I just came back from the Antarctica epic adventure trip. The item I was so glad I took was snow goggles, especially with magnetic interchangeable lenses. A yellow lens is great in overcast conditions, and a grey one for sunny conditions. There are some which allow you to also wear prescription spectacles under the goggles. I wore sunglasses on calm days, but the goggles were great when very cold, and windy snowy conditions. Due to hugging to your face, the goggles did not let any snow in under your sunglasses. When wearing with a polar fleece neck gaiter (tube) that you could pull up over your nose, meant that your whole neck, and face would be protected from the cold wind and snow. Whilst the avian flu issues are happening in Antarctica, you are not allowed to kneel, sit, lie, or place any bag, etcetera, on the ground. A 25-30 litre waterproof dry bag with a sling was another great item that I found useful. As the sling would allow you to carry it over your shoulder, and then rotate the bag around to put things into it, or take things out of it without the bag touching the ground. In it I placed a handkerchief (tissues are no good there) and a micro fibre cloth for wiping lenses, lip balm, sunscreen, drink bottle, spare batteries and SD cards for cameras, and place my camera in the bag whilst in the zodiac boat. I found a wrist lanyard was good for my phone. This was to ensure I did not accidentally drop the phone over the side of the ship, or zodiac whilst taking a photo.
Thanks so much. I’m planning to go in a couple of years and I am researching it now. I want to go on the resolution, so a girl needs to save some coin. 😃
Good question. I started out bringing a backpack with water, camera accessories and a few other items. After my first excursion, I eliminated everything but my camera, Iphone and prescription glasses, which I stuck in the large pockets of my jacket. You are only gone for 1 to 2 hours, so you generally don't feel the need to hydrate. The only other suggestion might be to purchase a small stick of roller type sunscreen that you can roll onto your nose without having to take your gloves off. If you are someone that burns easily, I would suggest carrying that on a sunny day. There were many people whose noses were pretty blistered by the end of the trip. And just make sure you have gloves that work for taking pictures. I think the ideal is to have a warm spandex type glove for taking pictures that slips into a thermal mitten. If you can attach the mittens by a carabiner to your jacket, you can slip your hands in and out of them without worrying they will fall in or out of the zodiac. So, the bottom line: try to limit what you carry, and carry it all on your body in a way that is easily accessible. It's too cold to fuss with getting things out of a backpack and you can't set anything on the ground. Have a fabulous journey!
The orange jackets were included in our fee, so we all got to take them home! I'm not sure how often I'll wear the orange part, but the inner jacket is fabulous and I've even worn it this winter in Arizona!
I just came back from the Antarctica epic adventure trip.
The item I was so glad I took was snow goggles, especially with magnetic interchangeable lenses.
A yellow lens is great in overcast conditions, and a grey one for sunny conditions.
There are some which allow you to also wear prescription spectacles under the goggles.
I wore sunglasses on calm days, but the goggles were great when very cold, and windy snowy conditions. Due to hugging to your face, the goggles did not let any snow in under your sunglasses.
When wearing with a polar fleece neck gaiter (tube) that you could pull up over your nose, meant that your whole neck, and face would be protected from the cold wind and snow.
Whilst the avian flu issues are happening in Antarctica, you are not allowed to kneel, sit, lie, or place any bag, etcetera, on the ground.
A 25-30 litre waterproof dry bag with a sling was another great item that I found useful. As the sling would allow you to carry it over your shoulder, and then rotate the bag around to put things into it, or take things out of it without the bag touching the ground.
In it I placed a handkerchief (tissues are no good there) and a micro fibre cloth for wiping lenses, lip balm, sunscreen, drink bottle, spare batteries and SD cards for cameras, and place my camera in the bag whilst in the zodiac boat.
I found a wrist lanyard was good for my phone. This was to ensure I did not accidentally drop the phone over the side of the ship, or zodiac whilst taking a photo.
Thanks for sharing such great information. I just used my pockets, but if I had more camera equipment I would have used that dry bag I purchased!
Thanks so much. I’m planning to go in a couple of years and I am researching it now. I want to go on the resolution, so a girl needs to save some coin. 😃
Best of luck! It was expensive, but so worth it. Glad my videos could be some help. Happy Travels!
Any essentials that will be needed to bring during zodiac rides and hiking aside from camera and phone gears?
Good question. I started out bringing a backpack with water, camera accessories and a few other items. After my first excursion, I eliminated everything but my camera, Iphone and prescription glasses, which I stuck in the large pockets of my jacket. You are only gone for 1 to 2 hours, so you generally don't feel the need to hydrate. The only other suggestion might be to purchase a small stick of roller type sunscreen that you can roll onto your nose without having to take your gloves off. If you are someone that burns easily, I would suggest carrying that on a sunny day. There were many people whose noses were pretty blistered by the end of the trip. And just make sure you have gloves that work for taking pictures. I think the ideal is to have a warm spandex type glove for taking pictures that slips into a thermal mitten. If you can attach the mittens by a carabiner to your jacket, you can slip your hands in and out of them without worrying they will fall in or out of the zodiac. So, the bottom line: try to limit what you carry, and carry it all on your body in a way that is easily accessible. It's too cold to fuss with getting things out of a backpack and you can't set anything on the ground. Have a fabulous journey!
Any chance they let you buy the orange jackets as a souvenir?
The orange jackets were included in our fee, so we all got to take them home! I'm not sure how often I'll wear the orange part, but the inner jacket is fabulous and I've even worn it this winter in Arizona!