Travel clothes for Antarctica, you won't face really low temperatures on a cruise, but it will be windy and you'll be around water, here's how to stay warm and comfortable
What Should I take to Antarctica and the Arctic
Cold
Weather Travel Clothing
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Trip gear for tourist visitors to Antarctica and the Arctic on polar cruises
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What Clothes do I need to take on my Antarctic trip?
As your trip will be in the summer months, you won't need to take any really extreme cold weather gear. Temperatures on many or most days will hover around freezing point, maybe dropping to an extreme of -10C (20F) though more likely not. People feel the cold in different ways, the main thing you need to anticipate is that it will be windy as well as cold.
Layering is the key, then you can be flexible according to conditions. Rather than take one very large thick outer layer, take several thinner layers that can be put on or off as the conditions dictate, this way you can remain comfortable as the day progresses whether you are on the zodiac in the wind, walking in the sunshine with no breeze or anywhere in between.
Buy in South America? - Prices for the kind of gear you need are generally lower in North America and Europe and the choice will be much greater.
Boots
Waterproof for those wet zodiac landings, rugged and comfortable enough for extended walking on a variety of terrain. This modern take on rubber wellington boots is increasingly used by tourists and guides. A stout molded lower boot and sole are firmly bonded to a neoprene upper for warmth, waterproofness, comfort and toughness. Your non-waterproof pants get tucked into them waterproof over-pants go over the top. Many cruises lend or hire out boots, so check first before buying some.Men's Women's
...and socks - Make sure you get some good warm long socks to go with them too. merino wool is the gold standard for warmth and comfort.
Men and Women's
A wind and water proof outer shell layer
It is unlikely that you will experience very low temperatures as your visit will be in the Austral summer, however Antarctica is the windiest continent and it certainly penetrates! The warmest pullover or fleece soon becomes useless as the katabatic winds blow down from the great Antarctic ice-cap and straight through it. Water resistance is also vital when cruising and travelling by zodiacs from your cruise ship.Gore-Tex breathable waterproof rain jacket Men's Women's
3-in-1 Jackets, wind and water proof outer shell + insulating inner jacket, wear alone or together
Men's Women's
Polar parka, with down or synthetic insulation Men's Women's
Some tour operators issue their clients with outer jackets to use on the trip and maybe keep afterwards. These make a nice souvenir of your cruise and can save you money and the effort of carrying it on the outward journey. However they are not always the best quality, some tour guides much prefer to use their own gear rather than that supplied unless their employers insist on it.
Insulating layer/s
Fleeces are ideal for this they come in a variety of weights and styles.You might prefer a down-filled parka or a down-sweater, these are extremely warm and can easily be thrown on over a shirt for immediate serious insulation like when there's a call for an exciting wildlife sighting for instance. While largely wind proof and to a lesser degree, water resistant, they should not be relied on as the outer shell layer for all conditions unless specified as such with substantial shell material. A thinner one makes an excellent warm but lightweight layer.
Lightweight down: Men's: | Women's
Warm pants. Thick warm pants of a natural material such as moleskin or heavyweight synthetic material such as polyester. Insulted "snow pants" are unnecessary most of the time, if you also have waterproof overpants to pull on too that will be fine for the great majority of people. If you are concerned about feeling the cold, take a pair of light or mid-weight thermal longjohns that can be used if necessary or left behind in your cabin when you don't need them. Personally I have worn moleskin (a kind of cotton, named for its texture and not made from either the skin or kin of moles) pants in both polar regions and wouldn't consider wearing anything else, for all round warmth, comfort and practicality they have no rival.Men's moleskins
Head and ear protection from the cold
There's a saying that a good hat is worth an extra layer. Make sure the hat has ear flaps or can be pulled down to cover your ears, the wind is unrelenting. Choosing a hat made of windstopper material means it is less bulky and can be easily slipped into a pocket, pom-poms will make it difficult when using a hood over the top. Merino wool is a good material too, acrylic is cheap, bulky and not so warm.Men's | Women's | Balaclavas
When your feet are cold, cover your head - Inuit saying
Good quality warm gloves
Water-resistant gloves are always very useful in and around small boats. Ski-type are good as they are warm and water resistant with it. A thin pair of glove liners as well as a warmer pair means that you'll be able to take photographs without taking them off. Mittens are warmer than gloves, though reduce dexterity.Men's Ski Gloves | Women's Ski Gloves
Men's lightweight gloves (liners)
|
Women's lightweight gloves (liners)
Men's Mittens | Women's Mittens
Scarf of Neck Gaiter
A scarf or "neck gaiter" to insulate the neck, to stop warm air from pumping out to be replaced with cold air coming back in, and stop wind-driven snow from getting into the clothing where it could melt and become very uncomfortable. My son voted this item as his most useful and favorite item of clothing when we went on an Arctic cruise around Spitsbergen. You can pull it up as far as over your nose if needed or it sits in a well-behaved manner out of the way when required rather than flapping around like scarves tend to.
Thermal Underwear
A warm comfortable base-layer can be the under clothing you already have. As long as you have a good insulting layer and outer shell layer, you won't need "thermal" underwear unless you feel the cold very badly. You may however like to get some nice baselayers, tops can be worn as a comfortable outer layer around the ship, it is easy to pull other layers on quickly when going outdoors. Merino is the gold standard, synthetic is also good, cotton is best avoided.
Women's
merino wool |
Men's
merino wool
Women's
synthetic fiber |
Men's
synthetic fiber
Clothing around the ship- Polar cruises are informal events and you won't need any especially smart clothes on board or need to dress for a formal meal. This is somewhere you can pack light, ships will have a laundry service so you can get a few items washed part way through to last you the duration of your trip.
A moulting Gentoo penguin takes refuge thanks
to a passing tourist
Other Stuff
A digital single lens reflex (DSLR) is preferable (but more expensive) with at least a wide angle to short telephoto lens, 20-50mm ish, and a short telephoto zoom 50-200mm ish. Anything over a 300mm lens is an extravagance for Antarctica that you'll hardly ever use and will be much heavier to carry. More information.
Spare batteries, and spare spare batteries. Lots of memory, more than you think you'll need.
High factor sun-screen for the same reason. If you've never been burnt under your nose from reflections from snow or sea now's your chance.
Full size waterproof liners for your backpack will protect everything inside from the sea splashing on a bumpy zodiac ride or in case you drop it in the sea (a rare occurrence but not entirely unknown).
These may be available to hire from your ship or tour operator, though they also make ideal carry-on bags for the flight to your ship, much more flexible and versatile than the usual carry-on luggage.
Ships cabins are smaller than hotel rooms, so space matters. Soft bags can be squashed and pushed under beds whereas large rigid cases can be more awkward. They also tend to weigh less, so making them easier to carry and taking up less of your baggage allowance.
Binoculars - A must if you're a wildlife fanatic and a "nice to have" if you're not.
Binoculars are described by two numbers "10 x 50" for instance. The first number is the magnification and the second is the diameter of the front lens in millimeters. This tells you first of all how much bigger things appear and then how much of it you see at that magnification.
Incidentally, I see you recommend
avid wildlife watchers should take binoculars
- everyone should have them! It is very annoying
having to share your binos with someone for that
rare glimpse of a distant blue whale or even just
getting a better view of scenery!" - Robert
Burton Antarctic tour guide and lecturer.
A magnification of 10 or 12 is about as much as most people can manage to hand-hold without shaking. 8 or 10 x magnification is generally most useful and 20 to 30 mm front elements keep the size down enough to slip into a coat pocket fairly easily especially if they fold as well.
Contact me about my trip to Antarctica!
Our partner company, Ice Tracks, UK based and ATOL protected, will help you find the perfect trip to Antarctica, all enquiries will be answered from our office in Warwickshire, England.
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Please note - we cannot help directly to find employment in Antarctica, please do not use this form to request information other than for Antarctic tourist trips
Departures from late October to early March
Dozens of trips - unique combinations of ship + itinerary
Choice of ships - 108 to 139 passenger capacity
$8,050 to $40,000
10 to 33 days
