What to pack for New York City in December

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 to 30°F and wind gusts to 20 km/h, so exposed skin loses heat fast.

Bare fingers go numb in 30°F with wind chill.

Sidewalks ice over when temperatures drop below freezing.

Low UV index of 2.1 means little burn risk, but reflected snow glare still strains eyes.

This item is not needed; NYC in December has no mosquitoes or biting insects.

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

Slips on icy pavement happen to city walkers in December.

Nine hours of daylight means your phone battery drains faster with screen use.

Dark by 5:25pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Fits overhead bins on every airline serving this domestic route.

Nine hours of winter daylight means navigating the city by map during commutes between sunrise and sunset.

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.

Snow melts on regular gloves and then freezes, so waterproof insulation stops this cycle.

For the mornings and the nights.

Wind at 20 km/h cuts through exposed neck skin.

Snow falls and wet feet in cold ground temperatures cause frostbite risk.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Tap water is safe here, so a bottle stays useful all month.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Crowded airports and trains mean luggage gets lost or mixed up.

Two weeks of winter clothes need checked luggage space.

Packing cubes compress winter layers into a smaller footprint.

Checked suitcase handles winter gear for a full month in the city.

Seventy-two percent humidity and indoor heating dry out skin and clothes.

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

Snow accumulation reaches boots and melts against skin.

Crowded indoor spaces mean more cold germs in circulation.

Indoor heating and low humidity in December crack skin, making bites worse when they happen.

One outlet in a hotel room charges multiple devices if you bring short cables.

Domestic travel to NYC requires TSA-compliant locks.

Thick winter jackets compress down when sacked.

Hotel bathrooms in NYC are small; a hanging bag saves counter space.

Pockets in gloves warm hands, but hand warmers add extra heat in deep cold.