Prepping for the Ice: Must-Have Gear for an Antarctica Expedition

Ruth Bergman
Jan 20
4 min read

Updated: Mar 21

Gear Up: This Expedition’s Checklist is Next-Level!

Over a year ago, I signed up for a sailing expedition to Antarctica aboard the Icebird. Visiting Antarctica has been on my bucket list for years—ever since a friend returned from kayaking there with the most amazing stories. So, when a rare opportunity came up to join a renowned kayaker for an unforgettable adventure on a sailboat, I couldn’t pass it up. Instead of the usual 200 or so people on an Antarctic cruise, our group will be just nine, including a three-person crew. After some back-and-forth, I realized this kind of trip wasn’t going to get any easier—or cheaper—if I waited. Fast forward fifteen months, and here we are, packing for the adventure of a lifetime.

No, I’ve never sailed. And yes, I’m expected to participate in every part of life aboard the sailboat—sailing, cooking, and whatever else needs doing. Oh, and it’s also a kayaking expedition! The plan is to kayak daily (or almost daily) in Antarctica, with a few nights spent on land—or more accurately, on ice. But before we get there, we have to face the infamous Drake Passage, known as the roughest stretch of water in the world.

I’ve been on several kayaking and camping trips to cold spots in the northern hemisphere, so I already have a fair amount of gear. Still, the gear list for this trip required some serious shopping and research. We’ve been at it for a couple of months now, and it’s been equal parts entertaining and nerve-wracking.

Kayak Gear for Antarctic Waters

Showing off new NRS Storm Cap and Julbo glacier sunglasses

The water temperature around Antarctica is notoriously cold, typically ranging from about -2°C to 10°C (28°F to 50°F). Most surface water hovers near the freezing point due to the ice and the frigid climate. While these temperatures are slightly colder than those in East Greenland or Prince William Sound in Alaska, they don’t require drastically different kayaking gear.

Pictured below is my Kokatat Meridian Gore-Tex Pro drysuit, which I originally bought for our Greenland expedition. Oren joked that I must have sorted the dry suits by price, high to low, and picked the first one. We also upgraded our paddling boots to the Astral Hiyak, which dry quickly and slip easily over a drysuit's socks. To combat the extreme cold while paddling, we finally invested in NRS neoprene caps. Along with those, we have the usual essentials: neoprene gloves, pogies, and plenty of dry bags.

Camping on Antarctic Ice

We can’t go all the way to Antarctica and skip the experience of spending a night—or a few nights—on Antarctic soil. Most of the gear we’ll need should be available aboard the Icebird. For my part, I’m bringing my trusted camping sleep setup: a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm sleeping pad and a Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass three-season down sleeping bag, rated to -9°C.

No one wants to inflate a sleeping pad with a pump sack, particularly on ice. Oren found this terrific gadget, the EXPED WIDGET Pump - it's a pump and lamp in one. It came with a bunch of attachments, but none fit our sleeping pad, so Oren 3D printed the adaptor from these 3D model on Printables.

The new Muck Boots Arctic Sport boots have been the biggest source of amusement so far. These Canadian-made boots are perfect for tackling Antarctica’s icy, slushy, and muddy terrain. And hey, when we get back, we’ll be fully prepared to start a horse or cattle ranch—footwear sorted!

We can expect plenty of sunshine in Antarctica. The days will be long, and unlike the polar north, rain is practically nonexistent down there. To protect our eyes from the intense glare and UV rays bouncing off the snow and ice, Julbo Glacier Sunglasses are a must. Interestingly, polarized lenses aren’t recommended for the Antarctic environment—something I hadn’t realized before!

A final item for camping is freeze-dried meals, which we're bringing from the U.S., since we’ve heard they’re not available in Ushuaia, Argentina—the port where we’ll set sail.

Gear for the sailor

When you’re in San Diego, with its perfect year-round weather, it’s hard to imagine ever needing tall Muck Boots or freezer work gloves!

The gloves were actually the trickiest item to figure out because “freezer work gloves” isn’t exactly a detailed description. After some digging, we settled on Toolant Heavy Duty Winter Gloves—latex fully coated, 100% waterproof, and thermal insulated. If all that doesn’t keep my hands warm and protected while pulling ropes, nothing will!

Did I mention the Drake Passage earlier? The crossing will take us 3–5 days of notoriously rough seas. The average wave height in the Drake is four to five meters (13–16 feet), which is about double what you’d typically find in the Atlantic. And it’s not just the winds causing the chaos—the Drake is essentially one massive surge of water.

A recent CNN article titled "Like Going to the Moon’: Why This is the World’s Most Terrifying Ocean Crossing" definitely got me worried. I’m fully prepared to be seasick and am bringing every seasickness remedy known to humanity—plus a generous stash of ginger candy for good measure.

Let's try to keep warm

The plan is to stay warm! Here’s what’s going into my North Face expedition bag:

Down ski jacket and insulated ski pants
Kokatat Outercore Habanero Liner – a cozy fleece onesie to wear under the drysuit. We lovingly call it the “fuzzy onesie,” and it’s kept us warm and happy both in and out of the kayak.
Two sets of Icebreaker merino wool 260 thermals (top and bottom)
One mid-layer set (top and bottom) – mine is an old set from Eastern Mountain Sports.
Two quick-drying warm hats – I’m bringing one wool and one fleece.
Ski gloves, fleece gloves, and wool glove liners – basically, all the gloves!
Smartwool neck warmer
Two pairs of Darn Tough mountaineering over-the-calf heavyweight socks and two pairs of Darn Tough full-cushion mid-weight hiking socks
Crocs – not exactly warm, but super convenient for life on the boat.

Gear Check: Are We Ready for the Antarctic Sailing Expedition?

I guess we're as ready as we will ever be. We have the gear. We have travel insurance including search and rescue by Magnus Safety. We are understandably nervous and incredibly excited. If we make it back, there will be some very cool blog posts.