Modern Antarctic Clothing
Extreme Cold Weather Clothing

Foundation / Base Layer
A close fitting layer that provides Insulation and wicks away perspiration from the skin to maintain comfort.

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.

For the coldest climates, long underwear is a must. 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 or opportunity to wash them very often.

If you're not going to an extreme climate but the extreme climate has temporarily come to where you live, a good thermal long underwear layer along with a hat, gloves, warm socks, thermal insoles and scarf or neck gaiter are the cheapest way of effectively dealing with the short-term conditions between transport and home, work-place or wherever you need to go.

The gold standard of thermal underwear is merino wool, not a budget option but it really does deliver performance-wise. A soft and fine natural product, the wool of the merino sheep, very good at wicking sweat from the skin surface and naturally odor resistant.
Men's merino wool  |  Women's merino wool

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 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

Mid Insulation Layer/s - A versatile layer that provides insulation with the ability to easily remove or put on the layer. Buttons, zips and the like allow for ventilation during exertion or the ability to quickly close everything up when the weather worsens.

Fleeces for insulation Or lightweight down

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 and/or in very cold conditions.

Insulating Layers for the Upper Body

Wool mix or synthetic shirt, woolen sweater, fleece or down sweater and /or jacket. Adjustability is important here, zips, buttons etc. At least one of these layers should be long at the back to avoid exposure of flesh during exertion. 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.

You might prefer a lightweight down-filled parka, while these are extremely warm and can easily be thrown on over a t-shirt for immediate serious insulation, they can be inflexible in terms of layer dressing when walking ashore, light-weight ones are more versatile.

Fleece - Men's   Women's
Winter shirts - Men's   Women's
Down - Men's   Women's

The Outer or Shell Layer - This layer provides direct weather protection, it must be windproof and may be waterproof depending on the temperature it will used at. Sometimes literally a "shell" or with additional insulation built in.

Outer / shell layer, this needs to be windproof and may be waterproof.

Alternatives - follow links to buy:

• Polar parka, with down or synthetic insulation, down is lighter and warmer, synthetic is still effective when wet.
  Men's   Women's

• Gore-Tex breathable waterproof outer shell jacket
  Men's  Women's

• 3-in-1 Jackets, a windproof and often waterproof outer shell with a separate insulating inner jacket, worn separately or together for two layers in one.
  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 backpack. Large zips down each leg make it much easier to get them on and off.
  Men's   Women's

• Insulated winter pants
  Men's  Women's

• Military extreme cold weather clothing, military style or surplus clothing, effective and affordable if not pretty.
  Men's  Women'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.

In extreme cold weather 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, so it depends on what you're doing. Skiing or skidooing for instance and mittens will be fine, if you are taking photographs you'll find things more difficult.

Sensor gloves: Gloves that allow you to use touch screen devices without needing to take the glove off.
Men's  Women's

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

Head

When your feet are cold, cover your head." - Inuit saying

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.  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/skiing to maintain your temperature when your exertions have reduced. In cold conditions you will have an outer shell layer that has a hood, whether it is insulated or not, your hat/s add flexibility so you have a variety of insulation levels according to your activity level, the temperature and wind chill.

Your hat should 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, 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 slip into a pocket with a warmth far better than you'd expect for the size. Balaclavas are good too, they roll up to look like a normal hat, but can be rolled down with your hood pulled over them 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 starts whipping them against your face. While on the subject of pom-poms, the ones on top of the hat can make it impossible for your hood to fit snugly which means there's a large air gap resulting in reduced insulation.

Winter hats - Balaclavas | Windstoppers | Men's | Women's

Feet

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 and your preferred cold weather footwear, start with a thin pair of everyday socks as undersocks and then a thick pair on top and see how it goes.

Thermal socks: Men and Women's

Ordinary plastic or leather hiking boots cannot be worn when it is very cold and boots called Bunny Boots, or Mukluks are worn. These have soft insulated uppers, thick plastic soles 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 than traditional wellies as they fit more closely to the lower leg 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, you can be comfortable in them all day.

Boots for extreme cold and dry conditions: Men's   Women's
Boots for cold wet conditions: Men's   Women's
More on cold weather boots

Thermal insoles - to stop the heat leaking away downwards

In-between Bits

When the body is insulated including the 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 warm 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 to provide warmth and support too.

• Mittens and gloves with long wrist cuffs, these can reach about half way up the forearm for conditions of extreme cold.
  Men'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.