For your safety and comfort we ask that you have the following equipment and clothing. Crossing Latitudes does not rent or sell personal gear. You must supply all personal gear. Please read the Equipment list carefully. Expect the best weather but be prepared for the worst! We much rather have you bring a bit "extra" and never use it than not having proper clothing for the temperatures and conditions we might encounter.
Average Temp. in Arctic Norway: July - 57 Fahrenheit.
Average Temp. on the West Coast of Sweden: June - 62 Fahrenheit. August - 70 Fahrenheit.
We encourage our participants to use gear they already own or can borrow. Your rain jacket and pants, wet shoes and any specialized paddling equipment should be of good quality. If you are purchasing new items before traveling, we suggest you look through mail order brochures (Patagonia, Kokatat, R.E.I., L.L.Bean etc.) for pricing and varieties available.
Crossing Latitudes will provide all group gear such as quality sea kayaks and all related equipment such as spray skirts, Pfd’s, rescue gear, paddles, charts etc. We will also provide first aid kits, eating utensils, mugs etc.
Inns and Guesthouses have drying rooms but no laundry rooms. If needed you can do a quick wash in the sink. You don't need to dress up for dinners, casual traveling clothes are fine.
REQUIRED ITEMS
The following is a list of items you should bring to ensure that you stay warm, dry and comfortable during your trip. If you have any questions about your personal gear, please give us a call: 1-800-572-8747 (USA) or 070-670 11 53 (Sweden).
FOOTWEAR
Wet Shoes: 1 pair. Sandals or an old pair of sneakers worn with neoprene socks work fine.
On the Arctic Inn Trips and our expeditions we recommend knee high rubber boots that fit comfortably with 1-2 pairs of socks, or a pair of thick soled dive booties. Your feet will get wet and the water can be chilly so proper footwear is important. NOTE: Most staff wear knee high rubber boots (also known as Wellies) on trips and expeditions in the north. They are the best footwear for keeping your feet warm and dry. The water on the West Coast of Sweden is warmer and sandals or neoprene dive booties will do fine.
Dry shoes Sandals: 1-2 pair. This pair of shoes can be your trail shoes, a pair of sneakers or running shoes. Some folks like sandals, such as Tevas, Chacos or Alps.
Wool socks: 1-2 pair of heavy wool / synthetic blends are recommended for the Arctic Trips.
Liner socks: 1-2 pairs. These are light weight polypropylene or silk socks to slip on under the wool socks. Arctic Trip only.
Cotton socks: 1-2 pairs. Cotton is fine on the West Coast of Sweden.
CLOTHING Lower Body
Long Underwear bottoms: 1 pair. These should be middle or expedition weight polypropylene or wool. Cotton and cotton blends are not acceptable as they won't provide warmth when wet. On a chilly day you might wear these under your travel or rain pants.
Pants: 1-2 pairs. This pair of pants should be durable. There are many great and nice looking travel pants made out of quick drying nylon on the market nowadays. The pant legs can often be zipped off, so your pants become shorts (Patagonia, Ex-Officio, R.E.I. ).
Shorts: We recommend roomy, lightweight nylon shorts.
Rain Pants: 100% waterproof rain pants or bibs work best for sea kayaking. Rubberized rain gear is fine for paddling as well. Some recommended brand names for rain gear are; Patagonia, Helly Hansen, Kokatat, and REI.
Underwear: Bring a few pair of ordinary cotton, nylon briefs or boxer shorts.
Upper Body
You will need at least 2-3 insulation layers that fit comfortably over each other. These can be of a variety of weights and insulation values to mix and match as the conditions vary. Synthetics or wool both perform well.
Long Underwear Tops: 1-2 pairs. A polypropylene top and a silk top work well. These are good inner layers and are comfortable while paddling. One turtleneck style is nice.
Sweater: A capilene or synchilla pullover or a wool sweater (at least 75% wool) provide great warmth when combined with a Long Underwear top.
Fleece jacket or sweater: This will probably be your warmest layer. We recommend a fleece jacket, a windproof lined jacket, or a wool sweater that can fit comfortably over the other tops.
Rain Jacket: Your rain parka must be 100% waterproof and roomy enough to fit over your upper body layers. Patagonia (Skanorak), Helly Hansen, Kokatat and many other companies carry high-tech, good quality rain gear. The quality of this piece of clothing could make a big difference in your comfort level during foul weather. A poncho is not recommended as they offer poor shelter in exposed windy conditions.
Underwear: We recommend the sports bras made out of Polyester/Lycra spandex. They are warm, comfortable and wick moisture away from your body.
T-shirt: (Optional) Short sleeved and a long sleeved shirts are nice for sunny warm days.
Travel shirt: (Optional) There are many quick drying travel shirts on the market nowadays. These nylon shirts usually also provide protection from the sun.
HEAD & HANDS
Poagies/Paddling gloves: A rowing glove or bike glove works well to protect your hands. Poagies (Optional) are specialized mittens designed to go over the paddle shaft.
Wool or fleece cap: A ski cap or balaclava are good to have for those windy days.
Sun hat: A baseball cap or sun hat to shade your eyes from glaring and reflecting sunlight on the water is recommend.
MISCELLANEOUS REQUIRED ITEMS
Sunscreen and Lip balm: 1-2 small tubes/bottles of Sun protection factor of at least #15.
Toilet Articles: For your personal needs.
Plastic Water Bottle: A bike bottle or a wide mouth liter bottle works well.
Sunglasses: 1 pair. The drugstore counter varieties are not appropriate for protecting your eyes from the glare on the water. Glasses should transmit no more than 10% visible light and be at least 95% UV protected. Chums or another brand of eye glass retainer are recommended.
Extra glasses or Contacts: If you wear corrective glasses or contact lenses we highly recommend you bring along a spare set.
Passport: It’s a good idea to bring a photocopy of the ID page and 2 extra passport photos.
BAGS
For packing your personal gear (extra sweater, camera, rain coat, snack etc.) you can either use dry bags, a small day pack or small nylon zip bag/duffel bags. Dry bags are specialized water gear. Seal Line, NRS, REI and many other companies carry these bags
If you choose dry bags please bring a (small (10 liters) or a medium (20 liters) sized bag.
Day pack: 1. A day pack for miscellaneous gear and to be used on walks is recommended.
WET SUITS & DRY SUITS
We do not require wetsuits or drysuits though we always dress well for exposure to cold water. It is true that drysuits and neoprene wetsuits do prolong the time one can stay alert immersed in cold water. Wearing one would be wise for the aggressive paddler who is venturing far from any shore or paddling in very rough or challenging conditions. We believe the best protection is good judgment and to be off the water in questionable conditions. We balance our selection of paddling attire for water and surface conditions. If you usually wear a drysuit or wetsuit while paddling and would like to bring it along then we encourage you to do so. A Farmer John “shortie” or a breathable Gore-tex drysuit are popular options. If you are looking to purchase a dry suit we can highly recommend dry suits by Kokatat.
OPTIONAL ITEMS
Wind Shirt: A roomy nylon wind shell large enough to fit over your upper body layers is nice while paddling. This wind shirt can also be used in the city as an extra layer.
Neoprene socks: These can be worn with rubber boots, or with sandals. 2-3 mm thick is recommended.
Wool or Polypropylene gloves/mittens: 1 pair is suggested for the Arctic Trip.
Paddle Jacket: This is a specialized waterproof paddling jacket with a neoprene or rubber gasket collar, we recommend one with a hood such as the Patagonia Skanorak. A rain jacket with adjustable tight fitting cuffs makes a suitable paddle jacket. Kokatat and Patagonia are some excellent brand names. Our guides like to size their paddling jackets over their personal floatation device (PFD) so they can easily change while on the water.
Neck Warmer or Scarf: This is a great extra layer for those who get cold easily.
Camera & Film: Unforgettable memories! Bring a waterproof bag or container.
Binoculars: We highly recommend binoculars as they will let you enjoy a closer look at the birds, marine mammals and the water conditions.
Insect Repellent: 1 small bottle will be plenty.
Cotton Bandannas: 1-2. Useful for all sorts of things.
Camp Towel: A small to medium size. Chamois dries faster than terry cloth.
Swim suit: 1
Knife: A small pocket knife can come in handy at times.
CASUAL TRAVEL WEAR
Though Laundromats are scarce in Scandinavia, we encourage you to keep your luggage to two items, a large duffel bag (maybe on wheels) or a backpack, and a small second suitcase/bag. A small day pack is nice to have instead of a purse while traveling and sightseeing.
Please give us a ring if you have questions: 1-800-572-8747 (US) or 070-670-1153 (within Sweden).
