It’s a good bet that you’re wondering what to wear in Svalbard for a cruise through the sea ice of the Arctic Circle. For ice reasons, ships only go from May to September and that’s the summer.
So what can you expect? Temps won’t generally go lower than 2oC in summer, but with bright UV and constant sunlight from the midnight sun to contend with, sun cream belongs on your list!
You need to watch out for activities like being driven in a Zodiac boat or wading out to leave the boat – they’ll kick the cold up a notch.
First and foremost – don’t panic.
The name of the game is layering. Popping on extras or whipping off an item is how you handle all that nature throws at you.
What to wear in Svalbard – the packing you need to do
Shoes in Svalbard
At home you might have a treasured pair of stilettos, but here you only need three pairs of shoes. Sparkly sandals need not apply.
Comfy velcro shoes are just right for on the ship. This way you won’t be faffing with laces. They need to be able to handle a few drops of water and also they must be closed at the toes. Open toed shoes are not allowed on board.
Next, trainers, sturdy boots or whatever you know you could walk a good few miles in.
Check with your cruise company, but most ships supply waterproof heavy boots for all your adventures.
Don’t forget a pair of cheap flip flops too, for use if the ship has a pool or sauna, or if you get enough Dutch courage up for the Polar Plunge.
Socks
I went completely overboard on these for my last trip. The fact is, that you wont have space to wriggle your toes in your boots with more than two socks and a liner at a time. Toes that can’t move get that odd cold feeling of low blood flow.
Start with comfy liner socks (take enough for every two days, or plan to do washing either in your sink or with the ship board laundry for an extra charge). Then just a few Wigwam super thick hiker socks. Unless these get wet, they will be good to wear many times over your liner without getting stinky.
The only exception is if you go for water sports like stand-up paddleboarding. In that case, you might want to add lamb’s wool liners to the soles of your boots because all that standing still chills your feet an extra amount.
Thermals
Starting off any outfit will be a pair of incredibly sexy (yeah, right) set of thermals – top and trousers. Learn to love these!
Merino wool balances the itchiness of normal wool with its fantastic keep warm properties.
Bottom half:
The number one pick is a pair of waterproof trousers, as you won’t be allowed on expeditions without these. They can be thin and one size fits all – you just need them to be from that bin-bag-like waterproof fabric.
Beneath this go leggings and soft sports trousers. Leave the jeans in your drawer – this isn’t their time!
Top half:
On top of your thermals go long sleeved tops (Uniqlo’s heat tech range is a great choice) and thick jumpers (in my case, bought from a charity shop for around £5 each).
You’ll always need a minimum of three layers if outside but they needn’t be anything specialist or pricey – just normal hoodies and wrap arounds.
A puffa jacket or gillet does wonders for warmth. Over all that goes a waterproof parka with a hood, which is usually issued by the cruise operator.
What to wear in Svalbard – cold weather essentials:
Thin liner gloves will save the day when you need to use a touchscreen, fiddle with a camera or just have full finger mobility.
Over those go ski gloves. Believe me – you want them to be waterproof, padded for warmth and good quality.
In Antarctica I made the mistake of buying ‘water resistant’ and found my hands wet, pink and cracking from the cold. Big mistake.
UV is incredibly strong up there so a pair of ski style sunglasses are a must. Glasses and contacts can join these, if needed.
On the same line, go for a balaclava (not a sexy look, but blissfully warm) or a woolly hat with a bit of a brim. These will keep the wind off and prevent sun burn.
A scarf will serve you well and my secret weapon against the cold is a portable hand warmer which reaches 30- 40oC in seconds.
Choose rechargeable not disposable, the planet will thank you.
Binoculars for wildlife spotting go in the bag. If you can’t afford a lens as long as your arm for a spectacular camera, you can buy a cheap binocular attachment for your phone’s camera and use it with your binos.
We were hundreds of metres from a polar bear but my friends still got a good shot thanks to this handy accessory.
If you like to curl up warm and comfy inside, a snood would be popular.
Extras:
On land or on the last night at sea, you’ll need one set of slightly fancy clothes. A dress, a skirt, smart trousers and a top that doesn’t have adventure slogans on it.
No, you don’t need all the jewellery scattered around your room. But a cheap pair of costume jewellery earrings or two can be slipped in your case here.
Scoop up all your medicine and get that into your hand luggage. If it’s prescription, you need a copy of the doctor’s form.
No towels or little soaps and shampoos unless you prefer a specific brand, these will be ready for you in your cabin.
Packing cubes. Yes you’ve probably seen them on Pinterest, but they come into their own here. Use for toiletries which you can easily bring into the bathroom – in shared cabins, clutter grates on everyone.
One of these can also be for on ship stuff – an extra jumper in case a reindeer is spotted and you go on deck, a bit of money for the gift shop and a cable to charge your phone etc.
In the final one is your expedition gear, with all your cold weather supplies, camera etc.
A watch – ships have few clocks and rely on tannoys for announcements. You can easily lose track of time. If you are sharing a room and want to wake up and use the bathroom first, you can set a silent alarm for slightly before the tannoy on a watch, phone, Fitbit or whatever you have.
Sun cream. Moisturiser (essential) and lip balm. Powder for hand washing clothes if you choose to go that route. Don’t forget the tooth brush.
Svalbard, against all odds, has mosquitos in the summer. Repellent is your friend while you’re off exploring things like the Global Seed Vault.
Where to get everything you need to pack for Svalbard
We’ve all heard about the problems with fast fashion and charity shops overwhelmed by people Konmari-ing.
If you’re not one for cold trips and you think this is the only time you’ll ever need this kind of extreme weather kit, you want to rent as much as you can.
First check for rental places in Svalbard, then comb second hand options in your area – it’s great for your pocket too.
For everything else, Amazon is my fave, particularly as you might be able to re-sell some bits of gear on their sellers platform after your trip.
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Great write up Danni, and for anyone wanting to travel or doing it , it can be very helpful indeed , but personally think that travelling is the only way to enjoy life nowadays and avoid politics, although there will always be some sort of politics in any country, thanks again
Thanks, Steve, you’re not wrong there!
Super helpful! I’m planning a second sabbatical now and found my way to you.