Top Cold Weather Gear Brands for Antarctica Expeditions
You don't need to spend thousands to stay warm in Antarctica, but the right brands make a real difference on a windy Zodiac ride. Here's who makes the best gear for each layer, what it costs, and what your ship probably hands you for free.
By Amer Khan | 9 min read
What should you actually buy for a trip to Antarctica? Less than you think. Most expedition ships give you a waterproof parka and lend you rubber boots, which covers the two most expensive items. What's left is the layering underneath, plus good gloves and waterproof pants.
That's where brands matter. A cheap cotton base layer gets damp from sweat on a hike up a snow slope, then chills you on the Zodiac ride back. A merino layer from a proven brand doesn't. The difference is small on paper and very noticeable on the ice.
These are the brands I'd trust for each job, based on what polar guides, researchers and experienced travelers keep coming back to.
Start Here
1. What Your Ship Provides
Check this before you spend a dollar
Nearly every expedition operator provides a heavy, waterproof parka, and many let you keep it. Most also lend insulated rubber boots for landings. A few add waterproof pants or a backpack. That can save you $600 to $2,000 in gear you'd wear once.
Canada Goose has a real Antarctic pedigree. In the 1980s, the company (then called Snow Goose) designed a parka for scientists at McMurdo Station. That coat, nicknamed "Big Red," became standard issue for the US Antarctic Program, and more than 1,000 program members still wear a version of it on the ice each year.
The civilian Expedition Parka is its closest relative. It's rated for -22°F and below, and it's more coat than you need on a summer Peninsula cruise, where temperatures usually hover around freezing. It makes more sense for the Ross Sea, fly-in trips to the interior, or if you'll wear it for years of harsh winters at home.
Detail
Canada Goose Expedition Parka
Price
About $1,895
Rating
-22°F and below (TEI 5)
Best for
Deep-cold trips; buyers who want one parka for life
Skip if
Your ship provides a parka (most do)
Parkas · Value
3. The North Face
A McMurdo-named parka for a quarter of the price
If you want your own parka without the Canada Goose price tag, The North Face McMurdo Parka is the obvious alternative. It's a long, waterproof down parka with a seam-sealed DryVent shell and 600-fill recycled down. That's plenty for a Peninsula summer, where wind and wet matter more than extreme cold.
The North Face is also a solid source for fleece mid layers and lighter down jackets, which get far more use than a parka on most days.
Detail
The North Face McMurdo Parka
Price
About $450
Insulation
600-fill recycled down
Shell
Waterproof, seam-sealed DryVent 2L
Best for
Travelers whose ship doesn't include a parka
Layers · All-Rounder
4. Patagonia
Base layers and mid layers that last for years
Patagonia is the brand I see most often on expedition ships, and for good reason. Its Capilene base layers come in several weights; the Thermal Weight version is the one for Antarctica. For mid layers, the Nano Puff and Down Sweater pack small and add real warmth under a parka.
Two things set it apart. The Ironclad Guarantee means repairs or returns if gear fails. And its Worn Wear program sells used gear, which is a smart way to kit out for a single trip.
Detail
Patagonia
Best items
Capilene Thermal Weight base layers, Nano Puff, Down Sweater, Torrentshell pants
Price range
About $100–$300 per item
Best for
Travelers who want one brand for every layer
Waterproof Pants
5. Arc'teryx
The waterproof pants worth paying for
If you invest in one piece of gear, make it waterproof pants. You'll kneel in wet snow, sit on damp rocks and take spray on every Zodiac ride. Arc'teryx makes some of the best. The Beta Pant uses a three-layer Gore-Tex membrane, and it's cut to fit over base layers without feeling bulky.
Merino wool is the best material to wear next to your skin in Antarctica. It stays warm when damp, dries reasonably fast and doesn't hold odor, which matters on a ship with limited laundry. Smartwool and Icebreaker are the two brands most polar travelers swear by.
Smartwool — Best known for socks. The Classic Thermal Merino base layer is a reliable, warm choice.
Icebreaker — A New Zealand brand. Its 260-weight merino layers are a good match for Antarctic conditions.
Detail
Smartwool / Icebreaker
Price range
About $100–$150 per top or bottom; $20–$30 per pair of socks
Landings usually mean stepping out of a Zodiac into shin-deep water, so you need a tall, waterproof, insulated boot. Muck Boot's Arctic Sport Tall is the standard. It has a neoprene upper that fits snugly around your calf and a rating down to -40°F.
Most ships loan boots, so only buy your own if you have hard-to-fit feet, want a guaranteed fit, or your operator doesn't provide them.
Cold hands ruin more Antarctic days than anything else. The fix is a system rather than one thick glove: a thin liner you can keep on for camera controls, plus a waterproof shell glove or mitt over the top.
Black Diamond — Its Mercury Mitts and Guide Gloves are staples on mountaineering trips and more than warm enough for Antarctica.
Outdoor Research — Good-value waterproof gloves and touchscreen-friendly liners.
Detail
Glove system
Liner
Thin merino or synthetic, touchscreen-compatible
Outer
Waterproof insulated glove or mitt
Budget
About $120–$200 for the pair
Extras
Hand warmers for Zodiac cruises
Putting It Together
9. How to Build Your Layers
Four layers, adjusted to the day
Peninsula summer temperatures usually sit between about 20°F and 40°F, but wind makes it feel much colder. Layering lets you adjust as you go, from a sunny hike to a sleet-blown Zodiac ride. For more on the weather, see our guide to Antarctica's temperature.
Layer
What to wear
Brands
1. Base
Merino or synthetic top and leggings
Smartwool, Icebreaker, Patagonia
2. Mid
Fleece or light down jacket
Patagonia, The North Face
3. Outer
Waterproof parka and pants
Ship-provided parka; Arc'teryx pants
4. Extremities
Liner + waterproof gloves, hat, neck gaiter, wool socks
Do I need to buy a Canada Goose jacket for Antarctica?
No. Most expedition ships provide a waterproof parka that's warm enough for a Peninsula summer. Spend your budget on waterproof pants, merino base layers and good gloves instead.
What's the single most important piece of gear?
Waterproof pants. Parkas and boots are usually provided, but you'll get wet on every Zodiac ride and landing without good pants.
Can I do Antarctica on a budget gear-wise?
Yes. REI Co-op, Columbia and Uniqlo's Heattech range cover base and mid layers for much less. Buy used from Patagonia Worn Wear, or rent waterproof gear if your operator offers it.
Should I wear jeans or cotton in Antarctica?
No. Cotton absorbs moisture and stays cold. Stick to wool or synthetic fabrics for everything that touches your skin.
Are these brands good for the Arctic too?
Yes. The same layering system works for Svalbard, Greenland and Arctic Canada, so the gear isn't a one-trip purchase.
