What to Wear in Antarctica Packing List: 8 Critical Things to Bring!

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Y’all should probably know this about me by now but…I wasn’t think AT ALL about an Antarctica packing list when I booked the cruise. Literally, the absolute LAST thing on my mind. The first 1284896 things were how the #$@% I was going to pay for Antarctica in the first place. So it wasn’t until about…maybe two or three weeks before when I was finally like…wait a minute. What…what do I wear in Antarctica?

While Antarctica might not evoke images of haute couture in your mind, it is still very important to have a solid Antarctica packing list in mind so you are fully prepared and equipped for your trip – because, in some cases, not having something may mean not being able to participate in all Antarctic activities.

And you paid WAYYY too much to miss out on activities.

So this post won’t be too long (hopefully, there’s no telling with me lol), but I do want to make sure I cover all the bases.

What Does Your Company Provide?

First things first, you’re gonna wanna check what your cruise ship provides. They won’t have a full suitcase worth of stuff, but the most common things they may provide are:

• winter parkas (suitable for EXTREME cold)
• rubber boots
• hiking poles

Read the fine print to see what items your cruise ship will/can provide, and if there is any ambiguity, EMAIL THEM AND VERIFY. For one, worst case, they don’t provide it and then you are unable to do certain activities comfortably. Second, if they do provide it, you can save a TON of space in your luggage because these are all very bulky items and knock out some items from your Antarctica packing list.

For my Antarctica trip with Poseidon Expeditions, they provided (branded!) winter parkas, rubber boots, and hiking poles – which was awesome. The parkas are suitable for sub-freezing temperatures (aka polar conditions), and I always felt cozy and comfortable in the jacket. Once I was moving around and hiking, I would sometimes even get too warm and need to unzip.

I had also packed a down puffy jacket though, for Ushuaia, but it wasn’t too cold in December and I could’ve gone without it and saved more space.

The rubber boots are required to step onto Antarctic land to prevent the spread of unwanted bacteria/viruses/etc, and they are sanitized before and after each excursion. These were provided by our ship and had sizes ranging from like 5 women’s to 13 men’s (USA sizes). My friend’s husband on the trip wore a size 14 I believe, but they just emailed beforehand to ensure they would have his size onboard for our trip – and they did! So if you do fall out of those ranges, they will accommodate.

And hiking poles were also available to use as needed for our excursions. However, if your ship does not provide, here are some links to a winter parka, rubber boots, and hiking poles. So yeah…having those items included definitely adds up and can even help you pick which Antarctica cruise company to go with depending on if they are provided.

What is Absolutely NECESSARY for an Antarctica Packing List?

• waterproof pants

The only item you NEED to pack are a pair of waterproof pants. Without those, you are legally not allowed to take the zodiac boats off the cruise ship to land on Antarctica.

So…you’d just pay all of that money to sit on the ship.

WHATEVER YOU DO – even if you forget literally EVERYTHING ELSE on this Antarctica packing list: Pack waterproof pants. Gloves are also important because you’ll want to have your hands out to take pictures and whatnot so they can get cold, but even those aren’t as important as waterproof pants.

In fact, even you you manage to score cheap tickets to Antarctica by buying them last minute – make sure you stop by an outdoor retailer the second after to get waterproof pants. There was a woman on my ship who got last minute tickets (the cheapest way to visit Antarctica, btw) the NIGHT BEFORE departing I believe and all the shops were closed before she was able to go through the Antarctica packing list they gave her.

She had to ask literally everyone on our ship if they had a spare pair of waterproof pants, or else she wouldn’t have been able to get on the zodiacs. LUCKILY, someone packed an extra and let her borrow them. I wouldn’t bet on that luck though.

Where do you even get waterproof pants?

Now, waterproof pants aren’t something that are usually in our everyday wardrobe selection. But if you are a winter sports person, then your ski/snowboarding pants will work amazingly! Snow pants usually have that little insulated layer at the bottom to keep snow/water out, AND are wide enough to fit over the rubber boots you are required to wear while on Antarctica land (conservation laws).

If you don’t already have those, then I’d recommend getting them around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Labor Day, Boxing Day…or any major holiday that coincides with shopping sales because they can be pricey.

My exact pair that I have are from Roxy, which I got for 50% off during Black Friday sales. Before that, I had some cheaper pants from Amazon ($40 USD) that also would have worked!

But of course, the winter sports industry is incredibly fatphobic, so honestly finding ANY type of waterproof pants will work. If they don’t fit over your waterproof boots, our cruise (Poseidon Expeditions) allowed passengers to saranwrap where the boot ended to ensure no water would get in. #GhettobutFunctional

Recommended Antarctica Packing List

As long as you have your pants, honestly, you can make everything else work. BUT, to be comfortable and survive Antarctica with no frostbite and good memories to take home, I recommend actually adding at least a few extra items to your Antarctica packing list.

Camera + Chargers

Obviously, the big one here is a camera. That said, you don’t NEED anything fancy. The way phones are set up these days, you manage some dope shots with just that. I also have the Sony a7R III Mirrorless Camera, and I used a 24-70 mm F2.8 G zoom lens. Don’t ask me what that means, I got em on a FREAK Prime Day sale – but it worked well for me!

I also took my wide angle lens, but honestly…I was more concerned with getting close up shots of penguinis than landscapes, so I never actually switched the lenses out. My boyfriend brought his telephoto zoom lens (also bought on the sale) to get REALLY close up shots, which was nice cuz now I can just steal his SD card.

*sidenote, remind me to tell you the story of how I scored these cameras and lenses for like…$149 each or whatever it was

The bottom line is that unless you are a professional photographer, I would not recommend buying a new camera or lens for this trip – especially one you are not familiar with. I would also not necessarily recommend bringing a tripod because the boat is always moving and when you’re on land you will probably want to move around. And your fellow passengers are MORE than happy to snap pics of you if you are going solo. But again, professionals: do what you gotta do.

If you’re not a photo or camera person at all, don’t fret. Most cruise companies will have a professional photographer on board taking pictures of animals, landscapes, the boat, and fellow passengers. So if you really don’t want to be bothered with capturing a moment yourself, they’ll have you covered. Our ship gave us a cute lil USB drive with all the professional pics at the end. Just email your ship to double check they will have that available.

Last tip on this point: add an extra battery and a lot of extra memory cards to your Antarctica packing list. Clear out your phone memory before your trip too! You’ll want the ability to take as many pictures as possible!!

Gloves/Mittens

This one is self-explanatory, but bring gloves or mittens to keep your fingers warm. Especially when you’re out on the deck watching for wildlife or riding on the zodiacs. The wind can feel like KNIVES.

I managed decently with just my snowboarding gloves, but you don’t get the best finger dexterity in them so I would have to take off the gloves to actually use my camera efficiently and then my hands would get COLD, basically defeating the purpose.

So my hindsight recommendation is to put two layers of gloves on your Antarctica packing list: one thin glove under, and then insulated (and waterproof) gloves or mittens on top!

Tights/Long Underwear:

If you’re a winter sports person, you’ll probably already have something in your closet for this. But if you never go out in any temperature colder than “summer,” then you’ll want to grab a pair for your Antarctica packing list.

You will be wearing waterproof pants, but because of the cold/the fabric of most waterproof pants, it’s more comfortable to layer with a pair of fleece tights, thick leggings, or long underwear (the men’s version).

Most other types of bottoms (sweatpants, jeans, etc) might be too bulky. You CAN work with them, but I found a good pair of thick tights were less restricting for me.

Beanie:

I strongly recommending putting a beanie on your Antarctica packing list. After all, you lose most of your heat through your head! I’m sure most of you know where or how to find a beanie (here’s one from amazon if not), but one brand that I specifically want to shout out is KIN apparel! They make WARM satin-lined beanies to protect your temperature AND your hair (especially curly and coarse, or hair that is prone to breakage).

Scarf/Neck Gaiter:

You won’t die without it, but it’s helpful depending on the weather – mostly on the zodiacs to protect your face from the wind. I already had a neck gaiter from snowboarding, but they aren’t too pricey. While I didn’t wear it every day, it did come in handy.

Tall Wool Socks:

Wool socks are warm, yes, but I cannotttt stress enough to make sure they are tall. I would not recommend ankle or “no show” socks because you’ll run the risk of your socks rolling off your foot in your rubber boots.

You do not want that.

So, just make sure your wool socks are tall, or if not, ANY tall socks will work for your Antarctica packing list. I know some people had insulated thermal socks, which I didn’t personally use, but just throwing that out there.

Casual Sweater/Fleece Jacket:

A nice casual sweater is good to add to your Antarctica packing list, mostly for when you’re chilling on the ship or in transit at the airport.

If your cruise provides you with a fancy warm parka, then the parka will be sufficient when you are out of your cabin. Trust me, those suckers are WARM. And you won’t need anything superrr heavy duty for Ushuaia if that’s your departure city. It’s their summer, and I found temperatures to be fresh, around mid 50s-60s F (10-15 C), so a nice sweater will suffice.

Long sleeve shirts are also clutch for around the ship or under your parka, so add that to your Antarctica packing list as well!

Cozy Loungewear:

This next tip for your Antarctica packing list is mostly while you’re onboard the cruise between landings and excursions. At least on Poseidon Expeditions, the dress code was super casual, with most people in some form of athleisure or sweats.

I RECOMMEND IT.

Bring something cozy and comfortable as loungewear for your Antarctica packing list. Once my waterproof pants were off, I lived in the same sweatpants the entire cruise. You don’t have to be fancy, bring what you already have. But, if you are looking for like…cute matching sets or whatever, here are a few brands to check out:

• Kin Apparel (men & women silhouettes)
• Lovello Elizabeth (men & women silhouettes)
• Your Parade
• Fancy Homebody
• Patton Studio

Sunglasses and Sunscreen:

Antarctica has a lot of snow and ice, which reflects the sunlight really brightly! You really don’t need super special or high performance sunglasses for your Antarctica packing list. Just something to protect your eyes from sun glare if you have sunny days. You can get all technical if you WANT, but honestly I didn’t even use mine most of the time because I don’t see well in the dark haha.

Or maybe my eyes are just damaged idk. On that same note, make sure to put some skin protection in your Antarctica packing list! If you’re worried about looking ashy, check out my post on sunscreen for darker skin tones!

Swimsuit:

Bring a swimsuit. It might not be the first that comes to mind for an Antarctica packing list but you’ll want a swimsuit for the hot tub. Most cruises put their hot tubs in a super scenic spot, but also, you’ll want a swimsuit for the polar plunge.

EVEN IF YOU SAY YOU’RE NOT GONNA DO IT….idk man, you neva knowww.

I only brought one swimsuit and that was more than sufficient for me. Our cabins in Poseidon Expeditions had a drying line in each cabin bathroom so we could dry our swimsuits easily, but feel free to maybe take two or three (probably not more than that) if you NEED to switch it up.

Waterproof/Resistant Backpack:

This one isn’t technically needed, but usually if you’re bringing a camera, it’s a good idea to bring a lil backpack or sling so you don’t have to hold it in your hands or dangling from your neck all the time.

You don’t need a backpack that’s like…waterproof enough to go scuba diving with, but it is good to at least have a water resistant backpack in case it gets splashed on the zodiac or if it starts snowing. I would just make sure it’s relatively small and not too cumbersome. My bag is the Peak Design camera bag.

Note: it is HIGHLY unlikely (like, less than 0.001%) that you will ever fall into Antarctic waters on accident. So if you can’t get a water resistant backpack, don’t sweat it. Or you can just get a waterproof cover to put over it!

Medical Things to Bring

Aside from your routine medications (if any), there are a few extra you will probably want to put in your Antarctica packing list. Mainly for the infamous Drake Passage, but also just for general sea sickness because…this is a cruise on open waters. Boats move.

Depending on your sensitivity to motion sickness, you might want some or all of these different aids. I personally had a prescribed patch for the entire trip and also used Dramamine during the Drake Passage. Our ship, Poseidon Expeditions, also had free Dramamine available at the front desk, but it’s always reassuring to have some of your own.

• Dramamine: your basic motion/sea sickness pill. You take it per instructions and for most people it is enough to prevent the most unpleasant symptoms of sea sickness (vomiting). You may still get a little queasy though.
• Prescribed Patch: for a STRONGER version of Dramamine, you can get a medical prescription for a sea sickness patch. You wear it continually behind your ear for 3 days, so you don’t have to worry about a daily pill or anything, and the effects are stronger than Dramamine. That said, so are the side effects, but I’ll leave that for my post on how to prevent sea sickness in Drake Passage (coming soon).
• Motion Sickness Bracelets: I bought these, but didn’t actually end up using them because the patch and pills worked so well already. But if you’re adverse to taking medications or maybe they’re even a bit TOO strong for you, my friends have said that they could get by with just the bracelets.
• Sleeping Aids: I sleep like a rock, so I didn’t personally need this, but even for folks who didn’t necessarily feel queasy, the constant movement through the night (or the waves crashing if you’re on the bottom levels) made it hard for them to sleep, so they opted for sleeping aids.

Antarctica Packing List to Keep Busy

I was actually most worried about being bored on the cruise. As it turns out, even without the flashy attractions of usual cruises, we didn’t have TOO much downtime to be bored out of your mind.

But still, if you don’t want to be out on the deck ever single day, or need a break from socializing, here are a few things I added to my Antarctica packing list to keep busy.

• Audiobooks: pigs must fly because I never thought I’d become an audiobook girly…but here I am! I’ve gotten a lot more into audiobooks over the last few years, and I think they’re a better option (or on a digital reader) because you can bring more without having to worry about the weight.
• Sketchbooks: I personally don’t draw as much, but Antarctica definitely made me want to. Such great shapes and sceneries! if you’re an artist, bring a sketchbook – either physical or digital.
• Pre-downloaded movies/shows: I didn’t do this but my friend and her husband did and I was SO JEALOUS. Highly recommend downloading some shows and movies to get you through the long Drake Passage when there isn’t much going on.
• Workout Clothes: Yeah yeah yeah I’m that person that works out on vacation. But if you are too, or just…want to move your body more, you will have the downtime to do it! Our ship (and most I believe) also have a gym on board!

Frivolous Antarctica Packing List Ideas

Sure you can bring extra outfit changes and accessories and whatnot, but I do want to point out that every time you go out on an excursion, you HAVE to wear your waterproof pants, a life jacket, and rubber boots. It’s…Antarctic law. And if your cruise provides parkas, you have to wear those as well.

So you won’t look that different during excursions (unless you bring different waterproof pants). I mean, you CAN stuff a ballgown into your waterproof pants and quickly slip them off for a picture (my friend Sara did so for her Antarctica wedding!!!) but…it is a huge hassle doing costume changes. Trust me.

I think the most popular “frivolous” item people include in their Antarctica packing list is some kind of prop to take a picture with once they land on the continent, like the Antarctica flag. Our ship came with a lot of props for us to take pictures with, but no flag, so if you want something SPECIFIC, that’s not too much of a hassle.

Antarctica Packing List BEFORE AND AFTER the journey

Lastly, but not leastly, don’t forget to bring clothes for before and after the cruise. If you have a few days in either Ushuaia or Buenos Aires or even…other cities around South America and beyond, the southern hemisphere is in SUMMER. So add in a few t-shirts and maybe a pair of shorts to your Antarctica packing list.

What Happens if You Forget Something??

Welll….as long as it’s not your waterproof pants, don’t panic. If you’re departing out of Ushuaia, then there are DOZENS of outdoor gear shops all over, so you can pick up a backpack, or wool socks, or beanies, etc etc. I will say they are pretty pricey, depending on where you’re coming from and the exchange rate, but it’s there if you need it for any last-last minute shopping.

Shops in Ushuaia do close earlier (maybe like 4pm), AND a lot of them take a break during midday, so I wouldn’t bet on getting things there. Especially waterproof pants. Seriously, if you forget them and you’re already in transit and you won’t arrive early enough to shop…then contact your cruise immediately so they can help you out.

Conclusion: Antarctica Packing List

Aight folks, I applaud you for getting through the LONGEST Antarctica packing list you ever could have imagined. For one, I talk too much, but also I just wanted to make sure you were prepared for your journey! If you’ve already been to Antarctica, are there any items you would add to this Antarctica packing list? Let me know in the comments below!

Antarctica Packing List Print-Out

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