Your choices for what you choose to bring on an Arctic trip depends on your style of travel, your budget, the time of year, and your anticipated activities. If you’re traveling independently, you’ll likely need to bring more than someone on an organized tour.

Some Arctic locations, like Inuvik or Tuktoyaktuk, permit travel with your own vehicle. In addition to cash, traveler’s checks and visa/passport information, almost everyone — unless you’re staying in hotels and eating in restaurants every night — will need to bring a sleeping bag, water bottles, toiletries, matches, maps, reading material, and a light. Given the variety of weather possibilities, warm layered clothing is essential any time of year.

Summer Arctic Travel

Clothing

Windproof/waterproof shell jacket (with hood)
Windproof/waterproof shell pants
Sturdy hiking shoes
Thick wool and/or fleece insulating sweater or pullover
Wool and/or fleece pants (cotton kills when wet- no jeans!)
Wicking synthetic t-shirts
Quick-dry nylon hiking shorts
Thermal underwear (polypropylene or similar material)
Several pairs of thick polypro and/or wool socks
Heavy wind and waterproof gloves
UV protective sunglasses

Outdoor Equipment

Sleeping Bag, pref. synthetic with -20 temp rating
Sturdy, easy to use freestanding tent pref. with vestibule & ground sheet
Light multi-fuel cookstove with wind protection
Cooking pots and utensils
Detailed topographical maps
Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman
Water purification tablets and/or filtration devices
Compass with magnetic declination figures
GPS
First aid kit
Light weight backpack for daytrips or full backpack for overnight hiking trips
Plastic bags or ziplocs to keep things dry
Insect repellent (Lemongrass and DEET-based)

Spring/Fall/Winter Arctic Travel

Clothing

Windproof/waterproof shell jacket (with hood)
Windproof/waterproof shell pants
Arctic parka rated to -40 from -60
Arctic bib insulated pants rated from -40 to -60
Sturdy hiking shoes
Duffel pack boots rated to 40-60 below
Thick wool and/or fleece insulating sweater or pullover
Wool and/or fleece pants (cotton kills when wet- no jeans!)
Wicking synthetic t-shirts
Quick-dry nylon hiking shorts
Thermal underwear (polypropylene or similar material)
Several pairs of thick polypro and/or wool socks
Thin polypro liner socks
Heavy wind and waterproof gloves
UV protective sunglasses
Ski goggles
Windproof face mask

Outdoor Equipment

Sleeping Bag, pref. synthetic with -40 to -60 temp rating
Sturdy expedition tent pref. with vestibule & ground sheet
Multi-fuel cookstove with wind protection
Cooking pots and utensils
Detailed topographical maps
Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman
Water purification tablets and/or filtration devices
Compass with magnetic declination figures
GPS
First aid kit
Light weight backpack for daytrips or expedition backpack for overnight hiking trips
Plastic bags or ziplocs to keep things dry