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.

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.

Alps tents available from Arctic Wild. (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.

Available from Arctic Wild. (4 pounds)

We also have sleeping bag liners to lend if you are concerned about your bag being warm enough.

Sleeping pad: Inflatable pads like Thermarests are the warmest.

Thermarest “Trail Pro” pads are available from Arctic Wild. (2 pounds)

Rubber boots: These boots should come up to just below the knee and have room for insoles and heavy socks. Make sure they are comfortable, as you may spend many hours in them hiking over wet tundra. We can provide XtraTuf boots for you. A brand called MuckBoots are also popular.

XtraTuf boots available from Arctic Wild.

Boot insoles or footbeds: Especially if you are using our rubber boots, bring your own. Quick drying is important. Superfeet is a good brand.

Heavy duty rain pants: Three-layer Gore-Tex Pro bibs or similar. Good quality rain gear is a must. Simms makes great bibs. Heavy-duty, rubberized bib-style rain pants like Grundens are totally waterproof but difficult to hike in. We have rubberized bibs to loan as a backup if you are not confident about your rain pants.

Rain jacket: We recommend 3-layer Gore-Tex Pro or similar. Good quality rain gear is absolutely essential. Patagonia makes a nice coat.

Your raincoat needs to fit over all of your layers!

Lightweight rain jacket: A second light rain jacket to take on hikes, wear in a mist, or wear under your bigger raincoat in a deluge.

Camp shoes: Lightweight hiking boots can fill this need. Or bring a pair of lightweight shoes like Crocs, or sneakers. Sandals are not appropriate.

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 to use the unscented ones. This is not necessary if using waterproof stuff sacks.

Socks: Three to four pairs total, heavy synthetic or wool.

You will also be wearing a pair on day one.

Lightweight long john tops: Wool or synthetic base layer. Pack two total.

One shirt in your large bag and one to wear on day one.

Heavy pants: Wool or fleece for the cold.

Fleece jackets/ sweaters and or wool shirts: You need a total of five layers on your torso including long johns. A cozy configuration could be two long john shirts, one down sweater, one fleece jacket, and a synthetic puffy vest or jacket.

Three of these layers should be packed in your big bag, one in your daypack, and one to wear on the first day.

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

Shorts and T-shirt: Sometimes it is really hot, really!

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

Toilet paper: Place the roll in a quart-size Ziploc bag.

Arctic Wild will have a latrine kit including a trowel, hand sanitizer, lighter, and one roll of toilet paper. We don’t know how much TP you like to use, so we ask you to bring the appropriate amount for yourself.

Flashlight/headlamp.

Battery pack: To recharge your camera, phone, or other electronic devices. Goal Zero is a good brand.

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

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.

“Bug shirt”: Original Bug Shirt Company is a good brand. We occasionally encounter black-flies.

Gore-Tex socks: Use these over heavy socks for day hiking to keep your feet as dry as possible. Sealskinz are a good choice.

Cell Phone: It won’t work.

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.

Identification and Credit Card: In theory you won’t need any money or an ID on the trip. But sometimes plans change and planes get re-routed. An unexpected night in a village is possible. You might as well bring ID and a card just in case.

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

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

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/washcloth.

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

Not all trips have opportunities to fish. Ask us if your trip does.

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. Contact us to discuss fish and fishing for your particular trip.

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.

Daypack or fanny pack: Big enough for rain gear, water bottle, camera, and extra layers.

Rain jacket: We recommend a three-layer Gore-Tex jacket or similar. Good quality rain gear is absolutely essential. Patagonia makes a nice coat.

Your raincoat needs to fit over all of your layers!

Rain pants: For your backup rain pants we recommend two-layer Gore-Tex or similar. Good quality rain gear is a must. Leg zips are a nice feature but not essential. These are the rain pants you will take on a day hike. Mountain Hardwear makes a good pair.

Yup, we think you should bring two sets of rain gear!

Fleece sweater or down jacket: keep an extra layer handy for changing conditions.

You will have five layers in total. Three in your big bag, one in your daypack, and one to wear on day one.

Warm hat: A nice warm comfortable winter hat. Do not skimp here. Many guides prefer two hats— a 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.

Gloves: pile or wool gloves. Bring a couple of pairs.

Quart water bottle: Reusable.

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

Sunglasses and croakies: (strings that keep sunglasses on).

Sunscreen, lip balm, and hand cream.

Pocket knife.

Camera: with memory cards and spare batteries. 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.

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

Hiking boots:  Gore-Tex boots are ideal as the tundra, beach, etc. are often damp. For hikes where it is going to be very wet, you will use your rubber boots.

Lightweight long johns: Wool or synthetic base layer shirt

Wear one on day one of the trip and pack an extra in your big bag

Lightweight long johns: Wool or synthetic base layer bottoms

Hiking/ camp pants: Synthetic,  fast drying.

Midweight jacket: A light jacket, hoodie, or fleece.

You’ll have five layers total- three in your big bag, one in your day pack, and one to wear on day one.

Brimmed hat: Whether a ball cap or a wrap-around brim, you’ll need something for the intense sun. Or to keep the rain out of your eyes.