# Travel >> Types of Travel >> Ski Trips

Arctic Survival: The 10 Essentials You Cannot Live Without

Packing for the Planet's Harshest Environment

The Arctic kills the unprepared. Whether on a ski expedition, research stint, or emergency diversion, these 10 non-negotiable items separate survival from tragedy.

Layered Clothing System — Base (merino/synthetic wicking), Mid (fleece/down), Shell (Gore-Tex/hardshell). No cotton. Redundancy: spare base & mid layers.
Four-Season Shelter — Hilleberg, MSR, or Black Diamond expedition tent rated for 100+ km/h winds, heavy snow load. Or snow cave/igloo skills as backup.
High-Calorie, Cold-Stable Food — Freeze-dried meals (Mountain House, Peak Refuel), nut butters, pemmican, dark chocolate, cheese, salami. Target 4,500–6,000 kcal/day. No fresh produce (freezes solid).
Water Production — MSR WhisperLite / XGK stove (white gas, works at -40°C), fuel bottles (1 L/person/day), insulated bottles (Nalgene + parkas). Melting snow = only reliable source.
Redundant Fire Starting — Stormproof matches (UCO), ferro rod, lighter (Bic, kept warm in pocket), tinder (fatwood, Vaseline cotton balls). Fire = water, warmth, signal, morale.
Navigation Triad — Paper topographic map (1:50k/1:250k), lensatic compass (Suunto MC-2), GPS (Garmin GPSMAP 66i/86i with satellite messenger). Batteries die cold—carry spares in inner pocket.
Satellite Communication — Garmin inReach Mini 2 or Zoleo (Iridium network). Two-way texting, SOS to GEOS, weather forecasts. PLB (ACR ResQLink) as backup.
Comprehensive First Aid + Cold Injury Kit — Trauma (tourniquet, gauze, chest seal), frostbite (ibuprofen, aloe, sterile dressings, no rubbing), hypothermia (HPMK II, vapor barrier, heat packs), meds (antibiotics, altitude, personal).
Multi-Tool & Repair Kit — Leatherman Surge/Wave+, knife (fixed blade, full tang), axe/saw (Gränsfors Bruk small forest axe), duct tape, Tenacious Tape, zip ties, cordage, stove repair kit.
Polar Competence — Training > Gear. Cold-weather camping course, crevasse rescue, polar bear safety (Svalbard/Greenland/Canada), whiteout navigation, stove maintenance at -30°C. Experience turns gear into survival.