If you asked me what ten things I would take to Antarctica, I would happily offer you advice. My trip planning was very last minute, and I was extremely underprepared for Antarctica.
When I got back from Antarctica, I definitely had some recommendations of items that I wish I had taken and items I should not have packed at all.
Adventure Life Managed to book me onto a last-minute Antarctica Cruise trip and turn around my adventure booking in record time.
I can’t thank them enough for the fantastic work they did to make my dream trip possible behind the scenes.
A last minute cancellation appeared on a trip to Antarctica and I was faced with the question, If I don’t go now, I might never get the chance to go.
You can ready my blog post here about: Antarctica Oceanwide Basecamp Plancius.
However, I was faced with the dilemma of never having travelled to Antarctica before and heading to the unknown, not knowing what kind of elements I would encounter.
I could have skipped it, but as it was very last minute and I had little time to prepare, I was also armed with the knowledge that if I didn’t go, this kind of opportunity might not come around again.
I was very unprepared and only had a few days to gather supplies.
Armed with a trolly in an outdoor store, I went around stocking up on items that I thought I would need for Antarctica. Warm wool socks being a priority.
Antarctica is a dream trip of a lifetime, and you want to ensure that you have all the essentials needed to enjoy your trip.
This is the packing blog post I wish I had read before I departed for Antarctica.
Based on items I noticed other passengers onboard my expedition had with them that I wish I had also packed.
No need for you to have Antarctica rooky errors when it comes to packing.
Here is my list of 10 things I wish I had taken to Antarctica.
1.Dry Bag 20L Waterproof Bag with Double Shoulder Strap Backpack
(I should have purchased the one with shoulder straps!)
One Item I wished I had packed, was a Dry Bag 20L Waterproof Bag with Double Shoulder Strap.
Priority being a dry bag, the bit I missed was purchasing the one with the additional shoulder straps.
You cannot take food or drink with you on Antarctica landings for biodiversity reasons, except for water.
There are not many items you would need to take with you, but it is handy to have additional layers and a place to put your camera equipment and extra warm clothing items.
A small dry bag with additional shoulder straps would have been a perfect combination to carry all of your loose items and layers when it got too hot.
You will be splashed whilst on the Zodiac, and a normal backpack will run the risk of getting wet.
This is the main reason for recommending a Dry bag for trips out on the Zodiac and landings, to keep your items dry, especially your camera gear which is the last thing you want to get wet.
You need to be able to remove your bag quickly for boarding the zodiacs, so a dry back with straps would ideal and wouldn’t get in the way.
I recommend a 20L size, which would give you the perfect amount of space to carry your personal items for the day.
Ideally, I did most of the landings without a bag at all, especially when it was a short trip on a sunny day. You would just have to carry your water bottle around with you.
Oceanwide did have a limited selection of dry bags available to borrow, so I wish I hadn’t purchased one without the straps just for this trip alone.
2.Keen cosy indoor slippers – the Howser III Slides
Keen Howser III Slides are your perfect indoor footwear to wear onboard the expedition ship.
Open-toe footwear such as slippers or sandals is not allowed onboard for safety reasons.
The expedition vessel is old school, and you don’t want to stump your toes on the way around. The ship is solid metal and your toes will hurt if bashed against the door arches.
What I like about the KEEN Howser III Slides is they have an added Bruise plate for protection on uneven surfaces and high abrasion rubber toe guard for added durability and protection.
For this reason, I can’t recommend Keen enough for the incredible toe protection they always offer across the footwear range.
I’m happy that I didn’t bring additional hiking boots, as they’re not required for landings, unless you’re doing advanced mountaineering, in which case you would need to purchase specialist mountaineering boots that can be attached to crampons.
For the basic moutaineering, the issued Muckboots will do the job..
For all landings and zodiac rides, I trusted Muckboots, which did the job perfectly.
Snowshoes were always available on request and fit nicely over the muckboots.
For kayaking, the shoes were also supplied, so you don’t have to worry about a wetsuit shoes, etc., just the gloves. More on this later.
Having some cosy KEEN Howser III Slides to wear around the ship would have been a wonderful addition.
I would have loved to have been able to slip into some comfortable KEEN Howser III Slides after a long period of wearing Muckboots on the Antarctica landings.
3. Antarctica Flag – for that perfect photo opportunity
This was the one item that you typically would only remember to pack if you mentioned it. Be the expedition ship hero and bring along an Antarctica flag!
This was perfect for the first photo on the first continental Antarctica landing.
After a few days crossing the Drake Passage and finally making it to land, is an occasion that deserves a photo!
Then, once you’re finished with your photos, I guarantee you will have a line of other passengers wanting to take the same photo. –
You can even be cheeky and request a rental fee of a nightcap drink at the ship’s bar!
4. Hydro Flask Insulated travel mug – perfect for carrying your water
Onboard Oceanwide MV Plancius is a hot/cold water station where you can fill up your water bottle, which is a great way to reduce your plastic bottle use.
I would recommend the Hydro Flask – Travel Coffee Flask 473 ml (16 oz) – Vacuum Stainless Steel Travel Mug with Leak Proof Wide Mouth Sip Lid.
Great quality which will last for many adventures to come as well as Antarctica.
In fact, the only food or drink you can bring with you on the Zodiac and landings is water, so your water bottle will come in handy, especially when sleeping overnight at Antarctica basecamp.
I like the Hydro Flask, as it keeps your hot water hot and your cold water cold for long periods of time.
It’s a perfect must-have item for your Antarctic expedition.
5.Mammut Crater IV HS Hooded Jacket Men – Glacier blue
My favourite (And most expensive) purchased item that I got right for my Antarctica trip had to be the Mammut Crater IV HS Hooded Jacket for Men.
Some Antarctica expeditions supply jackets, pants and boots for passengers. Oceanwide do not, which is why this next tip is essential.
Th most important purchase that you will have to make will be your jacket and pants, they will need to be able to withstand the elements of the harsh Antarctica landscape.
Muck boots will be provided. However, pants and jackets must be brought by yourself and must have a waterproofing level of 15,000+ at minimum in order to be suitable for Antarctica conditions.
You will be going out by Zodiac almost every day once you reach Antarctica to be able to make the landings, which is why it’s so important to have the correct outdoor gear and equipment.
This was my one big purchase of the Antarctica trip. My Crater IV HS Hooded Jacket for Men. A hardshell jacket, ready to battle the elements.
I love it and still use it to this day for my adventures.
It was a hefty investment in a Gore-Tex standard jacket, but I have been pleased with a jacket that I will get a lot of use out of in the future.
Waterproofing and breathability-wise, it was perfect for battling all the elements Antarctica had thrown at me. The side vents was most useful when the sun would pop out unexpectly and you needed some ventilation.
I recommend Marmot as a solid outdoor gear brand choice for your Antarctic expedition.
I loved the Glacier blue colour of my jacket that truly popped in all the photos and videos against the white snow. Not just a practical jacket from Mammot, but the design looked super stylish too which I loved.
6.Burnt lips or Piz Buin SPF factor 50 Lip Balm
(My lips started to crack on the second day, should have packed some lip balm!)
The sun in Antarctica can be powerful, even from the snow glear alone, so be careful; it may catch you off guard.
One day, out on a landing, I caught the sun pretty bad, went red, and picked up a headache, which wasn’t ideal as that was the night I was doing the basecamp sleepover.
Oceanwide do provide a suncream dispenser onboard MV Placius just by the loading bay, so this is an excellent chance to smother yourself with SPF suncream to protect yourself from the elements.
This is why I recommend bringing a good SPF lip balm with you to Antarctica. My lips did start to dry up and crack, which isn’t ideal.
Personally, I like to use the alpine brand Piz Buin SPF factor 50 Lip Balm, they know what they’re doing out in the mountains and will work just as well in Antarctica.
This is the sort of item you should purchase before you depart, as once the ship leaves Ushuaia, there is no convenience store nearby to buy supplies, and lip balm is not something you would share with fellow passengers.
So be sure to stock up on last-minute supplies before you depart from the port.
7. Buff Unisex Neckwear Polar Polar Multifunctional Neckwear and Lavender spray/oil
(Penguins stink! No one tells you this until you arrive in Antarctica!)
Let me tell you one thing you would only know if you’ve been to Antarctica.
It’s the one thing no one tells you, as a video or a picture cannot capture this.
Penguins stink!
To the point that sometimes you want to vomit.
Honestly, the stench can be that bad!
Penguins pretty much live on a fishy diet and then go on to shit all over the place, even over themselves and on other penguins.
The smell can be overpowering, and you wouldn’t really know about it unless someone told you who’s been before, but everyone who has been to Antarctica will totally agree the moment you tell them.
However stinky the penguins will be, they are still adorable to watch for hours living their best Antarctica penguin life and admiring them from a safe distance is part of the fun of Antarctica.
This is why I recommend bringing a face cover to shield the stench of penguins.
I can highly recommend the Buff Unisex Neckwear Polar Polar Multifunctional Neckwear, which also doudles up as a neckwarmer.
A buff would work perfectly for this purpose. It would also act as a wind shield when needing to keep your neck warm on those speedy zodiac rides.
Monika from Adventure Life offered a great piece of advice: Bring along some scented lavender spray/oil to freshen up your Buff each day, which will help shield you from the smell of stinky penguins.
You can actually purchase Lavender linen spray, which is one way to freshen up your outdoor gear after multiple days of use.
Over time, you will start to smell subtle hints of fishiness amongst your gear and room. Lavender spray is one way to freshern up the place.
Oh, the charms of Antarctica; honestly, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!
8. Sunglasses: Decathlon 100% UV HD MH 900 HD cat4
I wish I had purchased some new Sunglasses for Antarctica. My purchase choice would have been the
Decathlon 100% UV HD MH 900 HD cat4.
Now, hear me out. Why do you want to look like an 80’s wrestler while walking around Antarctica?
And Ain’t these sunglasses for cyclists?
Sun glare off the snow in Antarctica is real, so you should ensure you have the correct sunglasses. UV protection is most important. Paramount infact.
As they’re for cyclists, they offer excellent ventilation and wide HD viewing.
Standard sunglasses just didn’t cut it for me, and I wish I had picked up a pair of these before I departed.
You want to be able to see the whole of Antarctica without barriers, and these large lenses allow you to see in High definition with the added UV protection.
Some passengers wear ski goggles for this exact reason, which is also a solid choice, especially when travelling at high speeds on the Zodiac.
9.Neoprene gloves for kayaking
(Dom packed some Neoprene gloves for kayaking in Antarctica, and I wish I had too!)
I didn’t purchase or bring Neoprene gloves onboard, but I noticed other passengers had brought them, and I regret not bringing my own.
I would recommend the Cressi Cruz Gloves 3mm – Neoprene Diving Gloves Black 3mm Anti Slip Palm System.
If you can go kayaking in Antarctica, I highly recommend it. It’s a truly special experience, and it was included in my Basecamp trip with Oceanwide.
Pretty much all the gear you need is included, so you don’t have to worry about bringing anything else, such as a wetsuit, waterproof rash jacket, skirt, kayaking wet shoes, and life jacket.
Neoprene gloves weren’t included, and my thick gloves got wet, and my hands got cold rather quickly.
Neoprene gloves, which I had never heard of until going to Antarctica, offer a level of protection and insulation and added grip, like what your wetsuit is doing, so they work well in Antarctica environments.
They seem like a rather handy bit of gear to invest in. I noticed how well the other passengers were enjoying them, and they could have been handy for some zodiac rides as well.
This is an excellent example of an item you only knew you needed once you head to Antarctica.
10.Amazon Kindle Paperwhite for offline entertainment and reading
Satalite Internet onboard Oceanwide Plancius is extremely expensive, be prepared.
Purchase an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite and this is the only entertainment you will need as it works perfectly offline.
I recommend going offline entirely for the duration of your Antarctica cruise. Why?
Being offline for almost two weeks was pure paradise! I could focus on the trip and make the most of my time in Antarctica.
I’m paying for it in the long run as I had a lot of work backlog, but going offline over Christmas and New Year’s was a great idea, as many are on holiday anyway.
This is why I highly recommend purchasing an Amazon Kindle. You can download all your books and audiobooks offline and have hours of offline entertainment ready for when you are bored (If you get bored that is!)
To be honest, I didn’t read that much, just one book, but it was handy to know that I had access to content when I needed it. This allowed me to go offline more easily.
I remember seeing one future Antarctica passenger go around the stores of Ushaia looking for an Amazon Kindle. She had no luck. So, get your Amazon Kindle before you depart for Argentina.
One ebook that I enjoyed reading while in Antarctica was Endurance, about Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition.
Being surrounded by the landscape that his team would have to endure does put things into perspective, and it’s a cracking read about survival and teamwork in the toughest of elements.
National Geographic made a documentary about the discovery of the Endurance ship which is worth watching.
What I liked about Oceanwide is that you could access a library of content that you can stream from an offline onboard media centre.
So you have a selection of films, TV shows, documentaries, and daily news updates that you can watch via an onboard link.
11. Bonus Book: Antarctica: A History in 100 Objects
This is a bonus recommendation as it’s one you can purchase when you get home.
It’s not an item you would bring with you to Antarctica, but something you can enjoy on your return.
Oceanwide Plancius has its own library with a selection of books about Antarctica and books that past passengers have left behind for you to enjoy.
That’s how I stumbled across a hardback book called Antarctica: A History in 100 Objects by Dr Jean de Pomereu and Dr Daniella McCahey.
Full of valuable and interesting facts and information about Antarctica through 100 different objects.
I couldn’t put this book down, so I read it twice. When I was on land and had Internet again, I purchased a copy for myself at home.
A great book that is perfect for brushing up on your knowledge of Antarctica and full of fun and enjoyable, interesting facts.
Thank you for reading my blog post about ten things I would take to Antarctica
Thank you for passing by and checking out my blog post about ten things I would take to Antarctica.
I hope you found this article useful for planning and packing your next trip to Antarctica.
If you have any further questions about packing advice or general questions about Antatcitca, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll be more than happy to help.
All the best, and have a fantastic trip to Antarctica!
