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What to pack for California in January

Typical January, built from ten years of weather

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Typical for your dates
Highs 59°F, lows 43°F, rain 10 of 31 days
coldwetshort days
Sunset lands around 6:10pm. Wind averages 9 mph. No border paperwork on this one.
Packing for

Essentials

14 items · 0 packed
Insulated puffy (down or synthetic)
Lows around 43°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.
On sale
Repleto Down Jacket - Women's
budgetWomen's
Repleto Down Jacket - Women's
$74 $185
Shop
at Cotopaxi
On sale
Fuego Down Jacket - Men's
budgetMen's
Fuego Down Jacket - Men's
$108 $270
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at Cotopaxi
On sale
Fuego Hooded Down Jacket - Women's
budgetWomen's
Fuego Hooded Down Jacket - Women's
$148 $295
Shop
at Cotopaxi
On sale
Insulated Puffy Parka Jacket - Women's
mid
Insulated Puffy Parka Jacket - Women's
$152 $379
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at Backcountry.com
On sale
Hybrid WINDSTOPPER Lightweight Puffy Jacket - Men's
mid
Hybrid WINDSTOPPER Lightweight Puffy Jacket…
$196 $280
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at Backcountry.com
Swipe for all 5 options →
Merino base layer top
Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.
On sale
Terramar Men's 3.0 Merino Bi-Layer Long-Sleeve Crew Base Layer Top Gray S
budgetMen's
Terramar Men's 3.0 Merino Bi-Layer Long-Sleeve…
$29.73 $45
Shop
at REI
On sale
Wedze Women’s BL900 Merino Wool Ski Base Layer Top
budgetWomen's
Wedze Women’s BL900 Merino Wool Ski Base Layer Top
$60 $99.99
Shop
at Decathlon America
On sale
Arc'teryx Women's Lana Merino Wool Crew Base Layer Top Black XS
midWomen's
Arc'teryx Women's Lana Merino Wool Crew Base…
$63.93 $90
Shop
at REI
On sale
Arc'teryx Women's Satoro Merino Wool Crew Neck Long-Sleeve Base Layer Top Green XS
midWomen's
Arc'teryx Women's Satoro Merino Wool Crew Neck…
$95.73 $120
Shop
at REI
On sale
Terramar Women's 3.0 Merino Flex Long-Sleeve Crew Base Layer Top Blue XL
budgetWomen's
Terramar Women's 3.0 Merino Flex Long-Sleeve…
$54.73 $80
Shop
at REI
Swipe for all 5 options →
Fleece or midlayer
The layer you'll wear more than any other.
Warm hat (beanie)
Lows reach 43°F and wind cuts across the coast at 14 km/h.
Polarized sunglasses
The UV index sits at 2.9, but coastal glare off water still strains eyes.
DEET or picaridin repellent
Ten rain days create standing water where mosquitoes breed.
Tick remover
Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.
Travel first aid kit
Hiking near national parks on unfamiliar terrain calls for basic wound care.

Recommended

7 items
Neck gaiter / buff
Permethrin-treated clothing spray
Reusable water bottle
Multi-port USB-C charger (GaN)
AirTag / tracker for bags
Packing cubes
15% off