SuggestedpackinglistforAntarctica
Thefollowinglistcontainsitemsthatpreviousstudentshaverecommendedtobringwith
youonourprograms.Thisisnotanexhaustivelist,andtheremaybeotherpersonalitems
youwish/needtobring.
Mandatory
One(1)largebag(e.g.duffel-bagwithwheels,backpack,orsuitcase).Maximumweightof
44lbs;twobagswillnotbepermitted.
Medium-sizedday-pack(water-resistantandbigenoughforanovernightstaybutsmall
enoughforadayhike)Usethisasyourcarry-onbag.
Flashlightorheadlight(e.g.,Petzel)withextrasetofbatteries(youmayonlyusethisafew
times)
Notebookandclipboardfortakingnotesinclassandthefield;pens,pencils(bepreparedto
takenotesrainorshine,fieldorclassroom).Studentsrecommendawaterproofenclosed
clipboardandasmallnotepadforquicknote-taking.
Accommodationscontactlist(it’sintheCourseReadingPacket).Leaveacopywithfamily,
andpackacopyinyourcarry-onbag.
Waterbottle(Nalgeneorsimilarlytough-typerecommended)
SmallfirstAidkit(see“stayinghealthy”section),includingDramamineorsimilarfixfor
motionsickness.
Sunprotection(sunscreen,sunglasses,brimmedhat,Chapstick,etc.)
Travelalarmclockorwatchwithalarm
Clothingandfootwear
Whileyou’reinAntarctica,thetemperaturewillrangefromabout25to40F,notcounting
thewindchill(andit’softenwindy).
Cottonclothing(jeans,sweatshirts,sweatpantsetc.)isokayforuseonboardtheshipbut
it’snotrecommendedforuseonexcursions.Cottongarmentsareterribleatkeepingyou
warmiftheygetwet.
Theship’sinterioriskeptwarmandcasualattireisthenorm.Youwilllikelybecomfortable
inpants,ashirtandalightsweater.
Onexcursions,dressinginlayersishighlyrecommendedasitnotonlykeepsyouwarmer
thanonebigsinglegarment,italsoallowsyoutoadjustyourclothingasconditionsrequire.
Onexcursions,yourouterlayer(jacket,pants,andfootwear)mustbewaterproof.Youcan
bringyourowngear,oryoucanrentappropriatewaterproofjackets,waterproofpants,and
rubberbootsonboardtheshipbycompletingthepre-embarkationorderformthatwillbe
senttoyoupriortoyourdeparturefromtheU.S.Youmustpre-orderifyouareplanningto
rentequipmentfromtheship.
Outerjacket–mustbewaterproofand,especiallyifuninsulated,mustbelargeenoughfor
youtowearseveralwarmlayersunderneath.
Innerjacket–polarfleeceorwoolordown-filled.
Waterproofpants/rainpants-veryimportantforkeepingyoudryinthelandingcraftas
thereisoftensprayorwetseatsintheboat.Rainpantsshouldberoomyenoughtowear
overthermalunderwearorregularpants.Thinkcomfortable,practicalfit,notfashion.
Warmtrousers(tobewornunderyourrainpants)–polarfleeceorsimilar.Notjeansor
cottonsweatpants.
LongUnderwear–topandbottom.lightweightmerinowoolorpolypropyleneare
recommended.
Sweater-woolorpolarfleece
Turtleneckshirtoraneckgaiter(goodforstoppingadraftaroundyourneck.Notethata
scarfisnotrecommendedastheirlengthmakesthemlesspractical,especiallyonwindy
daysorinsmallboats.).
Warmhatthatcoversyourearsandwon’tblowoffinthewind.(aknitted“skihat”works
well.)
Gloves–woolorwindstopperfleecearerecommended.Youmayalsowantathinpairas
thesecanbeusefulwhentryingtooperateacamera.
Ski-glovesthatarewaterresistantmayalsobeuseful.
Warmsocks(tallwoolsocksandthinpolypropylene(silkalsosufficient)socks.Bringafew
pairsofeach.Forheavierpairs,ragwoolisanexcellentchoice.Knee-highsprovideextra
warmth.Keepinmindthatrubberbootsdonotprovidemuchinsulation,soyouwillrelyon
thewarmthofyoursocks).
RubberBoots(pull-on,unlined,mid-calforhigherwithnon-skidsole,14”-16”)These
specificationsareVERYIMPORTANT.Youwillbesteppingintocoldwaterupto10”deep
duringwetlandings.Moonorleatherbootsarenotappropriate.(Note:Besureyourboots
fitwithoneortwopairsofheavysocks–tightbootswillbecoldanduncomfortable).
Suggestedsourcesforrubberboots:sportinggoods,armysurplus,farmsupplystores,or
campingequipmentstoresinyourarea.Thesebootsareoftenreferredtoas“Wellies”or
“Wellingtonboots.”Manygoodoutletsareavailableonline.
Sweatshirt–canbeusefulonboardtheship,butyoucanuseyourfleeceinstead
T-shirtsandothercasualwarmweatherclothesforlayeringandaboardtheship(practical
cotton,woolen,knit,andpermanentpressfabrics).Youwillspendquiteabitoftimeon
boardshipwhereit’swarminside.
1-2niceoutfits-ifyouwanttodressupforChristmasdinnerortheCaptain’sFarewell
Dinner.Thisisoptionalasyourregularcomfortableclotheswillbefine.
1pairofniceshoes(ifyou’rebringinganiceoutfit)
Underwearandsocks(7pairs,enoughfor1weekbetweenwashes)
Nightwear(youaresharingaroom!)
largetraveltowel(microfibertraveltowelisrecommended)
Toiletries
handsanitizer
Afewplastictrashbags(fordirtylaundry,hikingshoes,etc.)
Fullsupplyofallmedicationsinprescribedcontainers,andcopyofprescriptions
Traveladapterplug,tofitintothesetypesofsockets:
NotethataEuropean-styleplug(2round
pins)willworkonboardtheshipandinArgentina.
ATM/Checkcards,acreditcardismandatory,insurancecards,studentIDcard,driver’s
license,passport
Photocopiesofimportantdocuments(i.e.,ATM/Checkcards,creditcards,insurancecards,
studentIDcard,driver’slicense,passport,airplaneticket,emergencycontactinformation).
Leaveonecopyofthiswithyouremergencycontactpersonandbringonecopyinyour
carry-on.Alternatively,takedigitalphotosofthesedocumentsandattachthemtoane-mail
toyourselfthatyoucanstoreandaccessthroughyourwebmailaddress.
Inventorylistofitemspackedincheckedluggage(keepincarry-onluggage)
Identificationtagswithyourcontactdetails(onoutsideandinsideofcheckedluggage,and
oncarry-onluggage)
theProgramHandbook
TherequiredCourseReadingPacket(notavailablein-country)
Optionalitems
Bathingsuit-ifyouwanttotakepartinapossible“polarplunge”
Camera-withbatterycharger,orextrabatteries.(Coldbatterieshaveashorterlifespan.)
Also,sufficientspaceonmemorycards.
Extrapairofprescriptionglassesorcontactlenses,ifapplicable.
Ziplocplasticbagstoprotectcameraswhengoingashore.
Woolite/laundrysoap(ifyouplantodoanyhandlaundry).
Walkingshoes(awalking/hiking/trail/running/around-towncomboshoewillwork-gofor
comfort,support,tread/grip,andwater-resistance).
Rainjacket–thiswillbeusefulwheninUshuaia
Pocket-knife/SwissArmyknife(donotpackinyourcarry-on!)
Smallsewingkit
Earplugs
Travelpillow
afewsafetypins
Combinationlocksforyourluggage(airportTSAcompliantforcheckedluggage)
Washcloth(inziplockbag)
Journalordiary
World-widetraveladapter.Electricalcurrentandoutletsvarybetweenships.Checkwiththe
AUIPofficeforinformationspecifictoyourship.
Accommodationscontactlist(availableintheCourseReadingPacket)alsohavethiswith
youwhentraveling(e.g.,customsatairports)
Inventorylistofitemspackedincheckedluggage(keepincarry-onluggage)