Packing list Antarctica: Everything you need for your polar adventure

Packing list Antarctica: Everything you need for your polar adventure

A click-and-pick Antarctica packing list with links to specific products personally tested by Atlas & Boots

A friend of mine recently asked me what three things make me happiest as part of her research for her upcoming book. I mentioned family and nature, which are pretty standard answers. Less common was my third choice of hygge, the Danish concept of coziness.

We hear a lot about wellness, fitness and mental health, but very little about nourishing the body on a tactile level. I explained that I love wrapping myself in soft fabrics and fluffy blankets and can't understand why we use these materials to soothe babies and toddlers but then switch to jeans and stiff, starchy clothing when we're older. In short: I love it warm and cozy.

With that in mind, you can understand why I approached my Antarctic packing list with a zeal bordering on madness before our trip to the seventh continent. I've read the FAQs and packing lists of every major company that sails to Antarctica, studied countless blog posts, and read a ton of reviews.

Atlas & BootsKia managed to stay warm in Antarctica

Praise be, because I did pretty damn well: I managed to stay warm and comfortable on the coldest continent on earth. I present to you my Antarctica packing list so you can do the same with a fraction of the pain.

Packing list Antarctica

My packing list for Antarctica is based on a 10-day expedition and is divided into expedition clothing, accessories, onboard clothing, transit clothing, toiletries, basics and electronics. Where relevant, I've included links to exactly what I packed. The sheer selection of outdoor clothing can be confusing, so I've done the hard part for you. The list has a female skew, but most of the linked gear has a male equivalent.

It is also useful to know that I chose Helly Hansen (HH) because it is the brand that the expedition team wears on the Albatros Expeditions trips. HH is based in Norway – the home of polar research – and has been manufacturing professional equipment for more than 140 years. As such, I thought they were a safe bet – and in fact, they kept me thoroughly roasted.

Expedition clothing

Layers are key to staying warm in Antarctica, so make sure you pack base, middle and outer layers. It's unlikely that you'll need to pack a heavy-duty parka, as most companies supply one as standard.

• Unterhemden x 2 (HH 1/2 Reißverschluss, HH Crew) – ich liebe diese
• Midlayer-Tops x 2 (HH Daybreaker, HH Insulator)
• Außenschichten x 2 (HH Daunenjacke, HH Segeljacke) – eine davon mag ausreichen, aber ich trage meine Daunenjacke an besonders kalten Tagen gerne unter meinem offiziellen Albatros-Expeditionsparka und meine Segeljacke an wärmeren Tagen an Deck
• Funktionsunterwäsche x 2 (HH Lifa Merino Pants in zwei verschiedenen Farben; Peter liebt Smartwool Funktionsunterwäsche)
• Midlayer-Höschen x 1 (HH Daybreaker Fleecehose)
• Wasserdichte Unterteile x1 (HH Aden Rain Pants)

Atlas & Boots

Atlas & Boots

Atlas & Boots

Atlas & Boots

Add lots of layers to your Antarctica packing list

Accesories

• Warme Mütze x 1 (HH Ridgeline Beanie)
• Buff x 1 (HH Hals)
• Balaclava x 1 (HH Lifa Merino Balaclava) – nur, wenn Sie auf dem Kontinent campen
• Innenhandschuhe x 1 (HH Fleece Touch Glove Liner)
• Wasserdichte Handschuhe x 1 (HH Mountain Glove)
• Innensocken x 2 (Smartwool Innensocken)
• Dicke Socken x 2 (Smartwool – Maximum Cushion)
• Handwärmer x 10 (Little Hotties) – Sie verwenden sie vielleicht nicht alle, aber Vorsicht ist besser als Nachsicht
• Packsack x 1 (Bloc Dry Sack)
• Badeanzug x 1 – für den Polar Plunge
• Sonnenbrille x 1
• Wasserflasche x 1 (Ion8 Leak Proof Slim Water Bottle) – Ich habe ungefähr 10 verschiedene Wasserflaschen durch und das ist bei weitem mein Favorit
• Haarspange x 1
• BH x 4 – seien wir ehrlich, wir tragen sowieso alle nur unseren Favoriten!
• Schlüpfer x 12 – wenn du denkst, dass du deine Periode bekommen könntest, empfehle ich Wuka Periodenhosen
• Nachtwäsche
• Tagesrucksack x 1 (Osprey Tempest Pro 18)
• Koffer x 1 pro Person (Osprey Rolling Transporter 60)

Peter is dressed from head to toe in Smartwool Merino

Clothing on board

The evening dress code on Antarctic expeditions is absolutely casual. Think fleece, sweaters, vests and hoodies. Sneakers and hiking boots are perfectly acceptable. We saw one passenger in a blazer but that was it!

• Lässige Oberteile x 2
• Fleece-Leggings x 2 (CRZ Yoga in zwei verschiedenen Farben) – diese sehen im wirklichen Leben besser aus und ich verehre sie
• Jeans x 1
• Trainer x 1 (HH Feathering Trainer)

Transit clothing

This is a strange category I know, but it's worth noting that if you're traveling from Argentina to Antarctica like most passengers, you'll probably be passing through Buenos Aires, where we had temperatures of 35C (95C). It'll be summer in the Southern Hemisphere, so here's what's worth packing if you're going to be spending some time in the capital.

• Sommeroutfits x 2
• Ballerinas oder Flip-Flops x 1
• Kleine Handtasche x 1
• Bequemes Outfit für den Flug x 1

Kia in Buenos Aires, where it was 95°F (35°C) on the way to Antarctica

Toiletries

Don't skip the sunscreen. Antarctica may be the coldest continent on Earth, but the sun is deceptively strong.

• Zahnbürste
• Zahnpasta
• Deo
• Gesichtswäsche
• Feuchtigkeitscreme
• Batiste-Trockenshampoo – Sie werden an einigen ziemlich vollen Tagen in Ihrer Kabine ein- und ausgehen, also werden Sie Trockenshampoo zum Auffrischen von wettergegerbtem Haar zu schätzen wissen
• Make-up, Vaseline, Haarnadeln, Sicherheitsnadeln
• Sonnencreme

Basics

Two comments here. First, take all your USD cash with you and exchange it for local currency once you are in Argentina. The country's "Blue Dollar" rate means you get a lot more for your money compared to withdrawing from an ATM or paying with a card. This is particularly useful if you are spending a few days in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia. Everything on board is likely to be cashless (except tips, which you may want to leave in addition to the tip that is added to your bill by default).

Second, when it comes to seasickness, prevention is better than cure. So if you are prone to seasickness, take medication before you feel sick (with medical advice, of course). There will be an onboard doctor who can also deliver medication.

• Reisepass
• Versicherung
• Kopfhörer
• Schlüssel
• USD
• Kredit-/Debitkarten
• Feuchttücher
• Hand-Desinfektionsmittel
• Stift
• Gesichtsmasken
• Ohrstöpsel
• Augenmaske
• Pillen gegen Seekrankheit
• Alle relevanten Medikamente

Atlas & BootsKia looks out over Paradise Bay

electronics

• Telefon und Ladegerät
• Telefon-Umhängeband – dies ist nützlich, um Ihr Telefon sicher aufzubewahren, damit es auf den Zodiac-Kreuzfahrten nicht über Bord fällt (leider habe ich keins eingepackt, aber dieses Takyu-Umhängeband ist gut bewertet)
• Notebook und Ladegerät
• Kindle und Ladegerät
• Adapter (Ceptics) – unsere Kabine hatte britische Steckdosen, also brauchten wir keinen Adapter, aber vielleicht möchten Sie einen für Buenos Aires und Ushuaia
• Kamera und Zubehör
• SIM-Karte (Keepgo) – in Ushuaia und dem Rest Argentiniens blieben wir mit Keepgo online, das sich mit lokalen 4G-Netzwerken in über 100 Ländern verbindet (mit unserem Empfehlungslink erhalten Sie 10 % Rabatt)

Antarctica Packing List: What to Stay at Home

• Haartrockner – Ihre Kabine wird höchstwahrscheinlich einen haben
• Strapazierfähige Wanderschuhe – Ihr Expeditionsunternehmen liefert wahrscheinlich wasserdichte Stiefel für Landausflüge, überprüfen Sie dies also, bevor Sie diese einpacken
• Strapazierfähiger Parka – Ihr Expeditionsunternehmen stellt wahrscheinlich einen zur Verfügung, also überprüfen Sie ihn, bevor Sie einen einpacken
• Formelle Kleidung – Abende sind völlig legere Angelegenheiten

If you have any questions about what to pack for Antarctica, feel free to message us on Instagram. Good luck and stay comfortable.

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