What to pack for Bavaria in February

Lows around 30°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

The layer you'll wear more than any other.

Lows drop below freezing and wind runs at 18 kilometers per hour.

Exposed skin on your hands loses heat fast in subzero wind chill.

Sidewalks ice over and terrain is mountainous underfoot.

Snow reflects light and the sun bounces off white ground all day.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Altitude and cold air make minor injuries slow to heal.

This country runs on Type C or F. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Daylight runs just over 10 hours and your phone drains fast in cold.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Dark by 6:35pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

National park visits mean you carry layers and the overhead bin saves time.

Mountain hiking demands a pack that sits at eye level on steep terrain.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Rain and snow soak through regular gloves within hours of exposure.

For the mornings and the nights.

Ten rain days in February means wet wind hits your neck constantly.

Snow sits on the ground and your feet get cold standing still.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International travel means your documents need protection from damp air.

International airports and train stations make bags easy to lose track of.

Rolling luggage handles snow and ice better than dragging soft bags.

Two weeks of layered clothing needs organizing inside checked luggage.

Checked suitcases hold the bulk of winter gear you cannot fit overhead.

Ten rain days means damp clothes pile up faster than you wash them.

Lows around 30°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset.

Ten hours of daylight means early darkness and long travel downtime.

Mountain terrain and snow underfoot require poles to stay upright safely.

Snow creeps into boot tops on steep mountain slopes.

Mountain roads twist and 10 hours of daylight limits your driving window.

Tap water is safe but your hands touch cold surfaces constantly.

Short cables let you charge from a single outlet without tangling.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

International border crossing requires your passport within reach at all times.

International travel through multiple countries means luggage changes hands often.

Winter clothes compress down and free up space in your carry-on.

High humidity at 78 percent makes toiletries damp without organization.

Train rides through mountains run long and your neck needs support.

Lows hit minus one degree and your pockets need constant warmth.