Moving to Finland from USA - What to bring?

skowfin · Post by **skowfin** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:46 pm

In a month I will be moving to Helsinki for work. I will be there a few years and need to figure out what to bring. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I'm into the outdoors and backpack\hiking, so i figure I will want to bring my backpack, tent, sleepingbag, etc. Will I get in trouble bringing any camp stuff over, such as a camp folding knife? I'm also really into alpine skiing. Is it worth bringing my bulky alpine skis and boots?

My understanding is electronics are quite expensive over there, so I'm bring a laptop and other small electronics. Is it worth trying to ship something a little larger like a computer monitor? (about 180 euro to ship, what does one cost there?)

Other than that, I'm bringing some summer & winter clothing. Anything I'm overlooking that you suggest? Thanks!

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Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:54 am

I'm also really into alpine skiing. Is it worth bringing my bulky alpine skis and boots?

They're a bit useless on the flat.

skowfin · Post by **skowfin** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:02 am

Pursuivant wrote: They're a bit useless on the flat.

Ahh, i see, in doing some research it seems the mountains for skiing in Finland are indeed quite flat. Maybe I will just bring my boots and rent skis if i travel else where to ski. Thanks.

GTI · Post by **GTI** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 2:33 pm

Hi,

If you are thinking of bringing folding knife, make sure it is not spring assisted as they are illegal in Finland.

it may not be worthy to ship your computer monitor to Finland as you'll get a brand new monitor for the price of shipping costs(and even cheaper)

Here are some of the prices of monitors that are sold in Finnish store called Gigantti:

http://www.gigantti.fi/catalog/tietokon ... tot/naytot

skowfin · Post by **skowfin** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 3:26 am

Thanks for the links, doesn't look like electronics are too much more there. I think I may have heard exaggerations on price differences.

I'm looking into alternative outdoor activities for alpine skiing. Is backcountry/cabin skiing popular there? By that I mean telemark skiing distances into the wilderness, with skins attached to the ski to go up hills. What about mountain biking? Seems like there are a lot of long rolling trails, do people ride bikes on them?

macora · Post by **macora** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:05 pm

skowfin wrote:Thanks for the links, doesn't look like electronics are too much more there. I think I may have heard exaggerations on price differences.

I'm looking into alternative outdoor activities for alpine skiing. Is backcountry/cabin skiing popular there? By that I mean telemark skiing distances into the wilderness, with skins attached to the ski to go up hills. What about mountain biking? Seems like there are a lot of long rolling trails, do people ride bikes on them?

Please do take the time and check a map of Finland where something indicates altitude (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... and-en.svg has no contour lines but may give an idea). One can do all kinds of outdoor activities anywhere, as long as the terrain being somewhat flat does not matter. The highest point of Finland is 1328m above sea level (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haltitunturi). As you can see on the map, in northern Finland there are points above sea level someone who is talking of alpine skiing and skins for going oh so steep, and far uphill may find interesting. How often you really fly there instead of areas where higher altitudes are a bit more common is up to you to decide.

That all said, there is a lot of biking going on, for which naturally you can use a mountain bike. Also, cross country skiing, and snow shoe walking, are popular. But frankly, there is no alternative to alpine skiing, or mountains for that matter. In pretty much anything related to movement I am longing for a nice down- or uphill part quite often, be it jogging, biking, cross country, or whatnot. No offense ment to Finland, I grew up in the Alps, with alpine skis attached to my tiny feet the day I could stand on wobbly knees, racing /tumbling down a couple hundred meters altitude. I may have to move to Lapland, myself, to feel remotely at home

But that is just me, YMMV.

http://www.discoveringfinland.com/trave ... es-sports/ may be of interest to you. Google is your friend.

wolf80 · Post by **wolf80** » Tue May 06, 2014 12:56 am

Bring NyQuil. Lots of NyQuil!

Jukka Aho · Post by **Jukka Aho** » Sat May 17, 2014 2:54 pm

skowfin wrote: Is it worth trying to ship something a little larger like a computer monitor? (about 180 euro to ship, what does one cost there?)

You might want to check out the prices here and here.

If you have several electronics gadgets whose wall warts accept 230V but have US-style plugs, and if you do not want to buy a flimsy travel adapter separately for each of them, consider bringing an ordinary US power bar with you. Then simply cut off the plug and install a local one in its place. (See here as well.)

SecretCode · Post by **SecretCode** » Sat May 17, 2014 4:39 pm

tummansininen wrote:Which kinda sucks because the available medications for colds, flu or severe sinus problems are pretty much "take an aspirin and have a good lie down".

I thought it was tar, alcohol and sauna

Tiwaz · Post by **Tiwaz** » Fri Jul 04, 2014 7:55 pm

tummansininen wrote:LOL, careful what you bring, or more accurately, how much. Codeine, pseudoephedrine (sudafed), and pretty much anything in cough medications that works, are all controlled substances here, and while you're unlikely to be accosted for small amounts of medications for personal use, you're strictly-speaking not supposed to import things which aren't sold over-the-counter here.

Which kinda sucks because the available medications for colds, flu or severe sinus problems are pretty much "take an aspirin and have a good lie down".

That is because codeine for example doesn't do jack !"#¤% about your cold. It just messes you up (it turns into morphine in your liver) so that you do not care.
Or similar effects can be obtained with stuff with less questionable effects.

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 6:33 am

tummansininen wrote:LOL, careful what you bring, or more accurately, how much. Codeine, pseudoephedrine (sudafed), and pretty much anything in cough medications that works, are all controlled substances here, and while you're unlikely to be accosted for small amounts of medications for personal use, you're strictly-speaking not supposed to import things which aren't sold over-the-counter here.

Which kinda sucks because the available medications for colds, flu or severe sinus problems are pretty much "take an aspirin and have a good lie down".

Medication is ment for heal you, not make you feel better.
You cant currently heal flu so... lie down.

cors187 · Post by **cors187** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:48 am

skowfin wrote: Anything I'm overlooking that you suggest? Thanks!

Dont bring anything

daveba · Post by **daveba** » Sun Aug 03, 2014 3:20 am

A car maybe, if you have one?

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