Modern Antarctic Clothing
Polar Clothing

The layer next to the skin, this should be soft, comfortable and able to wick away perspiration quickly so leaving you feeling dry in spite of your exertions in the cold. Damp clothing in the cold can reduce the insulation significantly, so it is important to get sweat away from your skin and away from your clothes - breathability is of the utmost importance.

Things have come on an awful long way since the string vest (invented for the British Graham Land Expedition to Antarctica in 1934-1937). Modern foundation layer garments are generally made of synthetic material. In some cases the material is even treated so that it prevents the build up of bacteria that live in sweaty clothes and make them smell (especially important if you don't have lots of changes of clothes).

Insulated base layer tops - A versatile layer that can be your outer layer indoors and help keep you toasty outdoors.
Men's  Women's

Insulated base layer bottoms - Long johns - To go under thick, warm pants (trousers) and outer over-pants (waterproof for the summer months or when on the sea in boats). It's unlikely you'll need any long underwear for your legs in the Antarctic summer in coastal regions, unless you really do suffer from the cold.
Men's  Women's

This is the most variable layer and can be added to as required depending on how cold the conditions are. More than one lightweight layer of shirt/s, sweater or jacket allow for flexibility by adding or removing according to weather and activity and is better than one thick heavy layer for insulation too as extra air gets trapped between the layers as well as within them.

Traditionally woolen sweaters and natural fiber pants were worn. These days, these may still be used or they may be supplemented or substituted by modern materials such as polypropylene fleece or lightweight down garments.

This layer should provide insulation and also the passage and release of perspiration. Zips, collars, draw cords and the like allow for increased ventilation during exertion or for all openings to be pulled closed while at rest.

The insulating layer can be combined with the wind-proof or water-proof outer layer or could be separate. Don't be tempted to think that you will be able to get away with a fleece as your only outer layer however, despite the new coatings and finishes, they just aren't wind or water-proof enough on their own.

Fleece - Men's   Women's

Outer / shell layer, this needs to be windproof and may be waterproof. It could be simply a "shell" i.e. no additional insulation or it may have insulation built in. Jackets should always have hoods.

The outer layer is particularly important and should have features such as draw-cords and fastenable cuffs to prevent warm air being lost to the outside and to prevent snow finding its way into nooks and crannies (snow in the cranny is most uncomfortable).

Waterproof is not necessary for very cold weather as no rain falls, though if you intend to spend any time in boats waterproof is vital as you don't want to get ashore after bouncing over an excitable sea to find you are wet and cold for the rest of the day.

Fully waterproof garments are not as able to transmit perspiration as readily as garments that are not fully waterproof and tend not to be as flexible at low temperatures, so choose according to your intended use.

Alternatives:

• Polar parka, with down or synthetic insulation
  Men's   Women's

• Gore-Tex or similar breathable waterproof rain jacket
  Men's  Women's

• 3-in-1 Jackets, a windproof and often waterproof outer shell that can worn on their own or together shell + insulation
  Men's   Women's

• Waterproof rain pants for riding in the zodiac and staying dry during landings, light-weight ones are fine and will be easier to pack away into your rucsac. Large zips down each leg make it much easier to get them on and off.
  Men's   Women's

• Down or synthetic insulated pants
  Men's

The extremities can get very cold very quickly. Fingers and toes have a high surface area compared to their volume - this means they lose heat easily and generate and retain heat poorly. Particular attention should be paid to keeping them warm.

Mittens are much warmer than gloves, though by the time you have a couple of bulky pairs on to make your fingers lovely and toasty, your dexterity falls dramatically.

Men's Ski Gloves   Women's Ski Gloves   Men's Mittens   Women's Mittens   Glove Liners

Head

You can lose about 20% of your body heat through your head, the quickest way of warming up your whole body is to put on a hat of some kind and having an extra hat in your pocket is always a good idea in cold conditions so that you can put it on when you stop walking/climbing to maintain your temperature even though your exertions are less. In cold conditions you will have an outer shell layer that has a hood whether it is insulated or not, your hat/s should add flexibility so you have a variety of insulation levels according to your activity or lack of.

Your hat should be able to cover your ears which can very quickly become painfully cold in Antarctica's biting wind. This can be a beanie type hat that you can pull down over your ears, or it can be one with ear-flaps that can be pulled or rolled down when needed. My preference is for a fleece hat in wind-stopper fabric with fold down ear-flaps like the one to the right, small enough to easily stuff in a pocket with warmth far better than you'd expect for the size. Balaclavas can be good too, they roll up to look like a normal hat, but can be pulled down and then put your hood up too when it gets colder.

While your hood will be wind-proof, you don't necessarily want to have it up all the time, a wind-proof hat can be far more convenient and give better visibility and freedom of movement, saving your hood until it is really necessary.

Hats are probably the most personalized piece of cold weather kit you can get with lots of fancy colors and designs, be careful not to get carried away by form over function, those cute dangly pom-poms can get mighty irritating when the wind keeps whipping them against your face. While on the subject of pom-poms, they can make it impossible for your hood to fit snugly on top of the hat which means there's a large air gap resulting in less insulation.

Hats - Men's   Women's   Balaclavas

Feet

Socks - Men's   Women's

The layering principle also applies here with more than one pair of thin socks being warmer than a single thick pair. Don't be tempted to cram too many socks on so that your boots are tight. Air is the insulator and squashing it all out means you won't be as warm. A bit of trial and error to see what works for you, I'd start with a thin pair as undersocks and then a thick pair on top and see how it goes.

Boots - More on cold weather boots

Ordinary plastic or leather hiking boots cannot be worn when it is very cold and boots with names such as Bunny Boots, Mukluks or Onitsukas are worn. These have soft uppers, thick plastic soles, felt insulation and thick insoles to prevent heat loss to the snow and ice for really cold conditions.. They are great at keeping you warm, but not so great for walking over very rugged terrain or climbing.

For use in and around boats in the Antarctic summer, the modern take on rubber wellington style boots are ideal with a close fitting and insulated neoprene upper. They are much better for walking in traditional wellies and are increasingly used by tourists and guides. They are waterproof up to the top so you don't have to worry when getting in or out of the zodiac a and can be comfortable in them all day.

In-between Bits

When the body is insulated including extremities, the next most vulnerable regions become those that don't normally lose heat relative to the rest of the body and so are usually neglected. Wrists, ankles and the neck region can soon become very cold and uncomfortable. They can lose a lot of heat if not wrapped up as they pass the blood between other well insulated areas.

• A scarf or insulated "neck gaiter" of some kind to insulate the neck, also to keep warm air from "pumping" out of the body region, and stop wind-driven snow from getting into the clothing where it could melt and become very uncomfortable.

• Boots that cover the ankles at least.

• Mittens with long wrist cuffs, preferably reaching about half way up the forearm for the coldest conditions
  Men's Mittens   Women's Mittens

Eyes

Sunglasses are a must to prevent glare from the snow and ice and stop you from developing snow blindness, the highest uv rating is a must. Goggles in colder weather or in conditions of blowing snow to prevent snow from getting in the eyes and to cover the top part of the face.