“How do I pack for a trip to the end of the world??” That – my friend – is a commonly asked question. And I am here to answer it for you good fellow! In this post, I will give you a rundown of what we packed, what you actually need to bring, and how to be best prepared for all conditions! Suggestions included!
(*warning: this post is pretty long, so make sure you have a good cup of coffee or something to read it with!*)
Antarctic Conditions
Like I had said in my post Week in Antarctica!! –– Quark Expeditions, the weather can be unexpected and change rapidly. So you must be prepared for all conditions. Listed below is what they recommend and require. From the packing list, we found out that a few of the items were less necessary than we thought. For instance, I bought three mid-layer warm fleece tops (sweaters) and I only ever used two or even just one. The weather depends on whether you can go out and you have to pack under 20kgs (kilograms).
General Packing List
1. Waterproof pants (mandatory for every Zodiac and helicopter ride)
2. Base-layer wool or synthetic top*
3. Base-layer wool or synthetic bottom*
4. Mid-layer warm or fleece top*
5. Mid-layer warm or fleece bottom*
6. Warm wool or synthetic socks (fleece)
7. Glove liners*
8. Hand and feet warmers*
9. Binoculars
10. Waterproof gloves or mitts (bring an extra pair)
11. Scarf, buff, or other face protection
12. Warm hat that covers ears (bring 2)
13. Waterproof, lightweight backpack or dry sack &/or rain sleeve for camera or a waterproof phone case
14. Polarized sunglasses with UV protection (consider bringing an eye wear string/clip.)
15. Ski goggles (for Zodiac cruising on snowy or windy days)
16. UV protection (sun hat, polarized sunglasses, sun block, lip balm etc.)
17. Hat, buff or scarf (for wind and weather protection)
18. Collapsible Walking stick for hikes (if required). Quantities are available on every vessel to borrow.
*recommended layering depending on the conditions of the day and reflecting your personal thermo-regulation comfort levels
Note: There is an onboard shop where you can buy extra items you forget.
My Opinions On the Items
The linked items are ones that we got from REI. Something we wished we knew was that there was a shop onboard. The biggest thing we over-packed on was socks though… I think I brought about – 10 pairs of socks. I used about 4 or 5.
When layering for outings, you have your long underwear (base layer cloths, also known as long johns) and your base layer socks. then your fleece pants and fleece socks so your toes don’t freeze like little ice cubes. You might think that you need to bring fleece socks every day, but you only need about 1 – 2 pairs. You are only wearing them in your boots to keep your feet warm. Socks are also something that takes up a lot of space in your bag, so limiting down on them is good.
Glove Liners!!! These things saved me! The best thing in the world is you can have a simple, lightweight glove to go inside your big glove to keep your hands warm. It’s also very handy (literally) dandy when you want to take photos. Your figures don’t freeze, and you get to take photos in Antarctica! It’s a win-win situation! Speaking of photos, the phone case that we used was very awesome. The pouch is padded enough that it’s safe, and the touchscreen cover is very… touchy. In a good way though! The part where your camera sees though is also amazingly clear so no need to worry about fuzzy photos.
UV sunglasses: I wore these all day every day. The ski goggles are really only ever used when it’s super windy out or there’s a lot of snow falling. And they are mostly for warmth. The Sunglasses though are amazing not only because they protect your eyes from the intense sunlight, but they are also super stylish! I highly recommend the one I linked; they come in many different colors and patterns, and they are extremely comfortable!
Only bring two hats! No more! The biggest reason you double up on items is because there is a chance everything can get wet, and you don’t want to go things on your next adventure! I only ended up using two out of the four hats that I brought, and that was plenty.
Walking sticks: for those of you who need extra help when walking on land or uphills, or even stuff that is minorly slippery, I still don’t think you need to bring your own walking poles. They provide them on board when you go to land, and they are quite fine. The guides are also there to help you in any way you need, so no need to be worried about assistance!
Overall, I recommend only bringing two of each item of clothing. Other than a casual sweatshirt, only bring one of those. It is very hard to have the right amount of weight when traveling for this trip, so pack according to your own needs for anything extra.
To Wear Onboard
1. The complimentary Quark 3-in-1 Parka provided on board is designed with a waterproof shell that can be worn out on deck, and a removable liner that you can wear to stay comfortable indoors.
2. Comfortable casual clothing like lighter shirts, pants or jeans, etc.
3. Comfortable non-slip closed-toed, heelless shoes
4. Workout attire
5. Swimsuit
My Opinions On the Items
I found all these items necessary. The signature bright yellow parka is amazing and it keeps you warm on and off the ship. My only contrast with what they say about the liner is that often your Zodiac group is called and you forget your liner in your room and it’s all a big hassle and such, so I don’t recommend taking your liner out. Instead, bring a cozy sweatshirt or fleece! I was disappointed I did not bring a casual, warm sweatshirt.
For the point about the footwear, I’m telling you: Bring. Slippers!! They will save your LIFE on the ship. Okay not technically, but I hope you know what I mean. It is a general rule that you have to have shoes on at all times while on the ship, and open-toed footwear is not permitted. So unless you want to wear your sneakers or flats or something else on the ship, I highly highly highly recommend slippers. I wore my slippers all day every day while on the boat!
Workout attire: eh… unless you’re going to actually work out while on the boat, no need to pack this. The ship we were on, the World Explorer, did have a small inside gym with weights, two treadmills, two stationary bikes, and other work-outy equipment.
Now… swimsuit! Just yes. Say yes to this item! Most ships have pools or hot tubs, and some even have indoor saunas. Plus! Polar Plunge!! I did it – you should too! You can read about my experience on my other Antarctica post! It’s in there!
Additional Items (optional):
1. Passport, visas, immunization records, travel documents, etc. as required
2. Camera gear complete with charger, storage medium, transport & cleaning kit (lens cloth etc.) and extra batteries
3. Waterproof cell phone case or rain sleeve for camera
4. Earplugs and eye masks for sleeping
5. Voltage converters and plug adapters (see ship book for details)
6. Moisturizer for face and hands (skin dryness due to wind and temperature changes)
7. Seasickness, indigestion, headache, or other medications
8. Small amount of local currency (see pre-departure book for more details)
9. Additional reusable thermos or water bottle (a collapsible reusable water bottle will be provided onboard)
My Opinions On the Items
For the additional items, I highly recommend an eye mask for sleeping because the sun almost never sets: and if it does, you get maybe one hour of dusk. The room cures do have a good amount of shading, but if you’re like me and need total darkness, an eye mask is the way to go!
On board in the rooms, they also have universal chargers in some rooms. In the three-person cabin, I called home for a week, I had a USBA port and universal plug next to my bed. They also have AUS charger ports around the boat and in the cabin bathrooms. Skin dryness is a real issue in the Antarctic.
I highly highly recommend bringing some Vaseline for your nose and lips. Wear lots of sunblock, even if it’s overcast! As for meds, they do have an onboard doctor and nurse who can provide sea-sickness medication. But I recommend bringing your own things. Whatever you use at home.
Things I Wish I Brought and Things I’m So Glad I Had
I honestly think I brought too much, but one thing that was missing was a book. On board, they do have a small bookshelf with expositional books about Antarctica, but we do spend a significant portion of our time sitting on the boat and having a relaxing time. Now that’s just me – I’m only a moody teenager who knows nothing about being social (joking!) – but I do recommend a good book while on board!
I am SO happy I brought my slippers. I really can’t say enough how amazing they were to have on board. It’s the perfect footwear for relaxing, and its endless comfort for a whole week! Plus they can look so stylish!
Overall, this trip went super well, and I highly recommend it. I hope that whoever ends up going to the Great South: I hopes this list helped you!! And really: What they list is all you need. Have an awesome day and see you on the next adventure!