Preparing for arctic weather conditions is important to fully enjoy your trip
© Visit Greenland - Mads Pihl

Equipment list

Below is an equipment list with items we highly recommend you bring on the journey. To enjoy the trip to the fullest, comfortable and good equipment is essential. So be a bit picky about what you bring on our trip, make sure it is adequate for arctic conditions.

We recommend you take the most important equipment with you as cabin luggage or carry the respective clothes/shoes on your body, notably boots and trousers, fleece shirt, warm and waterproof jacket, functional underwear, glasses, hat, gloves and everything else you consider important. In case of baggage loss you are thus at least able to start the tour.

Clothing & Footwear

  • Non-cotton, wool long sleeves and tights (base layer)

    Base layers are designed to keep you warm despite they might be wet from sweating, for example - therefore they must not be cotton but instead a lightweight wool or other fast-drying fiber. Base layers will also keep you warm if, for example, your outer layers are not entirely windproof or waterproof. If there is one thing to stress, it is that having several light layers to choose from, or use in combination with each other, is far more valuable for regulating body temperature than having one or two heavy layers that might make you too cold or too hot, but never just right. It is recommended to bring a selection of long-sleeve shirts and pants for lightweight base layers, so you have a few extras.

  • Wool sweater, fleece or PrimaLoft jacket (mid layer)

    A wool layer is always nice to have as additional warmth. It should not be your heaviest winter sweater, but just something you feel could make you warm and cosy if you had a persistent chill. It is recommended to bring a light- to medium-weight wool sweater or a fleece or prima loft jacket.

  • All-purpose or fleece pants (mid layer)

    It is recommended to bring a pair of light, loose breathable pants as a sort of all-purpose pants. Fleece pants can be useful if you easily feel cold. Jeans are strongly discouraged.

  • breathable light jacket (outer layer)

    When you’re on land, and if it’s dry, the waterproof jacket layer won’t be necessary, but you’ll need more than a base layer. It is recommended to bring a light jacket, or even a vest. Lightweight puffy jackets work well.

  • windproof & waterproof jacket and pants (outer layer)

    Whether it’s to protect you from wind and rain on land or from ocean spray while sailing, having good outer layers to protect against the elements will make the difference between a pleasant and unpleasant trip. It is recommended to bring both a windproof/waterproof jacket and a pair of windproof/waterproof rain pants. Gore-Tex is a leading manufacturer of breathable and waterproof layers.

  • warm hat and light (fleece) gloves

    A bit of wind, a mammoth iceberg nearby, and even fog can have more effect on the air temperature than you might imagine, and it can be magnified when sailing or standing a few hundred meters above sea level. Even though it is summer and there is not a single patch of snow to be found, you still need to be prepared with a few of the more ‘wintery’ items. It is recommended to bring a warm hat and gloves. As a light version, a buff to wear around the head or neck is also useful.

  • hiking boots

    Footwear is of the utmost importance in Greenland. It must be comfortable yet supportive, as it is what protects your feet and will keep you going all day long. So bring your favourite hiking boots, that you will likely use across all sailing and hiking activities, on all days. Good hiking boots have high ankles support, are waterproof or water-resistant and are non-skid / have a sole with good traction (good for both rocky terrain and wet boat decks). It is good if they are worn-in as it is not ideal to break in brand new shoes and have blisters on the first day.

  • comfort footwear

    We recommend supportive sneakers/running shoes, that you will use on arrival and departure day, as well as for the evenings.

Other gear

  • 60-80 litre backpack or duffle bag

    It is recommended to pack your gear in a backpack. Many of the towns have simple dirt or rocky roads which are not exactly ideal for pulling luggage with wheels. If you do not own a backpack, prefer a duffle bag over a hard shell suitcase.

  • 20-30 litre daypack

    For maximum versatility, it is recommended to bring a small daypack to hold an extra layer or two and your water bottle during short excursions.

  • sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, base-cap

    In summer in Greenland, the midnight sun is out 24 hours a day. Couple this never-ending daylight with the fact that there are no trees for shade - as well as with the reflection off the water and nearby icebergs - and you’ve got yourself the equation for some fierce sun exposure. It is recommended to bring sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses, and, if you like, a hat with a visor.

  • bug repellant, head net & after bite

    The Arctic summer is notorious for small pesky insects like mosquitos and flies. They will not be a problem when sailing, but once we hit land, they’ll surely find us soon enough. Only a light breeze will give natural respite from the bugs. It is recommended to bring bug repellent, after bite and a mosquito head net. Not very fashionable, but oh-so-functional. Please note: it should be possible to purchase bug repellent in the local Pisiffik grocery store, pending product availability, however it will be the strong, chemical, non- environment-friendly stuff. If you prefer a natural-based product, you should bring your own.

  • water bottle

    Make sure you stay hydrated. So it is recommended to bring your own water bottle to fill up with the freshest, cleanest, tastiest water you can find at convenient streams and waterfalls - or at the faucet, if you want to be like the rest of the world.

  • camera/binoculars

    It is recommended to bring whatever camera or looking device you wish, whether that’s a smartphone, snazzy camera, or selfie stick.

Below is an equipment list with items we highly recommend you bring on the journey. To enjoy the trip to the fullest, comfortable and good equipment is essential. So be a bit picky about what you bring on our trip, make sure it is adequate for arctic conditions.

We recommend you take the most important equipment with you as cabin luggage or carry the respective clothes/shoes on your body, notably boots and trousers, fleece shirt, warm and waterproof jacket, functional underwear, glasses, hat, gloves and everything else you consider important. In case of baggage loss you are thus at least able to start the tour.

Clothing & Footwear

  • Non-cotton, wool long sleeves and tights (base layer)

    Base layers are designed to keep you warm despite they might be wet from sweating, for example - therefore they must not be cotton but instead a mid-weight wool or other fast-drying fibre.If there’s one thing to stress over and over and over, it is that having several layers to choose from, or use in combination with each other. It is far more valuable for regulating body temperature than having only one or two very heavy layers that might make you too hot and never just right.It is recommended to bring a selection of warm long-sleeves and warm tights as base layers, so you have a few extras.

  • Wool sweater, fleece or PrimaLoft jacket (mid layer)

    A wool layer is always nice to have as additional warmth. Pick your favourite woollen winter sweater keeping youwarm and cosy. If you are not too much into woollen sweaters you can also bring a warm fleece or PrimaLoft jacket instead.

  • insulated or fleece pants (mid layer)

    It is recommended to bring a pair of insulated hiking pants as a sort of all-purpose pants. Fleece pants can be useful, too. Jeans are strongly discouraged. If you do not own insulated hiking pants, wear a thick base layer underneath your standard hiking pants.

  • down jacket (outer layer)

    Well, you are heading to Greenland in winter. So get prepared for cold! We recommend to bring a nice warm down jacket or the warmest winter jacket you find in your wardrobe. You will always need this jacket when you are outside but not moving so much, like on a boat or dog sledding trip, gazing at the Northern Lights or wandering through the settlements.

  • skiing pants (outer layer)

    Stay snug and warm and bring a pair of skiing pants to Greenland.They keep you warm from blowing cold winds so you can fully enjoy the arctic winter landscapes you came to explore.

  • windproof & waterproof jacket and pants (outer layer)

    Whether it is to protect you from wind and snow on land or from ocean spray while sailing, having good outer layers to protect against the elements will make the difference between a pleasant and unpleasant trip. It is recommended to bring both a windproof/waterproof jacket and a pair of windproof/waterproof pants. Gore Tex is a leading manufacturer of breathable and waterproof layers.As most wind- and waterproof gear does not keep you very warm, you will need to wear one or two warm mid layers below.

  • warm hat, scarf and warm (fleece) gloves

    Now that you are all dressed up don’t forget your head and hands. Half of our body heat we lose through or heads.Therefore we recommend to bring two pairs of warm hats and gloves as well as a pair of warm mittens.

  • warm and supportive footwear

    Footwear is of the utmost importance in Greenland. It must be comfortable, warm, yet supportive, as it is what protects your feet and will keep you going all day long. It is recommended to bring burly and warm winter boots for this winter trip, plus several pairs of super warm wool socks. The best warm & comfortable footwear is: • insulated and warm • waterproof or water-resistant • offering high ankle support • non-skid / has a sole with good traction. (Good for both icy terrain and slippery boat decks.) • worn-in. (It is not ideal to break in brand new shoes and have blisters on the first day.)

  • ice cleats / snow grips / microspikes

    to provide reliable and consistent grip on snowy and icy surfaces when needed

  • balaclava

Other gear

  • 60-80 litre backpack or duffle bag

    It is recommended to pack your gear in a backpack. Many of the towns have simple dirt- or rocky roads covered in ice and snow in winter which are not exactly ideal for pulling luggage with wheels. If you do not own a backpack, prefer a duffle bag over a hard shell suitcase.

  • 20-30 liter daypack

    For maximum versatility, it is recommended to also bring a small foldable daypack to hold an extra layer or two and a thermos during short excursions.

  • sunscreen, lip balm

    Even though you are visiting Greenland during winter, we advise to bring sun screen and lip balm. If sun shines, the reflection off water, snow and nearby icebergs can cause some fierce sun exposure.

  • sunglasses

    As sun stays quite low during winter time, it is good to have a pair of sunglasses along.

  • water bottle

    Make sure you stay hydrated. It is recommended to bring your own water bottle or thermos to fill up with the freshest, cleanest, tastiest water you can find.

  • camera/binoculars

    There’s going to be no less than 10,000 amazing things to see and remember - icebergs that look different from every angle, small colourful houses perched at the edge of the hill and of course those cute sled dogs. It is recommended to bring whatever camera or looking device you wish, whether that’s a smartphone, snazzy camera, or selfie stick.

In case you have any further questions regarding the equipment to bring to the tour please do not hesitate to contact us.