This post is from TravelWild Expeditions Leader and Sales Director Dennis Mense:
A question that invariably comes up with regards to polar travel is “What do you recommend for clothing?” All of our clients receive a clothing list at least three months before their cruise, but many are anxious to begin planning for their adventure right away.
For starters, it is important to understand that, whether you are traveling to the Arctic or Antarctic, you will be traveling to these areas during their respective summer months. Temperatures will likely still be cold by most standards, but many clients are pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to keep comfortably warm outside during their trip.
The Antarctica that you are traveling to is not the area of superlatives: highest, driest, coldest, windiest place on Earth. You are traveling to the Antarctic Peninsula, the banana belt of the Antarctic where there recently has been significant warming trends. The mid-summer temperatures can be in the 50s F (all temps will be shown here in Fahrenheit) on some days. In general, you can expect the following daytime temps:
November: mid-20s to low-30s
December: 30s-40s with some highs in the low-50s
January and February: 40s-50s
These are generalizations—temperatures can drop or rise precipitously and with little warning. For actual statics on temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula visit http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/met/gjma/. The bases that you want to look at are Bellingshausen, Esperanza and Faraday/Vernadsky, as they are the ones located near the areas where you’ll be traveling.
For the Arctic, June temperatures are often in the low 30s. As you move into mid-summer, the temperatures can be in the 50s. In July, you may even have an odd day in the low 70s.
On both Arctic Cruises and Antarctica Cruise one thing is certain: you should be prepared to dress for a wide range of temperatures and conditions. The key to staying warm: Layering. That way, if you become too warm, you can remove a layer. Conversely, if you get cold, you can reach into your backpack for more clothing. One of our favorite outfitters, www.shopantarctica.com (they also run www.shoparctic.com), has a great web page on the subject of layering. The page has an excellent photo-illustrated cross-section of layered clothing that we recommend you take a look at.
Knowing how your individual body reacts to cold will guide you as to how much or little to bring along. Keeping in mind your own personal comfort and budget levels, here are some recommendations on what to bring.
Boots
One of the most important items of clothing is a quality pair of waterproof boots that fit well and have an open tread on the sole. The style of boots we recommend are often generically called “Wellies” (short for the brand name “Wellington”). You can find Wellie-style boots from many manufacturers at stores ranging from sporting goods and hunting supply stores to “big box” stores like WalMart and Target. On-line retailers like www.cabelas.com carry a variety of styles as well. You’ll likely pay around $30-50 for a basic pair. The boots I swear by are Arctic Sport Muck Boots which are a little pricier, around $125 US. You want your boots to come up to just under the knee, which comes in handy since you’ll be stepping into shallow water when getting in and out of Zodiacs during shore landings. Having open tread on your boots makes it easy to remove penguin guano and other “muck” before returning to the ship. Many ships provide boots on loan on the ship, but I prefer knowing that my boots fit comfortably before I get to the ship. This can prevent an unhappy trip. Boots should not be tight or the rubber will “wick” the heat away from your feet.
Pants
A good strong pair of windproof/waterproof outer pants are essential for wearing over your “street” pants. These can simply be rubberized rain pants, but we recommend pants made of a more breathable fabric, such as Gore-Tex®. When buying pants, make sure they fit comfortably over whatever you wear under them and allow you move your legs without hindrance. That comes in handy when walking up and down gangways to the Zodiacs and swinging your legs over the side of Zodiacs during shore landings. You can find pants made from breathable fabrics like Gore-Tex® at outdoor recreation stores including REI, EMS, Patagonia and Shop Antarctica.
Jackets
You will want a quality outer jacket that is windproof/waterproof. Again, we recommend bringing one made of a waterproof, breathable fabric like Gore-Tex®. As with boots, some ships provide parkas to passengers, but we recommend you bring one of your own to ensure fit. Jackets should not be too tight and should easily fit over layers of clothing worn underneath. A few pockets on your outer jacket are useful for carrying camera gear, storing gloves when you remove them, and stashing various other items you’ll want to have quick access to. You may want to also bring a polar fleece jacket, sweaters and, possibly, a light down jacket to wear under your windproof/waterproof jacket.
Accessories
Hats—A good hat is essential. I prefer one with a brim and ear flaps that I can Velcro under my chin on cold/windy days or turn up and Velcro over the top of the hat on warmer days.
Sunglasses—Bring a pair of polarized glasses. The sun does shine in both the Arctic and Antarctica and when it does, the glare off snow and water can be intense.
Gloves/Mittens—Bring a good pair of gloves/mittens that repel water. You may also want to bring a thin pair of glove liners to wear underneath.
Socks—Several pairs of warm wool or polypropylene socks are a must. Make sure your socks are not so thick that your boots fit too tightly over them—it could limit circulation in your feet causing them to get cold quickly.
I prepared this list of what to bring on Arctic and Antarctica Cruises. For more information give us a call at 1-800-368-0077.
