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What to pack for United States in December

Typical December, built from ten years of weather

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Typical for your dates
Highs 43°F, lows 30°F, rain 10 of 31 days
snowycoldwet
Sunset lands around 5:25pm. Wind averages 12 mph. No border paperwork on this one.
Packing for

Essentials

17 items · 0 packed
Insulated puffy (down or synthetic)
Lows around 30°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.
On sale
Repleto Down Long Jacket - Women's
budgetWomen's
Repleto Down Long Jacket - Women's
$100 $200
Shop
at Cotopaxi
On sale
Fuego Down Jacket - Men's
budgetMen's
Fuego Down Jacket - Men's
$108 $270
Shop
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
Hybrid WINDSTOPPER Lightweight Puffy Jacket - Men's
mid
Hybrid WINDSTOPPER Lightweight Puffy Jacket…
$196 $280
Shop
at Backcountry.com
On sale
Insulated Puffy Parka Jacket - Women's
mid
Insulated Puffy Parka Jacket - Women's
$152 $379
Shop
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
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
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
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
Swipe for all 5 options →
Fleece or midlayer
The layer you'll wear more than any other.
Warm hat (beanie)
Lows near freezing mean exposed ears lose heat fast.
Gloves
Wind at 20 km/h turns bare fingers numb in minutes.
Insulated winter boots
Sidewalks ice over in December across northern regions.
Polarized sunglasses
Nine hours of daylight reflect off snow and water.
DEET or picaridin repellent
December brings mosquitoes near coastal areas and marshes.

Recommended

11 items
Merino base layer bottoms
Neck gaiter / buff
Thermal socks
Permethrin-treated clothing spray
Reusable water bottle
Multi-port USB-C charger (GaN)