Packing light December in Germany
 

DH and I are going to the Christmas markets in Germany early to mid December and need help assembling a wardrobe. what do you suggest I need in addition to this: jeans, one pair lined wool flannel slacks and one heavy lined waterproof pair of pants. In addition, I have several cotton turtleneck tops, a cashmere pullover, a lightweight cardigan, a down-filled coat, waterproof boots, waterproof lace up shoes, a waterproof rain jacket, and silk long johns. We will be on the ground 9 days. This does not include what I will wear on the plane coming and going. Am I taking enough? The right stuff? Best head gear? Thanks for advice.
K

Sounds like you have it covered. In addition, I would not forget an umbrella, gloves and some sort of fleece (or other warm) hat. I prefer polypro long johns but many are happy with silk. Have a great time! I find that trip easy to pack light for because no one sees what's under your outerwear. I also throw in a scarf to 'dress up' the top at night.

We did this trip a few years ago. Included Vienna and Prague, by train. 2 weeks out of a Rollie, including "dress-up" for holiday dinners and concerts. I would not take jeans--too much weight for the warmth they provide and they don't work as well for evenings as a pair of good black wool pants. I took one coat, a lined waterproof. That was enough, with a couple of sweaters for layering. Down is likely to be more than you need. And one pair of good walking shoes, with some light warm wool socks, is enough too. Light (fleece or smart wool) gloves, hat and scarf. If you get cold, you can take refuge in a cozy stubbe or have another cup of gluhwein!

Early/mid December is usually more wet and cool (but above freezing, at least during the day), than snow and bitter cold. Any softshell type fleece plus that waterproof jacket should be able to substitute that down jacket.
The latter would be fine if you planned to hike. But in the city you will probably change between indoors and outdoors numerous times each day. So anything "too warm" may become more a burden. Jeans are worn anywhere, anytime here.

Sounds good but I would include a shawl/pashima..Good for dress up, good for adding to the short duvets that seem to prevail in Germany.

Thanks all. Will prepare for not-quite-so-cold and take rain gear. Had forgotten about the short duvets - will plan to take something for cover.

We went to the Christmas markets in early December five years ago and are going again this year. I took one pair of jeans, 2 or 3 pairs of cords, one of which I wore on the plane, and one pair of dressier light weight black wool slacks that I used primarily for evenings out but could be worn during the day as well. I took one winter coat. This year my coat will be probably be a hooded waterproof one with a detachable vest. I also took turtlenecks that could be layered with a heavier sweater if needed, one or two sweaters, hat, gloves, scarf/pashmina and socks. I mostly wore a pair of fleece lined boots but also had another pair of shoes that I could walk in but were a little dressier. My boots were not rain boots. I did not take long underwear but took a pair of tights that could be worn under slacks. I took an umbrella, too.

The weather was not terribly cold that year but there was one rainy day and several days that had a damp feel to them.

You only need one coat - one that is waterproof.
Take an umbrella.
You need two pairs of waterproof shoes/boots.
I suggest a hat, scarf and gloves.
Leave your jeans home. Even if you can wear them anywhere, if they get wet, they take days to dry out.
Warm socks - I suggest smart wool or something similar. You want them warm and breathable. You will be walking on cold, damp pavement.
Cashmere is your friend - lightweight, warm, layers well and looks fabulous.
Absolutely take the silk long johns!
Have fun!

Thin merino wool sweaters (washable); Marmot or Patagonia base layers; packable down jackets (folding into their own pockets,& make perfect plane pillows); waterproof hooded at least to hip jackets (my down fits under it); smartwool socks, waterproof boots, waterproof shoes (I have gortex low hikers very good on slippery cobblestones as well as trails); cuddleskins or undersilks that can be p.j.'s as well as worn under thin ponte knit pants. I never travel to Europe w/ jeans, too bulky, cold and forever to dry. We bring windblock caps to wear under hooded jacket and never bring umbrellas either, too much a bother in the cities. Black cashmere turtleneck is another travel staple. Two silk scarves, perhaps one pashmina as your plane blanket or over a jacket/sweater at night. Look for 'performance' sportswear which is no maintenance, stretchy, and drives in a flash.

P.S. the down jackets we love are the 800-denier weight that work from 30-60 degrees, not our traditional down that are much bulkier. For warmer pants, I'd get a pair of corduroy or heavier leggings, now available (finally) at fine stores and so cool w/ boots.

The pashima also can help as an extra "blanky" in bed as the comforters can be a little short as I remember them from a few years ago.

All I will say is that December 2012 wasn't too cold and I wore a light jacket every day, December 2011 was frigid and I wore my heavy pea coat almost every day, and December 2010 was somewhere in between.

Bag the jeans, take only one pair of lined trousers, and take a pair of light wool trousers. Your ideas would be fine if you were climbing mountains but too warm if you ever go indoors.

While Germany is generally more wet than cold in December, our last two Christmas Market Visits in 2010 and 2012 were unusually cold and snowy. I would prepare to layer. A couple pictures to describe the weather.

http://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Advent-...5028020_t5NQGm

http://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Advent2...7268742_XPCq6D

It is better to leave off a layer than be without one that you need. I pack in a smaller than carry-on size roller. I rely on silk, smart wool and poly fleece to give me light, packable layers. I have a Goretex shell jacket to block the wind and rain.

It is a wonderful time to visit. Have a great time. Gary

I was in the eastern and the southern Germany the first week of December last year. The temperature went above freezing for a few hours one day. Half of the time, it was snowing sometimes very hard and the lowest temp was 18F. To deal with big difference in temperatures between indoors and outdoors, it is best to use layers as opposed to heavy items with less options to adjust the warmth. You need good head/ear/neck covers as you are likely to walk around and spend a lot of time cold windy outdoors at night to visit the markets. We carried perhaps half as much thing as you listed for the same number of days. We chose clothes with high tech materials having wide operating temperature characteristics. We don't take cotton tops. While they are comfortable, I don't think they do well at low and high temperature (indoors are sometimes too hot in Germany) ends. If things get wet, use those towel warmers in the bathrooms often found in German hotels to dry your clothes.

I really appreciate all your suggestions, recommendations and the beautiful snow pictures. We're hoping to see a little - not a lot of - snow while there. I'm busy re-thinking my wardrobe, making lists, getting excited about the trip.
K

A contributor to over packing is a prevalence of one-time-if-at-all-only wears in the luggage. You mentioned what you wear on the plane being different, from the rest of the trip? Is there a compelling reason for this? I don't like packing this way because it eats up a space and add weight to my luggage for something I wear 16 hrs out of 2weeks. Also, in case of delayed/lost luggage, what I wear on the plane, at least the outbound trip, must better be what I would wear once I arrive at the destination.

down is BULKY???? It compresses to almost nothing in many cases and takes up much less room than some fleeces.

I think one pair of jeans is OK and nice to have with you, I would wear them on the plane.

I'm no expert, but I'm questioning:
*one heavy lined waterproof pair of pants
*down-filled coat
*waterproof boots
*waterproof lace up shoes
*waterproof rain jacket
Do you really need that many different pieces of outerwear? Is it really going to be pouring rain the entire time? Seriously I'm just asking because this seems kind of outdoorsy and overkill for visiting Christmas Markets in towns/cities.

Definitely add a scarf, hat, gloves.

greg,
What I wear on the plane, either jeans or khakis, would work well at my destination if luggage goes astray. I generally wear the same thing coming and going and don't wear it while on the ground because I probably won't have the opportunity to get it laundered. To me, 20+ hours in one outfit is enough. Yeah, I do have to tote it around for the duration, but I still manage to pack relatively light (one 20" roller plus a tote bag for a month-long trip). The upcoming December trip will require the next-larger bag (22") because I plan to make some purchases.