Packing lists
for all our trips
How to pack for a sailing trip?
Up in Northern Norway, we’re ready for all the seasons—maybe in a single day. That’s part of the charm; it’s wild, stunning, and unfiltered in every sense, including the weather. Be ready for those sharp contrasts; most of the time, we get a bit of everything.
Our top priority is that you have a blast on your trip. We want it to be an easy, no-fuss experience, so pack with that in mind.
As with all activities, there is plenty of special equipment and clothing for sailing. If you don’t have any of this, you will get very far with normal hiking/outdoor equipment. You do not need to buy a lot of new equipment to join our trips. Use what you have, borrow what you need from a friend, purchase used equipment, and if you have to invest in new equipment – buy quality items that will last!
What you need is something waterproof and windproof on the outside, and warm layers underneath.
Some jackets may not be waterproof “enough”, or might not perform too well in salt water, so you can consider a set of oilskin for the wettest days (also available for rent or purchase onboard). A pair of higher rubber boots for disembarking from the dinghy is a proper pro-tip on a Ski & Sail adventure, and a must! As well as indoor shoes for below deck and swim wear for saunas and sea plunges!
Below you’ll find our recommended packing lists, but you should think about whether there are other things you might need.
Remember, in a sailboat, you pack in a bag or backpack, not a suitcase, and, the less you bring, the faster we sail, and the more regattas we win!
Packing list for all our trips
All trips
Clothing
- Standard hiking clothes and enough changes
- Wool base layer
- Wool socks (several pairs) and wool soles
- Hat and mittens
- Neck, buff or scarf, preferably wool
- Warm woolen jumper, preferably with a neck
- Warm trousers, preferably lined (for use on trips or on deck)
- “Normal” clothes (your travel clothes?), for restaurant visits or land excursions.
Outdoor gear
- Sailing gear / rain gear, jacket and trousers. Possibly two sets, one heavier on board for sailing in heavy weather, and one light wind/waterproof set for hiking on land. SeilNorge sells and rents durable, orange oil hire from Ålesund Oljeklede. Prices and rental info will be sent to you before departure.
- Down jacket or artificial down jacket (preferably primaloft or something that can withstand a little water)
- Sea/rubber boots, feel free to take some that are big enough to breathe even with wool socks and soles
- Light shoes / crocs that breathe well (for use on board inside and outside on deck in good weather)
- High or low hiking boots (for hiking on land)
- Sailing gloves (not a must). You can also use cycling or skiing gloves here. The most important thing here is that they have a good grip for ropes.
Other stuff
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Small backpack, approx. 30-40 litres, for hikes.
- Ear plugs, for light sleepers
- Water bottle
- Small washcloth and soap
- Towel and swimwear
- Thermos for the hikes, for tea, coffee, drytech meal
- Padded shorts/longs for sailors! Nice to have. SeilNorge has together with Northern Playground developed as series of padded shorts and 3⁄4-longs for sailing, check the selection here.
Electronics, other equipment and packing tips
We have life jackets for everyone on board, if you have your own favorite, you are welcome to bring, just remember to check with your airline regarding packing/shipping the compressed air canister.
The boats have USB sockets for charging phones and cameras when we sail, and we have 220V “EU” sockets available for your charger when we are moored at a quay with shore power.
- Phone
- Camera
- Charger/cords
- Power plug adapter
- Powerbank
There’s good cellular coverage almost everywhere in Norway, but on ocean crossings and on Svalbard, you will experience the undisturbed calmness of not being connected!
Try to pack as light as possible, try to meet a limit of 20 kg in total!
Pack like a sailor; in a duffel bag or rucksack, and NOT in a rigid suitcase!
Packing lists and extra packing advice for our different trip types
Packing list Ski & Sail
A general advice for packing for Ski & Sail is to pack as many things as possible that you can use for both, i.e. both for sailing and life on board and for skiing.
Avalanche equipment can be rented through us and ski equipment can be rented through our partners. Though our very best experience is that you bring your own equipment from home. Without too short transfers, flying with a ski bag these days is often as easy as with any other checked in luggage with most airlines.
For sure, you don’t want to risk jeopardizing half your Ski & Sail adventure due to blisters from some not-well fitting rental boots. Or not being able to ski half of the slopes as well as usual, due to some unfamiliar rental skis.
Bring your skis in a good ski bag, as they will be stored outside on deck. The plastic boot-shell is also stored outside in the cockpit or in boxes on deck. While the inner boot goes in the drying room after each skiing day. When landing on shore with the dinghy, we wear rubber boots to avoid wet boots and to protect the dinghy/boat. So, a boot bag is nice to have, when we change into our ski boots on the beach.
Skiing equipment
- Your ski equipment; skis/splitboard, poles, skins, helmet if you want
- Ski crampons (mandatory and a must-must for split-boards)
- The skis must be packed in a ski bag, which is stored outside on deck. Ski boots and skis are transported to and from shore in the ski/boot bags.
- Ski boots. The outer boots are stored outside on deck and the inner boots are kept dry inside. We change to ski boots on land.
- Avalanche equipment in a backpack, shovel, probe, transmitter/receiver
Other stuff, recommended/necessary on these trips, in addition to travel gear:
- Extra set of wool base layer
- Woolen soles
- Hat, preferably windproof and lined
- Neck, buff or scarf, preferably wool
- Ski goggles
- Mittens, preferably with wind or waterproof cover-mitts.
- Headlamp (preferably one that can be dimmed/red light) and extra batteries/charger
- We do not plan trips where boot crampons, axes, ropes and harnesses are necessary, but you can bring them if you want.
On our Ski & Sail trips to Svalbard, we are crossing glaciers, so there you will need some extra equipment. You will get special information about this.
Packing list Summer sailing
In North-Norway we must be prepared for all seasons, even in the middle of summer, often during a single day. It’s a part of the experience; it’s wild, beautiful and raw – in all aspects, also with regards to weather. Prepare for the contrasts! For us, the most important thing is to enjoy the ride and the sailing. Use what you have, borrow if you can, and invest in something new if you must.
Recommended/necessary on these trips, in addition to travel gear:
- Shorts & t-shirts
- Flip-Flops
- Sleep eye mask, for better sleeping in the midnight sun
- Cap or a sun hat
- Swimwear
Packing list Expeditions
On Arctic expeditions to Svalbard, Greenland and beyond, we must be prepared for all seasons, often during a single day. It’s a part of the experience; it’s wild, beautiful and raw – in all aspects, also with regards to weather. On our summer trips to Svalbard we’ve experienced from minus 3 to 15-20 degrees, so we need to prepare for the contrasts. For us the most important thing is to enjoy the ride and the sailing. Use what you have, borrow if you can, and invest in something new if you want.
Recommended/necessary on these trips, in addition to travel gear:
- Shorts & t-shirts
- Wool base layers
- Flip-Flops
- Sleep eye mask, for better sleeping in the midnight sun
- Cap or a sun hat
- Wool/winter hat and gloves/mittens
- Swimwear
- Rain gear
- Hiking boots
Packing list Winter sailing
Download our Winter sailing packing list here
The winter inland climate in Northern-Norway is quite cold, while we experience a bit “warmer” temperatures on the sea, due to the Gulf Stream bringing hot water from the Caribbean. We prepare for all seasons, as they may all appear, often on the same day. This is part of the charm, it is both wild and raw in all manners and especially with regards to the weather.
The temperature we will be experiencing will mostly depend on the direction of the wind: Northerly wind from the polar regions are mostly cold and semi-humid, bringing snow, the easterly winds are dry and cold. While the westerly and southwesterly winds from the ocean are warmer, and carrying more humidity, often as rain.
Recommended/necessary on these trips, in addition to travel gear:
- Warm waterproof boots
- Headlamp (preferably one that can be dimmed/red light) and extra batteries/charger
- Ski goggles (bright glass – to use at the helm in snowy conditions
- Lined rubber gloves or wind / waterproof cover-mitts. Tips; check out shops that sell affordable work clothes or equipment for fishermen.
- Ski mask / balaclava face mask
Packing list Sailing courses
Recommended/necessary on these trips, in addition to travel gear:
- Notepad & pen
- Navigation instruments, Ruler and Divider if you have
- Snack and water bottle
Packing list Freediving
Download our Freediving packing list for summer trips here
Recommended/necessary on these trips, in addition to travel gear:
- If you have long hair, it is recommended to bring a silicone swim cap. This makes it easier to get into the suit.
- For men with a mustache: Shave off the upper part of the mustache or bring vaseline. This helps to make the mask watertight.
- A bottle with a capacity of 1.5 liters of water. We use it to help put on the suit (with mild soap water).
- Swimwear, crocs/slippers, preferably slightly larger in size.
- A changing poncho or something else windproof (the wetsuits don’t insulate well on land).
- Freediving equipment, if you want bring your own gear: wetsuit, gloves, socks, mask, snorkel, weight belt with weights, fins, buoy and line.
Packing list Freediving with Orcas
Download our packing list for Freediving with Orcas here
Recommended/necessary on these trips, in addition to travel gear:
- If you have long hair, it is recommended to bring a silicone swim cap. This makes it easier to get into the suit.
- For men with a mustache: Shave off the upper part of the mustache or bring vaseline. This helps to make the mask watertight.
- A bottle with a capacity of 1.5 liters of water. We use it to help put on the suit (with mild soap water).
- Swimwear, crocs/slippers, preferably slightly larger in size.
- A changing poncho or something else windproof (the wetsuits don’t insulate well on land).
- Freediving equipment, if you want bring your own gear: wetsuit, gloves, socks, mask, snorkel, weight belt with weights, fins, buoy and line.