What to pack for Switzerland in January

16 rain days a month finds every seam. A real shell, not a windbreaker.

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

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

Lows drop to minus 2 degrees Celsius and wind chill makes exposed skin burn fast.

Sidewalks ice over and boots rated five degrees below the low keep ankles stable.

Sun reflects off snow and bounces back at your eyes all day.

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

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

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

Dark by 6:05pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Overhead bins on trains and buses fill fast in peak season.

Day hikes into the mountains need water and layers stashed in a pack.

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 and sleet soak through regular gloves and waterproof ones keep fingers warm.

For the mornings and the nights.

Eight hours of daylight means most time outdoors happens in cold air.

Snow sits on the ground all month and wet feet turn numb quickly.

Tap water is safe and carrying your own bottle cuts plastic waste in half.

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 and crowded train stations mean bags shift hands in seconds.

Two weeks of winter clothes and boots take up more space than a daypack holds.

Wet gear and dry clothes need separation or everything molds in your bag.

Checked suitcases hold boots, heavy coats, and all the gear winter demands.

Fourteen rain days in January plus snow melt leave everything damp and prone to mildew.

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

Train rides through mountains last hours and noise from wheels fills the cabin.

Snow covers uneven ground and poles keep you from twisting an ankle on hidden rocks.

Snow creeps into regular boots and gaiters seal the gap between pant and sole.

Fourteen rain days a month finds every seam, and spray stops salt damage on leather.

Mountain terrain and winding single-track roads make stomachs turn on the drive up.

Humidity at 85 percent and shared guesthouses mean germs spread in close quarters.

One outlet at the guesthouse charges three devices when you stack the cables right.

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

International border crossings require your passport within arm's reach at all times.

Luggage moves through multiple train stations and locks stop casual theft.

Bulky winter coats compress down when you stack them tight in sacks.

Mountain train rides through Switzerland run long and upright seats offer no neck support.

Minus 2 degrees Celsius and wind chill make pockets of warmth last for hours.