Seeing the northern lights is a bucket list trip, and the gear advice out there is written for one body type. Tour operators in Iceland, Alaska and Lapland all say the same thing: wear a base layer, a warm middle layer and a coat big enough to go over both. Finding that coat above a 3X is where most packing lists stop helping.
This one is for sizes 1X to 6X. It's built around how an aurora night actually goes: you stand still, outside, in the dark, often for hours, and the cold creeps in from your feet up.
Why plus size aurora trips need a different packing list
Most winter clothes are made for moving. Skiing, shoveling and walking all make heat. Aurora watching makes almost none. You wait at a dark site away from town lights, often from around 10pm until the early hours, and the best displays can arrive after midnight.
That changes three things:
- You need more warmth than the thermometer suggests. Standing still for two hours at 15°F feels much colder than walking at 15°F.
- Your coat has to fit over layers. A base layer plus a fleece or sweater adds real bulk. A coat that fits you in a T-shirt can be tight over all of it, and a tight coat is a cold coat, because the insulation gets squashed.
- Length matters more than usual. Your hips, seat and thighs are the parts that get cold first when you stand still. A short jacket leaves them out in the wind.
How cold is it? It depends where you go. Iceland's winter nights often sit near freezing but are wet and windy. Northern Finland, Sweden and Norway often run from about 20°F down to well below 0°F. Interior Alaska around Fairbanks can drop to 20°F below zero or colder in January. Plan for the coldest night of your trip, not the average.
Start with a plus size base layer
The base layer is the one piece you'll wear every single night. It should be snug, stretchy and dry, and it has to come in your size, top and bottom.
Skip cotton. It holds sweat from the walk out to the viewing spot and then chills you once you stop. Look for a brushed, moisture wicking knit instead.
Our plus size thermal base layer set is a top and bottom in 1X to 6X, including 4X, 5X and 6X. It's brush lined for warmth, moisture wicking, and made from a stretch knit that moves with you. For men, the big and tall thermal base layer set comes in 2XL to 7XL.
Over the top, add a fleece or a warm sweater. On the coldest nights, two thin mid layers trap more heat than one thick one.
Plus size snow bibs keep your legs and core warm
Jeans and leggings are the most common mistake on aurora tours. Your legs are closest to the snow and the cold ground, and when you stand still they lose heat fast.
Insulated snow bibs are the best answer, especially in plus sizes. The bib front and back cover your core, so there's no gap at the waist when you lean back to look up, and suspenders mean no waistband digging in after hours of standing.
The Vertex is our insulated plus size snow bib in 1X to 6X:
- Waterproof WPB 320D nylon taslon shell with critical taped seams, so sitting on a snowy bench or kneeling for a photo won't soak through.
- Insulated for all day warmth.
- Adjustable suspenders and side rib knit panels for a relaxed fit.
- Internal leg snow cuffs that keep snow out of your boots.
- Four fits: Regular (31 to 32 inch inseam), Short (29 to 30 inch), Tall (35 inch, in Black) and Wide Calf (cut wider through the calf, in Black).
Not sure bibs are for you? Our plus size ski pants vs bibs guide walks through both. You'll find every style on our plus size snow pants and bibs page.
A long plus size parka with room to layer
This is the piece that makes or breaks the night. Look for:
- Length past the hip. 35 inches or more from the back of the neck covers your seat and the tops of your thighs.
- A two way zipper. Opening it from the bottom lets you sit on a tour bus or a camp chair without the coat bunching up.
- An insulated hood. You'll have your head tipped back for a long time. A hood that stays up beats a hat alone.
- Room over your layers. Try your coat on over the base layer and fleece you'll actually wear. Check the measurements on our size chart before you order, rather than guessing a size up.
Two of our parkas fit an aurora trip especially well. Both come in every size from 1X to 6X.
For the coldest, driest nights (Alaska, Finland, northern Norway): the Axtell. Our Axtell is a heavyweight plus size parka with synthetic down insulation and a plush fleece lining through the upper body. It has an insulated hood with a removable faux fur trim, a raised insulated collar, ribbed snow cuffs and a two way zipper. It runs 37.5 inches from the back of the collar to the hem on a 3X.
For wet, windy cold (Iceland, coastal Norway): the Cortina. Our Cortina has a 10K waterproof breathable shell with fully sealed seams, so sleet and wet snow stay out. It adds a quilted insulated lining, a snap button wind placket over the zip, inner sleeve gaiters with thumbholes, an adjustable hood and a drawcord waist. It runs 35.5 inches from the back of the neck to the hem on a 3X.
See every long coat on our plus size parkas and long winter coats page, or all of our plus size winter coats.
The small things that keep you out longer, in plus size too
- Boots a half size up, so a thick wool sock fits without squeezing your toes. Tight boots mean cold feet.
- Wool socks, plus a spare pair in your pocket in case the first pair gets damp.
- Mittens over thin liner gloves. Mittens are warmer; the liners let you work your phone or camera for a few seconds.
- A warm hat that covers your ears, worn under your hood.
- A neck gaiter or scarf for wind on your face.
- Hand and toe warmers. Cheap, light, and the thing most people wish they'd brought.
- A headlamp with a red light mode, so you can see without ruining everyone's night vision.
- A spare phone battery kept in an inside pocket. Cold drains batteries fast.
Plus size northern lights questions
What should I wear to see the northern lights if I'm plus size?
The same three layers everyone needs, in sizes that fit: a snug base layer top and bottom, a warm mid layer, then insulated snow bibs and a long, hooded parka with room to go over it all. Add warm boots, mittens and a hat.
Can I rent winter gear on a northern lights tour?
Many tours in Lapland and Alaska lend insulated suits and boots, but larger sizes often run out or aren't stocked. If you're above an XL, ask the operator for exact sizes before you go, or bring your own.
Is a ski jacket warm enough for the northern lights?
Often not on its own. Ski jackets are made for moving, and many are cut short. For standing still at night, a longer insulated parka keeps more of you warm. Our plus size ski jacket vs winter coat guide explains the difference.
What sizes do your parkas come in?
The Axtell and the Cortina both come in 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X and 6X. Our men's coats come in big and tall sizes 2XL to 7XL on our big and tall page.
How do I pick my size?
Use the size chart on each product page, and measure over the layers you'll wear on the trip.