Updated Polar Packing List - 2023

As we returned to California from our 2015 Quark expedition to the Antarctic Circle, I thought it might be useful to comment on my previous packing list and update for 2023 where possible. Note that I wear or pack clothing items and electronics that cannot be easily replaced in my carry-on luggage. Quark Expeditions provides each guest a heavy insulated waterproof jacket and guests are loaned rubber boots. You can keep or donate the heavy insulated jacket after the trip. 

Clothing

This list is probably contains the minimum number of items I will pack for a polar expedition. Some items will be worn or carried during air travel, so the actual number of items in my checked-in luggage may vary.

• NorthFace Thermoball insulated jacket (1)
• Goretex Rain Jacket (1) My NF jacket can be worn under this rain jacket.
• Waterproof pants (1)
• Waterproof gloves  and liners (2) Second pairs were never used, but good to have if the first became soaked. 
• Knit hat (1) Packed but I typically wear my visor cap.
• Visor cap with spandex face mask (1) Extremely useful to have something to block the wind. Many passengers experienced light wind burn more so than sun burns. 
• Fleece neck gaiter (1) Useful as gaiter could be pulled up to protect your face.
• Heavy wool socks (2) It is good to have socks of thin, regular and heavy thickness so that you could better customize your boot fit. I also bring a pair of foam shoe inserts for additional fit customization.
• Silk/Poly liner socks (2) 
• Lightweight vest (1) While sitting in the ship interior areas, the temperature was never very cold. I often wore just a long sleeved base-layer shirt and my vest and cargo pants or sweatpants. 
• Long-sleeved travel shirt (2 packed) There is laundry service on board or handwashing.
• Polo Shirt (1)
• Midlayer fleece (1)
• Base-layer pants (2) one thin and one thicker
• Long-sleeved base-layer shirt (2)
• Dri-fit short sleeved t-shirts (2)
• Underwear and non-snow boot socks (3 packed) If you're are attentive to handwashing, this could probably be reduced to 2. Although the low-humidity polar air helps damp clothes dry, the heated towel rack was also useful. 
• Medium weight cargo pants (2) one packed and one worn during air travel
• Sweatpants (1)
• Waterproof walking shoes (1)
• Running shoes/sneakers (1) Good to have a back-up pair of shoes, but this pair wasn't really needed.
• Gym shorts (1) Not packed for 2023. There was a small on-board gym, but time was really limited to use it.
• Swimsuit (1) Not packed for 2023, as I decided not to do the plunge.

Electronics, photography and miscellaneous items

• iPad with portable keyboard for journal entries 
• USB thumb-drive for iPad photo backups. 
• Kindle e-reader
• Noise canceling headphones Used only on flight from US to Chile and return flight. I never used these items during the expedition. 
• Full frame Canon Mirrorless body with 22mm lens
• Two Mirrorless battery packs and a charger (1 in camera and 1 spare battery).
• For 2023, a Canon M6-MarkII is my backup camera body
• Two M6-MarkII battery packs and charger (1 in camera and 1 spare battery).
• 70-300mm DSLR zoom lens I noticed some photographers brought - very large and heavy - 400mm and 500mm lenses. Heavy lenses are a challenge with weight limits.
• 25-105mm DSLR zoom lens  I never used my polarizing filters but good to bring.
• Lens cleaner and bulb blower
• Extra camera memory cards. I now travel with two 256GB CFExpress cards. 
• USB charging cables, 4 outlet power strip and plug adapter My Sea Adventurer cabin (#303) had three in-cabin sockets that required European type-C plug adapters. 
• 10x40 binocular
• Small LED flashlight
• Type C/L power adapters for Chile
• Prescription glasses (2) Photochromatic lenses took a very long time to return to clear state. When returning from a zodiac ride, I swapped my photochromatic glasses with my glasses with regular lenses.
• Sunglasses for prescription glasses (2) You may find a neck cord handy.  
• Prescription and OTC medication. Always good to bring meclizine for rough seas. Meclizine must be taken BEFORE rough seas or it doesn't work very well. Be aware that Scopolamine patches can have some undesirable side effects. 
• Paper travel documentation
• Laundry soap and microfleece travel towel (XL size) to speed clothes drying My wife brought a travel rubber/plastic drain stopper and this worked great when hand-washing in the cabin sink.
• Ziploc bags of a variety of sizes We also brought large garbage bags that we inserted our Quark jackets and waterproof pants into for our return trip to the US. If you get penguin poop on your jackets or pants, you really don't want this smell to taint the rest of your packed items! The last few expeditions, we've been donating our expedition jackets to ship staff rather than bringing them back home.
• Passport and drivers license Entering Chile, you will receive a stamped document from Chilean Immigration. No one mentioned how important it is to keep this document as you will need it to depart Chile. Although we didn't realize the importance of this paperwork, luckily we retained it. 
• Portable clothes line and hooks. 
• Toiletries, including pain relievers, thermometer, band-aids, portable O2 sensor
• Hand sanitizer/wipes
• COVID rapid test kits and KN95 face masks.