Backpack, Dry bag, or Duffle: This is the bag that will hold the bulk of your gear. A good water-resistant bag is the 100 liter Black Hole duffel. Suppliers like REI, NRS, LL Bean, and others carry these and similar bags. Sometimes we have to carry our gear up to a 1⁄2 mile from the airstrip to campsite. It is OK to have a couple smaller bags if that makes carrying things easier for you. (3.8 pounds)

Tent: A 3- or 4-season tent able to withstand strong winds and medium snow load. The stakes you bring must be able to hold in sand and gravel. We highly recommend yellow plastic 9” “Power Pegs.” There are lots of great tents on the market including Hilleberg and North Face. We have Alps tents available to borrow. (8-9 pounds)

Sleeping bag with stuff sack: Your sleeping bag should keep you comfortable to 15 to 20 F. The stuff sack should be lined with a plastic bag or placed in a waterproof stuff sack. Women often sleep colder than men, and a sleeping bag liner is a good way to add warmth and versatility. (4 pounds)

Sleeping pad: Inflatable pads like thermarests are the warmest. (2 pounds)

Waterproof Socks: Use these over heavy socks for day hiking to keep your feet as dry as possible. Sealskinz are a good choice. 2 pairs would not be too many.

Rain Jacket: We recommend 3 layer Goretex or similar. Good quality rain gear is absolutely essential. Patagonia makes a nice coat.

Ideally this jacket will fit over your heavy parka and all your other layers.

Day pack: Big enough for raingear, water bottle, camera and an extra layer.

Camp shoes: Lightweight hiking boots can fill this need if you are also bringing rubber boots. If not, bring a pair of lightweight shoes like Crocs, or sneakers.

Stuff sacks: For packing gear and clothes. Line them with a plastic bag as an extra precaution or purchase waterproof stuff sacks from Sea to Summit or similar.

Trash compactor bags: For lining stuff sacks. This ensures that your clothes and sleeping bag will be dry. Try and find unscented ones. These are not necessary if you have waterproof stuff sacks.

Socks: 3-4 pair heavy synthetic or wool.

Light weight long johns: 2 pairs of synthetic or wool tops and bottoms.

Hiking/ camp pants: Synthetic, fast drying.

Heavy pants: Wool or fleece for the cold. Thick synthetic leggings work too.

Big puffy parka/ ski jacket: This is for the really cold, bitter days. Down and synthetic are both fine. Hooded is best. Patagonia and Marmot both make good parkas. Go BIG.

This is the most commonly missed item on our list. Please bring a really warm ski jacket/ parka with a hood not just a puffy coat.

More warm layers: Fleece jacket, wool shirt, and down hoody. You need a total of 5 layers on your torso including long-johns but not including your big parka.

They should be sized so they can be worn together.  A cozy configuration could be 2 long-john shirts, one down sweater, one fleece jacket, and a down vest. If it gets cold you should be able to layer the puffy parka on top of all that and your rain-coat on top of everything.

If in doubt, bring all your choices to the pre-trip meeting and we will help you choose.

Shorts and T-shirt: Sometimes it is actually hot, even in the Arctic, especially in June and July.

Sun Shirt: Tightly woven, lightweight shirt to protect arms from sun and bugs.

Warm hat: A nice warm comfortable winter hat. Do not skimp here. Many guides prefer 2 hats. One thick one for the day and a thinner one for sleeping.

Neck gaiter: a.k.a. dickie, cowl, or neck warmer. A fleece or wool tube to wear around your neck or to augment your hat. A scarf works too. Buff makes some stylish ones.

Brimmed hat: Whether a ball cap or a wrap-around brim, you’ll need something for the intense, ‘round the clock arctic sunlight.

Gloves: 1 – 2 pairs of wind-stopper fleece or wool gloves.

Quart water bottle: One is enough.

Personal toiletries: Scale down. For instance, you will not need a 6-oz. tube of toothpaste.

Toilet paper: Place your roll in a quart-size ziploc bag with a lighter.

Flashlight/headlamp: After August 1st only. Really, you won’t need it April – July, even to read in your tent.

Mosquito head net: Hopefully you won’t need it but you will be really glad you have it if you do.

Mosquito repellent: Keep in plastic bags. 35% DEET is adequate.

Emergency kit: Band-Aids, aspirin, Moleskin, sewing kit. We carry a full medical kit, but having a few common items of your own is convenient.

Special medications: Inform the guide of your special medications and consider bringing a backup supply for the guide to carry.

Glasses or contacts: Bring an extra pair.

Sunglasses and croakies (strings that hold sunglasses on).

Sunscreen, lip balm, and hand cream: Cracked hands and sunburn can be a real problem for some people. Bring good quality hand salve like bag balm if you are prone. The air in the Arctic is very dry.

“Bug shirt”: A very good idea during late June and July. Original Bug Shirt Company is a good brand.

Pocket knife

Cell Phone: It won’t work.

Lighter: For burning toilet paper. You can bring this on your airline flight as carry-on or purchase when you get to Alaska.

Watch: Best to leave it behind with the cell phone and your other worries.

Satellite Phone, InReach, Spot Tracker or other satellite communication device: We carry a satellite phone for emergencies. Unplugging from communications is a valuable part of our trips. Call us if you want to discuss.

Trekking poles: While theoretically optional, they can be essential on stream crossings and on tussocks (rough ground).

Camera: Bring lots of spare batteries and memory cards. A long lens and tripod are nice in our wide open landscapes. Pack in a waterproof, compact, and durable case.

Binoculars: Though these are technically optional, we strongly recommend that you bring binoculars. You miss a lot without quality optics. Vortex makes a nice entry level pair as does Maven.

Bird book/nature guide: We carry a small library of natural history titles and field guides. Ask your guide at the pre-trip meeting about the contents so we don’t duplicate.

Reading material, journal, and pen.

Chair: We usually pack three-legged stools for your use. If you prefer a Helinox or Crazy Creek chair of your own, let your guide know and we won’t lug the extra stool.

Small towel/wash cloth

Fishing pole: A small, folding backpack rod is sufficient. Pack in rigid container.

Fishing reel: Doesn’t have to be fancy. 6-12# test line is sufficient for most trips. Fly fishers will, of course, want to bring a fly reel.

Fishing lures: The fish aren’t really picky. Spinners with orange dots like Mepps work great. Bright colors are good when the water is murky. Grayling like flies or  1/8 oz kastmasters. Char seem to like the 1/4 oz pink and green pixees.

Fishing license: Fishing licenses can be obtained at many stores in Fairbanks or online. You may not fish anywhere in Alaska without a valid Alaska fishing license.