Ask Gadling: How do I pack for a trip to Antarctica?

by Andrew Evans on

No matter where you go, packing right is the first step to ensuring a positive travel experience. So, what if you’re heading off to a more extreme destination, one that very few people have ever been to? This week’s question comes from Cedric in Amarillo, Texas:

“I’ve just found out that I may be going to Antarctica at the end of the year. I have no clue what to pack but feel like I need to dress like an Eskimo. Any tips as to what I should buy or bring?“

Gadling: Antarctica is the coldest place on earth, so bear that in mind, however, know that most recreational travel to Antarctica takes place in the austral summer (November to March), which is comparatively warmer than usual with average air temperatures that hover around freezing (32°F, 0°C). That’s a whole lot warmer than either Moscow or Montreal in the winter.

View more Ask Gadling: Travel Advice from an Expert or send your question to ask [at] gadling [dot] com.

What causes discomfort in Antarctica is the wind and the wet, so preparing yourself against the elements is what matters most. The weather changes constantly, so like San Francisco or Scotland, the key to real comfort is wearing layers. Your packing list also depends on what you plan to do in Antarctica. Are you taking a cruise or are you going to live on a base? How much time will you spend outside?

DIG IN YOUR CLOSET
Before you run off and drop a thousand bucks at REI, dig deep into the back of your cluttered drawers and see what you already own. Anyone who survives a snowy North American winter should already own a lot of necessary clothing for a trip to Antarctica. That horrible homemade sweater embroidered with pineapples that you got for Christmas last year? It’ll keep you toasty and nobody will actually see it when you wear it.

UNDERWEAR
Start with the important stuff–long-sleeve long underwear is essential. The generic cotton kind you grew up with (the kind favored by Seattle grunge rockers) is fine, but the synthetic blends that wick away moisture are far superior and will keep you both warm and dry. Nylon and polyester are optimal, as is silk. Basically, you want you first layer to be warm and form-fitting so that you look and feel just like a sexy superhero.OUTERWEAR
You absolutely, positively MUST have a pair of waterproof pants–if you’re going to spend money on something, make it this outer layer (ranging from $75-$100). These can be nylon or gortex but just make sure that it’s 100% waterproof and not simply water-resistant. A strong pair of Insulated snow-boarding or ski pants add extra warmth, but if they get wet, you’ll be miserable. This light outer shell layer can be worn right over your long underwear or you can add a pair of sweat pants or nylon action pants underneath.

For your upstairs, add as many layers as you need or want: long-sleeve t-shirts, flannel button-downs, or a good, strong polar fleece. Turtlenecks with sweaters are good, but again, avoid cotton if you can help it. Wearing so many layers will cause you to sweat and wet cotton just stays wet and makes you cold. Wool outer layers will keep you very warm. Once you get to Antarctica, you can judge how many layers you’ll need to feel comfortable. Always have an extra dry layer available to add in case the wind picks up or the temperature suddenly drops (which it does frequently in Antarctica).

COAT
Obviously, the coat thing is kind of important. Realize that most coats you find at the local mall are not up to Antarctica standards. Overall, you want a parka that is fairly heavy-duty, waterproof, insulated (!), long-ish (going well past your waist) and with a drawstring hood. Zip-out insulated liners are great. Also, consider wearing a coat that’s one size too big in order to accommodate all the extra layers you’ll be wearing. Be sure you can move comfortably in it.

Please note that if you are taking a cruise, most shipping companies will include appropriate parkas for passengers, and that the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) also issues coats to its employees.

You might also want to bring a lighter, waterproof windbreaker for those times when the you are going to be particularly active or when the air is warmer.

FEET
Bring lots of dry socks–preferably long, over-the-calf socks. Thick, woolly hiking socks are good. No matter how “warm” the air is, you will often find yourself wearing two (or three) pairs of socks on your feet in order to keep your feet warm. That’s because you are likely to be walking in snow or on ice, exposing your feet to the lowest temperatures around.

Knee-high rubber boots or “wellies” (wellingtons) are the overshoe of choice for Antarctic cruisers as you will be landing from a small zodiac boat right into the waves. These provide total protection from the water but are not very warm or supportive once you’re on land. If you plan on hiking a lot, then bring a very sturdy, dependable pair of waterproof, broken-in hiking boots. Put your waterproof pants OVER your boots or wellies to avoid water seeping in.

HANDS
Bring gloves that allow you some movement which close tightly around your wrist (stuff the outer glove inside your coat sleeve to prevent cold wind from cooling your wrists). Mittens are especially warm but not everyone’s thing. Snowboarding gloves are both waterproof and durable (and my own preference). Some travelers also like to wear a pair of tight, knit gloves under a pair of mittens. Also (personally), I found my pair of neoprene wetsuit gloves allowed my hands to get warm while keeping them dry (when kayaking). Pack two pairs of gloves for your trip, and always keep one of the pairs dry and available.

HEAD & NECK
Pack a wool or polar fleece-type hat that covers your ears. Ear muffs work, too, but you always want something covering your head. Also, bring a scarf. There will be moments when you don’t need it and other moments when you’ll be readjusting and re-tying it around your neck to chase out that one little knife blade of wind. Neck gaiters are also very useful and comfortable.

CAMERA
Take your very best camera and a way to backup your pictures regularly (laptop, extra flash cards, external hard drives). Bring a dry bag and carry your camera in it as often as possible. Be vigilant in keeping your photography equipment dry. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an expensive, camera-shaped paper weight.

OTHER STUFF
Unless you’re trying to ski across the continent or circumnavigate by kayak, you don’t need a lot of specialized gear so leave the compass and MRE’s at home. What you do need is sunglasses (polarized), serious sunblock (30+ SPF), a day pack (small, light waterproof backpack with a dry pair of gloves and an extra layer), a water bottle, seasickness pills, chapstick and some intense skin moisturizer. Last of all, be sure to bring a swimsuit. Most ships and bases will have a jacuzzi, and Antarctic plunges are a common tradition.

In conclusion–don’t fall prey to the ideology that you are going on some major, unprecedented expedition and that you need to special order a ton of gear. You don’t. Antarctica in the summer is far warmer than most people expect, and as long as you have the essentials, you’ll be fine.

Passenger uses SkyMall to block air vent

by Mike Barish on

Airplanes are notoriously cold. That’s why everyone is eager to find the blankets and airlines are looking to make money off of them. But what do you do when the temperature in the plane is so low that you can’t possibly relax? If you’re on a plane that doesn’t allow you to close your the air vent above you, you’re typically out of luck. Recently, however, one passenger used some ingenuity, chutzpah and an airplane staple to remedy the situation on his own.

My friend Colin McCabe was flying to Austin earlier this month to attend the SXSW festival. His particular Delta flight was chilly. Or, as he put it, “meat locker cold.” The air vent was right over his head and could not be adjusted. He attempted to warm himself with a (free) blanket for 20 minutes to no avail. He notified the flight attendant of his discomfort and was told that there was nothing that she could do to adjust the temperature. Essentially, he was on his own.

That’s when the idea hit him. He grabbed the nearby SkyMall catalog, wedged it in the vent and completely blocked the flow of air raining down from above. He quickly became comfortable as the temperature by his seat increased. He had saved himself from the icy torment and cemented himself as a legend in the SkyMall Monday pantheon.

Sadly, the fix was temporary. The flight attendant told him that he had to remove the catalog as it was a “fire hazard.” Once again, he was besieged by gusts of frigid air as he flew south towards Texas.

Despite his thwarted attempt, we salute Colin for his quick-thinking (and for taking the photo above to share his experience).

Have you ever been so cold on a plane that you were at your wits’ end? What did you do to warm up? Share your tales of arctic airplanes in the comments.

Photo by Colin McCabe via Flickr.

Gadling gear review: Cloudveil Koven Plus Down Jacket

by Mike Barish on

$500. That’s all I could think about as I tested the Cloudveil Koven Plus Down Jacket. That’s a lot of money for a jacket. For $500, I expect a jacket to exceed all of my expectations. It has to have virtually no flaws. For me to recommend a $500 jacket, it has to be perfect (or, at least, perfect in terms of what it is attempting to achieve).

With a trip to New Brunswick and Newfoundland, Canada on my radar, I was eager to see if the Cloudveil Koven Plus truly was a $500, perfect jacket. As the trip approached, I eagerly checked the weather forecast for Atlantic Canada and was actually excited to see the frigid temperatures predicted for my time in the Acadian Peninsula. The Koven Plus was going to get put to the test and I’d finally be able to decide if a $500 jacket really was “perfect.” When the time came, I took the Koven Plus to Canada for a week of outdoor activities in the middle of February. What I discovered is that price doesn’t always dictate quality.Let me make one point very clear: Cloudveil typically makes fantastic products. The exterior of the Koven Plus is incredibly well-made. All of the seams are sealed. The zippers are water-resistant. It provides a snug-but-not-tight fit. It’s incredibly durable. And it is warm. Incredibly warm. My first several days in New Brunswick welcomed me with temperatures that hovered around 15°F with wind chills making it feel as if it was below zero. The Koven Plus kept my core warm and dry while still being breathable enough to not stifle me the moment I walked indoors.

It also packs a plethora of pockets. Two chest pockets, two hand-warming pockets, one sleeve pocket and one interior pocket. They are all roomy and feature zippers that handled the intense tugging that occurs when you try to open a pocket while wearing thick gloves. And the sleeve pocket is a perfect place to store lip balm, which is necessary in cold, dry and windy conditions.

But after a few days, I started to notice an alarming trend when I removed the Koven Plus. My top layer of clothing would be covered in feathers. I’m not talking about a few rogue feathers that managed to leak out of the jacket. I looked like I had just gone 12 rounds with a goose. And I couldn’t help but linger on my initial thought: A $500 jacket better be perfect. To have it leak down every single time it’s worn is a major disappointment. At that price point, the jacket should not show such early signs of deterioration, let alone from the inside out.

I also was alarmed by another flaw that I had never encountered on a coat before. While kitesurfing on the frozen Bay of Chaleur, I removed my camera from one of the chest pockets only to find that the it was damp. I checked the pocket to make sure that nothing else was inside that could be leaking. But it was empty. I assumed that I must have gotten some snow on my gloves and then gotten the camera wet. Later, however, I removed my Chapstick from the sleeve pocket with my bare hand and noticed that it, too, was wet. I slid my hand into the chest pockets to find that moisture had accumulated inside both of them, as well. Somehow, condensation was getting trapped in the pockets. While I appreciate the seal around the seams and zippers, having my expensive gear become damp rather than be protected in my pockets was very disconcerting.

As the trip continued and my adventure activities kept me outdoors, I continued to get covered in down and while my gear got covered in condensation. I was warm but frustrated. For $500, a jacket needs to do more than keep me warm. It needs to protect my gear and become an integral part of my winter wardrobe. But it’s hard to wear a jacket all the time when you fear that it’s going to leave you looking like a goose molester.

Let’s break it all down:

Pros

  • Incredibly warm
  • Exterior is durable and water-resistant
  • Abundant pockets
  • Excellent fit

Cons

  • Leaks an alarming amount of feathers
  • Condensation forms and is trapped inside the pockets (posing a major risk to electronic gear)

Sure, the pros outnumber the cons, but the magnitude of those negatives is too great to ignore. It all comes back to that price. For $500, those two negatives are major deal-breakers. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend the Koven Plus Down Jacket until Cloudveil addresses these two major issues.

If you are interested in the Cloudveil Koven Plus Down Jacket, it is available on the company’s website for [sigh] $500. At the time of this article’s publication, it was out of stock. However, Cloudveil products are also sold at most outdoor gear suppliers.

Get warm with a free trip to the Cayman Islands

by Katie Hammel on

It’s been a doozy of a winter so far, and there are no signs that the temps are suddenly going to increase. You’ve got a long few months to go before you get warm again….unless you happen to win the Cayman Island’s new contest. The lucky winner will receive a trip for four, including air and hotel, to the tropical Cayman Islands.

The winner and friends will stay at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort on Seven Mile Beach, and will receive a free boat and snorkel trip to Stingray City, where they’ll swim with massive stingrays.

To enter, you’ll need to upload your best photo that shows one of your coldest winter moments. Upload it by March 1 and encourage all your friends to vote for you. The ten entries with the most votes will move on to the final judging, and a winner will be announced by March 10. You must be 18 or older and a resident of the US to enter and travel must take place by December 31, 2011.

Of course, for many people, the worst of winter will be over by March 10. So maybe the contest won’t help you escape the cold right away, at least not in the most literal sense. But maybe the thought of a Cayman Islands vacation – especially a free one – will warm your heart just a bit.

Snowy roads in the Netherlands may be smelling sweet this winter

by Katie Hammel on

There seems to be a major salt shortage in the Netherlands this winter. According to Radio Netherlands Worldwide, the country normally uses about 70,000 tons of salt to de-ice the roads each winter. So far this year, over 100,000 tons have already been spread on icy roads around the country. If the temps don’t warm up fast, the Netherlands could run out of road salt.

To combat the shortage, some cities are using sand, which doesn’t work as well and is not good for the roads. But at least one town has gotten a little more creative. The town of Etten-Leur has spread 18 tons of scented bath salts on its roads in an effort to keep them ice-free.

So, if you find yourself driving in the Netherlands, you may notice the roads smelling a little sweeter than normal. According to the news report, the “coloured bath salts smell of lavender, green tea and mango.”%Gallery-79319%

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