What to wear in Manali in winter
Every winter we watch the same thing happen. Someone gets off the Volvo in one giant puffy jacket, jeans and sneakers. By evening they're freezing and their feet are wet.
It's not that the jacket is bad. It's that one big layer doesn't work up here. You're cold outside, then you walk into a cafe with a bukhari going and you're boiling, and you've got nothing to take off.
Here's what works.
Three thin layers beat one thick one
Next to your skin: a snug thermal, top and bottom. Wool or synthetic. Please not cotton. Cotton gets damp and stays damp and then you're cold all day.
In the middle: a fleece or a light down jacket. This is the layer doing the real work of keeping you warm.
On the outside: a shell that stops wind and snow. It doesn't have to be thick at all. It just has to block the wind.
Too warm? Take the middle one off. Getting cold? Put it back. That's the whole secret.
Your feet matter more than your jacket
Mall Road is totally fine in sneakers. Right up until it ices over. Then it's a skating rink and you're the entertainment.
Get boots with a proper grip. Bring two pairs of wool socks so one can dry while you wear the other. Dry feet will keep you happier than the most expensive jacket.
The small stuff everyone forgets
- A beanie that actually covers your ears
- Sunglasses. Snow glare up here is brutal, even when it's cloudy
- A buff or neck warmer. Weighs nothing, changes everything when the wind picks up
- Gloves you can still use your phone in
- Lip balm and sunscreen. Yes, in winter
Going up to the snow?
Solang, Sissu, anywhere past the Atal Tunnel, it's a different level of cold and wind. Add waterproof pants and waterproof gloves.
Jeans in snow are soaked in ten minutes and frozen stiff in twenty. Ask us how we know.
Landed here and packed wrong?
Happens to half the people who visit, so don't feel bad. Message us on WhatsApp, tell us what you're missing and your size, and we'll sort you out.