THE ULTIMATE
ANTARCTICA PACKING LIST
ANTARCTICA PACKING LIST
Use our Ultimate Antarctica Packing List as a guide for what to bring along while you’re exploring on the icy seventh continent! We’ve packed this Antarctica Packing List with our trail tested favorites and recommendations, plus lots of useful info on the best gear for adventuring in all of Antarctica’s conditions.
Our biggest piece of advice is to pack light and smart, and bring durable, multi use items that you can layer as temperatures and weather change (because they will)! Test and break in all your gear beforehand and use common sense and your own best judgement and discretion when choosing exactly what you pack. After all, no one knows you better than you! And if you tend to run cold, be sure to pack an extra layer or two.
We’re firm believers that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate gear! Stocking up on quality gear from brands who are doing it right will make all the difference for enjoying all your adventures in the great outdoors!
THE ULTIMATE
ANTARCTICA PACKING LIST
ANTARCTICA PACKING LIST
UP TOP
2 HATS
Bring something light with a brim for sunny days, and a warm beanie to protect your ears from the cold.
2-3 PAIRS OF GLOVES
Bring a mid weight lightly insulated pair, and one more serious thermal, waterproof and insulated outer pair with removable liners. If your hands tend to get extra cold, you might want to opt for mittens which will keep your hands warmer.
3-4 MOISTURE WICKING TOPS
Bring a few lightweight tops, so you can layer and re-wear them. Pack a mixture of tanks, short, and long sleeve options. Pro tip: look for wool and/or synthetic garments that, unlike cotton, wick away moisture.
3-4 MEDIUM LAYERS
These will provide insulation, and include, but are not limited to, fleeces, down jackets, and vests that you can easily stuff in your daypack and layer on and off as your temperature and the conditions change.
Insulated Jacket
This will keep you warm in the cold Antarctica weather. When layering, this jacket will go over your medium layers but under your outer layer jacket. An insultated down jacket will give you an extra layer of warmth when you need it most. If you tend to get cold fast you might want a thicker insulated jacket. You know your body best, but we can't emphasize enough how cold it can get!
WIND + WATERPROOF OUTER LAYER JACKET
On our expedition, you’ll receive your very own wind and waterproof expedition jacket that you get to take home with you after the trip - a pretty cool Antarctic souvenir! Please note: This jacket is not insulated, so make sure your insulated jacket layer is warm!
BALACLAVA
Not to be confused with the delicious dessert Baklava, this piece of headwear is a quadruple threat! Balaclavas are great for keeping your entire head, ears, neck and face warm when it’s really cold and windy.
DOWN LOW
1 PAIR OF HIKING BOOTS
With plenty of opportunities to go hiking while in Ushuaia (and the surrounding area) you’ll want to bring a pair of boots. Make sure they are Gore-Tex, have ankle support, and that you’ve broken them in well. These can also be worn while on board the ship. Brands we love: LOWA, Salomon, Vasque, Asolo. Please note: Insulated rubber boots will be provided for everyone to use on the landings. Shoes brought from home will not be allowed on land to protect the delicate Antarctic ecosystem from invasive species.
1 PAIR of ship SHOES
Comfy, closed toed, easy to slip on shoes for wearing around the ship while enjoying the spectacular views! They should be comfortable and have soles with good grip so you can wear them out on the deck (it can get slippery)! We recommend HOKA Speedgoats or something similar.
4-5 PAIRS ACTIVE PANTS
You’ll want several pairs of durable and comfortable pants or leggings that you can layer. We love Patagonia leggings (and our Move Mountains ones too)!
FLEECE PANTS
You’ll need a pair of fleece pants for an extra layer of warmth. They’re great for layering over your thermals and under your wind and waterproof pant when the conditions get especially cold, wet and windy. Check out these fleece tights from The North Face.
WIND + WATERPROOF PANT
REQUIRED FOR LANDINGS. A non-insulated, outer layer pant is a must-have to put on over your base layers. REI makes an affordable and high quality pair. Ski pants also work well.
ALL ABOUT THAT BASE
1-2 THERMAL BASE LAYERs
A thin, snug fitting top and bottom set that you can wear underneath everything will help regulate your body temperature by wicking sweat away from your skin. We recommend a sport synthetic fabric like polyester or merino wool. We love KORA!
Kayaking LAYERs
For all our kayakers, you’ll be provided with a full length dry suit and a waterproof jacket. Under those layers you should wear a wicking base layer top and bottom along with a warm fleece.
4-5 PAIRS WARM HIKING SOCKS
Bring durable wool socks in a few different weights - lighter for the warmer days, and serious, heavy duty ones for nights and colder days. A couple pairs of liner socks are great to help prevent blisters too! We love Darn Tough’s Hiker Boot Sock in Full Cushion.
SPORTS BRAS
Bring bras that provide support, feel comfortable against your skin, dry quickly and don't bind, smoosh or chafe.
UNDERWEAR
Bring as many pairs as you know you’ll want! Check out REI’s Merino Hipster Underwear which are comfy and great for adventuring!
GET YOUR ARSE IN GEAR
DAYPACK
You’ll need a lightweight hiking backpack to wear everyday to carry your water and extra layers. We recommend this backpack from Sherpani. To keep everything inside dry make sure you put all the gear (especially your phone/camera) in dry bags.
LARGE DUFFEL or suitcase
This will store all of your gear and clothing for the expedition, and will be loaded onto the ship prior to departure. We love The North Face Base Camp Duffel.
WATER BOTTLE
Bring a wide mouth, refillable 1 L water bottle or Nalgene.
BUFF OR BANDANA
An all around great item to always have with you. You can use it as a neck gaiter, head band, sweat rag, etc. Plus, there are so many different fun designs to choose from!
HEADLAMP + EXTRA BATTERIES
This is important for anyone signed up for an epic night of camping! Be sure to start the trip with fresh batteries, and bring a spare set just in case. We love Black Diamond for headlamps.
POLARIZED SUNGLASSES
You have to protect your eyes from when the sun reflects off the snow and ice! Make sure they are UV-blocking and polarized. Goodr makes ones that are great (and cute)!
TREKKING POLES (optional)
For this adventure we recommend trekking poles only if you have difficulty getting around as most of the time you’ll be on flat surfaces while on land. Our local partners will have trekking poles on hand, 1 per person, if you don’t want to bring your own. If you decide to bring your own, make sure they are collapsible, for easy stashing, and simple to adjust for up and downhill. Check out our favs at Leki.
BONUS: You get 15% off Leki poles for being a part of the WHOA family! Just use this special link to see our fav poles and save!
SWIMSUIT
For everyone brave enough to do the polar plunge! And for those looking to sit in the onboard sauna and relax.
CAMERA + EXTRA BATTERIES
There are so many amazing photo ops, so if you’re a photo buff we highly recommend bringing your camera and lenses! If you don’t have a camera, that’s OK too. Most phones have great cameras nowadays, and the true magic of Antarctica will be captured in your memories. Remember to always pack your electronics in waterproof bags or cases.
ALL THE SMALL THINGS
MEDS
Consult with your physician on any prescription medication you might need for this adventure, especially sea sickness medication or patches. The Drake Passage can be very rough, so we recommend bringing this medication even if you’ve never been seasick before. Other common medications you might want to bring along include pain relievers, anti-histamines, antidiarrheals, etc. There will be no opportunities to purchase medication once you are on the ship, so make sure you have whatever you might need.
PASSPORT
Make sure it’s valid for 6 months after your adventure dates. Store it in a waterproof bag to keep it dry, and it’s always a good idea to travel with an extra photocopy of it.
Travel Insurance
All travelers are required to have medical travel insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 USD, which covers any expenses caused by Covid-19. For Antarctica especially, we strongly recommend you get cancel for any reason travel insurance. It’s your responsibility to find a policy that works for you and your needs, so learn more about travel insurance here.
reusable shopping bag
You’ll have a few chances to go shopping for souvenirs before boarding the ship, so bring a small reusable shopping bag to eliminate the need to use a single-use plastic bag. They’re also handy to have in case you need another bag to take on the plane. Just another way to make Mother Earth proud!
FIRST AID
Our ship’s crew will have this stuff on hand, but make sure you have a compact kit with Neosporin, band-aids, moleskin, duct tape, antiseptic, etc. We like this one because it’s lightweight, waterproof, and has everything you might need.
SUNSCREEN + LIPSCREEN
This is a must have for being outside all day as the reflections off the snow and ice can be fierce! Bring a new, full tube with an SPF rating of 30+. We love Raw Elements Natural Sunscreen because it works great, is reef friendly, and plastic free!
TOILETRIES
Don’t forget the travel essentials like travel sized deodorant, sun screen, lotion, hair ties, hair brush, face wipes, tampons, contact solution, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, masks, and ear plugs etc. Remember our pledge to keep single-use plastics out of the places we love, so pack reusable bottles, bar soaps and biodegradable products! Pack it all in this Sherpani toiletry bag made from 100% recycled polyester to make Mother Nature extra proud!
LUGGAGE LOCK
Always lock your things! You’ll need one for your duffel or suitcase when you drop it off to be loaded on to the ship.
ADAPTER
Make sure you bring a plug adapter. Our ship will have type C, the same kind as European countries, with two circular pins.
REUSABLE + Biodegradable BAGS
Let’s do our part to reduce plastic pollution around the world! When packing, please only utilize reusable bags like packing cubes, dry bags, silicone bags (we love Stasher), and dry pouches for waterproofing your phone/passport/money. We recommend bringing along lots of different shapes and sizes to help organize and separate all your gear, dirty clothing, and toiletries. Also, having a stash of brown paper lunch bags, sanitary bags, or biodegradable poop bags is a must have for collecting and/or carrying out any waste.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE YOU'RE PACKING
When you’re not kayaking, camping, and exploring Antarctica you’ll spend your time comfortably aboard our Expedition Ship. On board, you can dress casually and comfortably. We recommend packing cozy tops and bottoms and slippers or sneakers with good grip soles for the slippery deck. (And always have a sweater or jacket on hand in case you need to go on deck for an animal or iceberg sighting!)
Our ship has a fitness center and sauna as well, so even if you don’t want to do the polar plunge, bring your swimsuit!
Insulated rubber boots will be provided for everyone to use on the landings. Shoes brought from home will not be allowed on land to protect the delicate Antarctic ecosystem from invasive species.
You’ll also receive a fully wind and waterproof expedition jacket, which is the perfect outer layer, and you get to take home with you after the trip!