Coming from the Philippines, where there is no winter season, going on a winter trip has always posed a challenge. In 2015, I experienced my first winter snowfall in South Korea. I spent months preparing for that trip, from choosing the right winter jacket to the innerwear. However, my preparation was not sufficient, as I still made a few mistakes that left me either super cold outdoors or uncomfortably warm indoors. Through that experience and a few more winter trips, I learned how to effectively survive in winter.
Having survived the extreme winter temperature in South Korea and Japan, does this give me the authority to start dishing out tips now? No. But it’s my blog so here we are. Lol!
Table of Contents
How to Survive Winter
Buy Pre-loved Winter Coats
Ukay-ukay is your bestfriend when it comes to winter coats. I bought mine in Raberly for about 50 php. Branded jackets can go as high as 700 php so better have enough energy to rummage through their stuff. If you’re patient enough, you can find that one item that’s on-trend for the season.
Now where is Raberly? It is located along North Edsa across Trinoma and right beside North Avenue MRT. It is actually the biggest Raberly store but they also have several branches in the metro.
Buy quality thermal wear and base layers
I recommend Uniqlo specifically their Heattech line. This stuff will absolutely help you survive winter! Not only it is relatively cheap compared to other brands, but the quality is really good. Here are some stuff I bought at Uniqlo:
Pair of Heattech tights – I love this! It is comfortable, light and stretchy. It is not restricting and it kept my legs warm.
Fleece jacket – I got this for 690php (it was on sale!). This is not a Heattech product but it is warm and comfy.
Heattech Fleece Turtle Neck Tshirt – This is a perfect inner layer! I wish I bought two or more.
Go to Divisoria for cheap boots
Divisoria is the place to be when it comes to shopping for trendy but affordable clothing. And of course, not everything in Divisoria is low quality. Some stuff, if you are patient enough to find them, are really good.
Before we went to South Korea, I bought three boots in 999 shopping mall for only 900 php! Imagine if I spend that money in SM, I could only buy 1 pair of boots. Those were basic winter boots made up of synthetic leather which could be used in a normal walking tour.
If you are going on a winter hiking adventure or walk on a frozen river (My Love from Another Star ang peg!), then go get yourself a decent waterproof boots. You won’t survive winter without proper footwear.
Rent proper ski gear and apparel
Regular knitted gloves won’t be enough to keep those digits warm. It has to be waterproof. You can wear your own base and middle layer, but if you don’t have a waterproof outer layer, I recommend renting out one.
When we went skiing in Gangwon-do, I paid 25,000 KRW for ski apparel and that’s approximately 1,000 php. It includes ski pants, jacket, waterproof gloves and goggles. Trust me, these stuff will help you stay comfortable, warm and dry.
Accessorize and stay warm
Another winter essential is a wool scarf. There are plenty of scarf options online, but always check the percentage of wool. You don’t want to pay too much for something that won’t keep you warm. The Uniqlo Heattech scarf, with approximately 35% wool, is sufficient to keep you warm, and it’s reasonably priced at only 990 pesos ($17).
In addition, winter gloves with touchscreen compatibility are essential for staying connected in cold weather. Look for gloves specifically designed with touchscreen-friendly materials in the fingertips, allowing you to use your devices without exposing your hands to the cold. This feature ensures you can navigate your smartphone or tablet seamlessly while keeping your hands warm and protected during winter activities.
Use a face mask (regular or steam)
Wearing a face mask is essential not only to prevent the spread of contagious diseases but also to shield your face from wind chills. The potent wind-chill factor amplifies the cold temperature. On my first winter trip, I lacked a face mask or any covering, and my face suffered significantly. I ended up with cracked lips and dry skin, and my nasal passages dried up.
Use moisturizers and body lotion
Trust me you can’t survive winter without these. During my first winter trip to South Korea, I discovered that the combination of cold weather outdoors and the dry heat inside the hotel contributes to skin dryness, affecting not just the face but the entire body. I endured severe dry skin because I consistently forgot to apply moisturizer and lotion.
So that’s about it my dear readers! I hope this will help you if you are planning a winter trip to South Korea or anywhere in the world. Thanks for dropping by! Check out my other South Korea Blog Post if you enjoyed this post.
First Published: August 16, 2014
20 replies on “A First Timer’s Guide on How to Survive Winter”
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Hi there! I love your blog. Sobrang helpful niya. Ask ko lang, may particular shop ba sa 999mall na meron boots for men and women? Thanks!
Hi, yung Raberly ba yung sa may trinoma? Meron ba dun for men? I'm looking for a trenchcoat for my husband. Thanks in advance ��
Hello! I'm glad I came across your blog. May I ask where did you ski in Seoul? We're going this November. Do you still remember the name of the ski resort? Do they allow first timers or those who just want to experience skiing or snowboarding?
You're welcome Thea! Happy Holidays 🙂
Thanks fo the info. Gonna check it soon. Merry Christmas in advance.
Thea
It's a korean shoe store located in the first floor. What I remember is malapit sya sa isang store na nagtitinda ng mga indoor/outdoor plants. Hope this helps!
Hi. San exactly sa 999 mall mo nbili yung boots?ive been there last week. But what I found is a marikina brand boots for 1,500. Thanks in advance!
HI i will be going to Korea this December but I dunno what shoes to bring. Is that a boots you're wearing and what type? Thanks!
Those are cheap boots from divisoria 🙂 I think it's made of synthetic leather but I'm not quite sure. Since I don't have moolah to buy leather boots, what I did is wear three layers of socks (1 heattech socks and 2 ordinary socks). It might not be warm enough though.
Yes sis. I brought ear muffs in Korea. Sobrang laking tulong nun 🙂 Lamigin pa naman ako haha
I totally love your winter outfits!!! Your pics wanna make me go book a ticket to Korea too. I haven't experienced the sticky snow. The snow that I have experienced in Ireland is the ridiculously disappear-once-hitting-the-ground kind of snow. Oh well.
Head gear is extremely important. When it's too cold, my inner ears kind of experience an ugly sensation. It hurts a litte. Looking forward to more tips! 🙂
For visa application ba to? Okay lang yun basta may bank cert ka na mabibigay 🙂
Hello Milet, ask ko lng about bank account. yung account ko ksi ay sa rural bank it is a subsidiary of asia united bank. okay lng ba yun?
Thanks Mrs. Kolca! Proper clothing will help you survive the extreme temp. Hope you could visit SK together with your kids. I am sure they will love snow fight 🙂
Thanks Fran! You should definitely visit South Korea 🙂
Yes, for everything and anything we have Divisoria and ukay-ukay! 🙂 Thanks for dropping by Jean!
Love this post and the tips too! 🙂 I'm a fan of Divisoria and ukay-ukay too! Haha!
Excited for my Korea trip this coming October 🙂 Reading up on your other Korea-related posts too 🙂