The short answer: three layers, five pieces for a hill station
For a December hill station trip to Manali, Munnar or Ooty, pack in three layers: a soft base, a warm middle and one heavy outer. A CORE Long Sleeve Tee is the base, the ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie is the middle you wear most, and the Antarctica Hoodie is the heavy layer for nights and early mornings.
December in a hill station is not one temperature. Manali in December is cold enough for real winter clothing and can see snow. Munnar and Ooty are cooler and often damp, with cold mornings and mild afternoons. The right plan is not one big coat but layers you can add and remove through the day.
This guide gives you a compact hill station packing list built on three EKVAAR pieces, plus how to pack them and how to adjust for each place. Weather changes, so check the forecast for your dates before you go.
Why layers beat one heavy jacket
A hill station swings between cold mornings, bright noon sun, and cold evenings again. A single heavy layer leaves you sweating at noon or shivering at night. Layers let you match the hour.
- Base layer sits against skin. It should be soft and not too thick.
- Middle layer gives warmth. This is what you wear most of the day.
- Outer layer is for the coldest hours. It is heavy, and it goes on over the middle layer.
Cotton fleece pieces work well at a hill station because they are warm without feeling stiff, and they are easy to wash on a long trip.
Your three core pieces
Base: CORE Long Sleeve Tee (₹799)
The CORE Long Sleeve Tee is a 180 GSM cotton long sleeve tee with a clean crew neck, in a unisex regular fit. It comes in Noor Black, Rui White, Agni Red and Arav Green. Pack two: one to wear and one spare. On a long trip you will wear it under the hoodies and on its own for warm hours in the sun.
Middle: ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie (₹1,799)
The ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie is a 400 GSM brushed-fleece full-zip hoodie in 90% cotton, with ribbed cuffs and hem, in a unisex regular fit. It comes in Noor Black and Rui White. The full zip is the useful part on a trip: you can open it in a warm taxi or a sunny viewpoint and close it when the wind arrives, without pulling anything over your head. It is your day-to-day layer.
Outer: Antarctica Hoodie (₹1,999)
The Antarctica Hoodie is described as built for the cold: heavy, oversized and meant to feel like shelter. It comes in Noor Black and Neel Blue. It is a nod to the lone penguin of a 2007 Antarctica documentary, all about silence, endurance and distance. At a hill station it is the piece for bonfire evenings, early sunrise drives and late walks. Its oversized cut leaves room for the base tee and the zip hoodie underneath if the night is very cold.
For more on how this one is put together, see our note on the Antarctica Hoodie explained.
The hill station packing list
| Piece | Qty | Role |
|---|---|---|
| CORE Long Sleeve Tee | 2 | Base layer, daytime wear |
| ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie | 1 | Main warm layer |
| Antarctica Hoodie | 1 | Heavy layer for nights |
| Trousers or joggers | 2 | Bottoms, one to rest while the other is washed |
| Socks, thick | 4 pairs | Cold floors, wet ground |
| Cap or beanie | 1 | Heat leaves through the head |
| Light scarf | 1 | Wind at viewpoints |
The EKVAAR pieces come to ₹5,396 for two long sleeve tees (₹1,598), the zip hoodie (₹1,799) and the Antarctica Hoodie (₹1,999). That covers the whole layering system, with pieces you will also wear at home afterwards.
Adjusting for each hill station
Manali
Manali is the coldest of the three in December, and can have snow around it. Wear all three layers together for evenings and early mornings, and add gloves, a beanie and proper shoes with grip. The Antarctica Hoodie becomes your main outer layer here. Keep the CORE Long Sleeve Tee next to your skin so the fleece sits over something soft.
Munnar
Munnar is cool and often misty in December, with cold mornings but usually gentle days. The ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie over a long sleeve tee will carry most days. Keep the Antarctica Hoodie for the coldest evenings and for early morning tea estate walks. Mist means damp air, so bring a light rain layer as well.
Ooty
Ooty sits between the two. Mornings and evenings are cold and afternoons are mild. Start with the long sleeve tee and zip hoodie, and switch to the Antarctica Hoodie after dark. If you are planning a toy train ride or a viewpoint at sunrise, take the heavy layer with you in the bag anyway.
How to pack it without bulk
Heavy fleece takes space in a hill station bag, so pack with intent. Roll the tees tightly and place them along the edges of the bag. Fold the zip hoodie flat and keep the Antarctica Hoodie on your body during travel, since it is the bulkiest. Wearing the biggest piece in transit also frees space in your bag. Our guide on packing hoodies without bulk covers the folding methods in more detail.
- Wear the Antarctica Hoodie on the bus or flight, since cabins and night journeys are cold anyway.
- Keep the zip hoodie on top of the bag so you can reach it quickly.
- Pack the spare tee in a separate bag to keep it dry.
What not to pack
The most common mistake is bringing too many similar pieces. Three hoodies of the same weight do the same job, and you will only wear the top one. Likewise, skip a second heavy layer and add an extra pair of socks instead. Cold feet ruin a trip faster than a thin jacket does.
Leave behind anything that needs ironing or careful folding. Hill station days are for walking, driving and sitting around fires, and soft cotton pieces that come out of a bag looking fine will save you effort every morning.
A sample three-day hill station plan
- Day 1, arrival: Long sleeve tee plus zip hoodie for the walk, add the Antarctica Hoodie once the sun goes down.
- Day 2, outing: Fresh long sleeve tee. Zip hoodie open in the afternoon sun, zipped up at the viewpoint. Antarctica Hoodie in your bag.
- Day 3, early start: Long sleeve tee, zip hoodie and Antarctica Hoodie all worn until the sun is up, then peel back to two layers.
Choose colours that work together so any combination looks intended. Noor Black is offered on all three pieces, so a black zip hoodie over an Arav Green or Agni Red long sleeve tee gives you variety without clashing, and Rui White is a lighter option on the tee and the zip hoodie. Keeping to two or three colours across the whole bag means every piece goes with every other one, which is what lets five garments cover a full week.
If this plan suits your hill station trip, look through the Layers and Solids pieces at ekvaar.com/shop and reserve early. Each piece is made for you once you reserve it, with free shipping across India.
FAQs
What should I pack for a hill station trip in December?
Pack in three layers: a soft base such as the CORE Long Sleeve Tee, a warm middle such as the ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie, and a heavy outer such as the Antarctica Hoodie. Add thick socks, a cap and a light scarf.
Is a hoodie enough for Manali in December?
On its own, probably not for nights. Manali is the coldest of the three, so wear a long sleeve tee, the zip hoodie and the Antarctica Hoodie together in the evening, and add gloves and a beanie.
Why choose a zip hoodie for travel?
A full zip lets you open the layer in a warm taxi or in the afternoon sun and close it again when the wind picks up, without pulling it over your head. The ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie is a 400 GSM brushed fleece in 90% cotton.
How do I pack heavy hoodies without filling my bag?
Wear the bulkiest piece, such as the Antarctica Hoodie, while travelling, and fold the rest flat. Roll the tees and use them to fill the gaps along the bag edges.
