What I Packed for Svalbard in May (and What I’d Change)
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Here’s everything I brought on my May 2026 expedition to Svalbard, all laid out before I packed it. Nearly all of it earned its spot. A few things didn’t, and there’s one thing I’d pack more of next time.
Layers did the heavy lifting
On top I packed several merino and synthetic base layers, a fleece zip-up, and warm mid-layers I could add or take off as the day changed.
Pants were where I learned the most. For Zodiac days, I wore three layers:
- A base layer
- Hiking pants in the middle
- Gore-Tex over pants on the outside
Funny enough, I never wore the hiking pants on hiking days. They were for the water. That extra layer between my base layer and over pants kept me warm through hours out on the Zodiac. And I loved those over pants: completely windproof and waterproof, and they went over everything.
The socks I wish I’d packed more of
If you take one thing from this post, bring tall wool ski socks. I loved my Smartwool ski socks. They’re tall enough that the expedition boots never rubbed my legs. I wish I’d packed two more pairs, because there’s nothing like pulling on warm, dry socks for the next landing.
Small gear that mattered
- 10-liter dry bag: kept my camera and extras dry in the Zodiac.
- Warm hats, liner gloves and insulated mittens: layering gloves works just like layering clothes.
- Sunglasses: the glare off snow and ice is intense, even in May.
- Action camera and cases: for shots I wouldn’t risk my phone for.
- A small first aid kit and a skincare kit: the dry, cold air is rough on your skin.
The phone case dilemma
I used a waterproof phone case with a lanyard. The lanyard was great, because I never worried about dropping my phone over the side. The case itself made my phone harder to use, and I missed shots fumbling with it.
I’m still looking for a better answer. If you have one, tell me on Instagram!
The swimsuit earned its place
I used it in the sauna and hot tub—and I even saw a minke whale breach from the hot tub!
What I didn’t use
- Hand and toe warmers: never opened them. With the right layers, I didn’t need them.
- Short socks: tall socks every day, so these stayed packed.
Planning your own trip?
Every ship and season is a little different, so I make a packing list for each client based on their exact trip. Let’s start planning yours.
