For your safety and comfort we ask that you have the following equipment and clothing. You must supply and be able to carry or roll all your own personal gear. Please read the equipment list carefully.  

Your rain jacket and pants, hiking boots and daypack should be of good quality. If you are purchasing new items before traveling to Scandinavia, we suggest you look through mail order brochures  like Patagonia, REI, L.L.Bean, etc.

Crossing Latitudes, Inc. will provide all group gear such as maps, first aid kits, cups, bowls and eating utensils, kayaks, reindeer etc. There will be opportunities to do a quick wash of clothing in the sink of the cabins where we stay  but there are no wash machines available. We recommend quick drying travel clothing.

REQUIRED ITEMS FOR OUR ADVENTURE

The following is a list of items you need to bring to ensure that you stay warm, dry and comfortable during our adventure.

FOOTWEAR

Trekking socks: 2 pairs of wool or synthetic trekking socks (Smartwool is recommended).

Liner socks: 1-2 pairs. These are light weight polypropylene or silk socks to slip under the wool socks.

Travel socks: 2 - 3 pairs of your favorite socks.

Travel / Day shoes: 1 pair. This pair of shoes can be casual walking shoes, a pair of sneakers or running shoes. Any pair that you will be comfortable in for a full day of sightseeing in  Stockholm, Oslo and the small villages of Arctic Norway.

Hiking boots:  1 pair. Choose a light to medium weight, above the ankle hiking boot. The upper supporting section of the boot should come above your ankle bones. There are many leather and nylon boots on the market nowadays. You need a pair that will give you ankle support while carrying your daypack in uneven terrain. A higher boot helps you stay dry in wet areas. If you are buying new boots - please wear them before our trek. Blisters can make trekking unpleasant. Recommended brands are: Salomon, Merrell, Vasque and Asolo.

Sandals: Please bring a pair of shoes that you can enter the water with for our kayaking days.

CLOTHING  Lower Body

Long Underwear bottoms: 1 pairs. These should be light- or mid weight polypropylene or wool. Cotton and cotton blends are not acceptable because they do not provide warmth if wet. 

Pants: 1 or 2 pair. This pair of pants needs to be durable and quick drying. There are many nice quick drying travel pants made of 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: 1 or 2 pair. We recommend one pair of roomy, lightweight nylon shorts.

Rain Pants: 1 pair. Light, breathable and waterproof rain pants work well for trekking. Some recommended brand names for rain gear are: Patagonia, R.E.I. and LL Bean.

Underwear: Your choice in numbers and style.

Upper Body

You will need 2 insulating layers that fit comfortably over each other. They can be of a variety of weights and insulation values to mix and match as the conditions vary. Synthetics are lighter in damp climates although wool performs well also.

Long Underwear Tops: 1 or 2 pairs. A polypropylene top and/or a silk top work well. These are good inner layers and comfortable while hiking. One turtleneck style is nice.

Fleece Jacket or sweater: 1. This will probably be your warmest layer. We recommend a heavy fleece jacket, a windproof lined jacket, or a heavier wool sweater that can fit comfortably over the other tops.

Rain Jacket: 1. Your rain parka must be waterproof, breathable and roomy enough to fit over your upper body layers. Patagonia, Helly Hansen, REI, LL Bean and many other companies carry high-tech, good quality rain gear. 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.

HEAD & HANDS

Wool, Pile  or Polypropylene gloves/mittens: 1 pair.

Wool or Pile cap:  1.

Sunhat: A baseball cap or sunhat for protection against glare is recommended.

Neck Warmer or Scarf: Optional. This is nice if you get cold easily.

MISCELLANEOUS REQUIRED ITEMS

Sunscreen and Lip balm: A small tube/bottle of Sun protection, spf 15 or higher.

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 in the high country. Glasses should transmit no more than 10% visible light and be at least 95% UV protected. Chums or some other brand of eye glass retainer is recommended.

Extra glasses or contact lenses: If you wear glasses or contact lenses we highly recommend that you bring along a spare set.

Passport: Bring a photocopy of the identification page and 2 extra passport photos.

DAYPACK

Each participant must have a daypack that can comfortably hold your extra layers ( a sweater, rain coat and pants), your water bottle and your camera. Well made padded shoulder straps and a hip belt will make your hiking more fun. Reliable backpack brands include Patagonia, Dana Design, Osprey, Lowe, Jan Sport and Kelty

OPTIONAL ITEMS

Wind Shirt Travel jacket: A light hooded nylon wind shell large enough to fit over your upper body layers is nice.

Camera & Film: A must for sharing all your memories with friends and family.

Binoculars: We highly recommend binoculars for viewing birds and animals.

Insect Repellent: 1 small bottle will be plenty.

Bug shirt or Mosquito headnet: 1. For those who are easily annoyed by pesky insects.

The bug shirt is a light weight nylon shirt with a hood and a mosquito netting. These shirts can replace a wind shirt but not a rain coat.

Book: Bring a good paperback read.

Trekking poles / Walking staff: These provide extra stability on uneven terrain. The poles are made out of lightweight aluminum tubing and are often adjustable. Recommended brand names Cascade Design and REI.

Knife: A small pocket knife can come in handy at times.

Gaiters: Gaiters are great as they protect your shoes and socks from snow, mud, grit and water. They should start just below the knee and fit snug over your boot.

Small Towel: A small to medium size. Chamois dries faster than terry cloth.

Swim suit: 1

CASUAL TRAVEL WEAR

Though Laundromats are scarce in Scandinavia, we encourage you to limit your luggage to two items, your daypack and a duffel or suitcase. Large duffel bags on wheels are easy to roll between airports, taxis and cabins. A small daypack is needed for our treks but also nice to have instead of a purse while traveling and sightseeing.

We will enjoy dinner at some of the great restaurants in Arctic Norway but the dress code is very casual. Jeans or slacks, a shirt / turtleneck and scarf is all you need.

Please give us a ring if you have questions: 1-800-572-8747 (US) or 070-670 11 53 (in Sweden).

Be prepared for the worst weather but expect the Best! 

See you in Scandinavia!