a still viewing stop feels colder still. It then lists the layers that work and which tours lend suits and boots or gloves.
How cold a clear Finnmark night gets
Inland Finnmark can drop to around −20 °C (−4 °F) or lower on a clear winter night. The coast around Alta is milder, but tours that climb away from the fjord meet the inland cold quickly.
Clear nights are the cold ones, and clear nights are the ones you want. Cloud acts like a lid that holds warmth in, so the sky that shows the aurora is also the sky that lets heat escape.
The guide to Finnmarksvidda explains why the inland air is drier, and the dark months guide covers how the cold builds from autumn toward the polar night and beyond.
Wind chill on a moving machine
A snowmobile or a quad turns still air into wind. Even at a modest speed the air hitting your face feels far colder than the thermometer reading, and exposed skin chills within minutes.
Standing still is the other trap. At a viewing stop your body makes less heat, and an hour spent watching the sky can feel colder than the ride that brought you there.
Drivers feel the wind most, arms forward with both hands on the grips. Passengers can tuck in behind them, which is one more reason Æventyr has the two of you swap places during the trip.
The layers, from skin outward
- A wool base layer for top and bottom, which stays warm even when damp
- A fleece or thick wool mid layer
- A down or synthetic insulated jacket for the stops
- A windproof shell, or the suit your tour lends
- Insulated trousers if your tour lends no suit
Avoid cotton next to the skin. It soaks up sweat on the walk to the meeting point, then turns cold the moment you sit still.
Several thin layers beat one thick one because you can open or shed them. If the tour hands out a thermal suit, it goes over your base layer and mid layer. A bulky down jacket may not fit, so pack it for the stop instead.
From your hat down to your boots
A warm hat that covers your ears matters more than any other single item. On the snowmobile and quad tours you wear a helmet, so a thin wool hat or balaclava under it works better than a thick bobble hat.
Hands go cold first when you take photos. Thin gloves under mittens let you pull off the outer layer for a camera button and put it straight back on.
Wear wool socks, one good pair rather than two tight ones that squeeze your toes. Boots need grip for icy car parks and snowy tracks.
A buff or neck gaiter pulled up over your nose stops the wind finding the gap at your collar. It also warms the air you breathe, which helps on a long stop.
What each tour lends you
| Tour | What the listing lends |
|---|---|
| Æventyr snowmobile | Thermal suit, shoes, gloves, helmet |
| Alta Adventure minibus | Warm suit and boots |
| Karlsøy big bus | The listing does not mention clothing |
| Flatmoen horse sleigh | Winter clothes (Viator listing), blankets on the sleigh |
| Finnmark Adventure quad | Warm overalls, helmet, gloves |
Borrowed kit covers the outer shell, not what goes underneath. Bring your own base layers plus a hat and socks on every tour, and dress fully for Karlsøy's night from ~$129, whose listing does not mention any clothing to borrow.
Finnmark Adventure's 5-hour quad night, from ~$241, starts with overalls handed out before a safety briefing. Æventyr's snowmobile ride, from ~$284, kits you out at its base in Alta.
A coast ride with the cold-weather kit included
Finnmark Adventure lends warm overalls and gloves along with a helmet for the quad ride beside the fjord at Kviby. You still bring the layers beneath, and each driver needs a car licence.
Small things for the pocket
Cold drains phone batteries quickly. Carry a spare battery or power bank in an inner pocket against your body, and keep the phone itself there between photos.
Hand warmers are cheap and light, and a pair inside your mittens can rescue a cold evening. A small headlamp with a red setting helps on dark paths without spoiling anyone's night vision.
Lip balm and a rich face cream help against the dry, cold air. If you wear glasses, expect your breath to fog them under a buff, and practise pulling the buff down at stops.
Smoke and sweat before the ride home
Several tours end the evening around a fire. A Flatmoen reviewer noticed that campfire smoke got into their clothes, so leave your best coat at the hotel for the sleigh ride or any campfire stop.
Do not overdress for the drive to the meeting point. Arriving sweaty in a warm vehicle means starting the cold part already damp, so open your jacket until you step outside.
Alta Adventure is normally back in town just after midnight, and Karlsøy's night can run up to 6 hours. A dry layer for the ride home helps, and the family guide covers keeping children warm through a late night.
Before you book, read the cloudy night guide to see which tours move with the weather, and the first snowmobile night if you plan to ride.