Borge Ousland, the greatest polar traveler of the last 30 years, has shared his equipment list with ExplorersWeb. This week, we’ll present his Clothing, Equipment, Tools, Repair Kit, and Medical Kit for polar expeditions. This list, in particular, is what he used for his 2025 vertical crossing of Ellesmere Island with Vince Colliard.
“The list for the North Pole [an even colder expedition] would be a bit different, since we would be using a vapor barrier in the sleeping bag,” Ousland explained. He would also carry a drysuit to slip over his ski clothing to swim across open water.
Today, we present the clothing Ousland uses to stay warm on the trail and in camp. Note that the two Norwegian companies that feature prominently on this list, Norrøna and Devold, are sponsors of his.
Head
Beanie: Devold wool beanie
Hat: Thick wool hat
Face mask: Custom-made Arctic face mask
Sunglasses: Julbo with nose protection
Goggles: With juryrigged neoprene protection below, serves as a second face mask
Ball Cap: For eye relief when going into the sun
Balaclava: Always in the pocket
Hands
GoreTex Mitts: Norrøna Arktis. These long, windproof mittens come almost up to the elbows.
Gauntlet-length Norrøna Arctis mitts. Liners included.
Wool mittens: These mitten liners come with Norrøna Arktis mitts.
Synthetic mittens: These mitten liners come with Norrøna Arktis mitts.
5 half-finger woolen liners
Upper body
Down parka: Norrøna no longer makes Ousland’s specialized model, but there are several suitable polar parkas here.
Down vest: Norrøna Falketind.
GoreTex shell jacket: Norrøna Arktis.
Norrøna Arktis shell jacket.
Fleece long sleeve: Norrøna Alpha jacket.
Wool jacket: Devold Expedition Arctic Pro Hoodie.
First layer, wool T-shirt: Devold Breeze.
First layer, wool long-sleeve: Devold Breeze.
Lower body
GoreTex shell bibs: Norrøna Arktis.
Norrøna Arktis bibs.
Knee pads: For windproofness and insulation, Evazote closed-cell foam, custom-trimmed, slips inside a pocket in the Norrøna Arktis bibs.
Down shorts: Norrøna Lyngen down knickers.
Norrøna down knickers.
Boxer: Devold Breeze Merino 150.
Devold Breeze Merino 150 boxers.
First layer wool long john, thin: Devold Breeze Merino 15 Longs.
Devold Breeze Merino 150 Longs.
First layer wool long john, thick: Devold Expedition Arctic Pro Longs.
Devold Expedition Arctic Pro Longs.
Feet
Ski boots: Alfa Mørdre Extreme. Still used by Greenland’s famed Sirius patrol, this old three-pin ski boot has served Ousland on five expeditions to the North Pole. Ultra warm. The soles notoriously crack in severe cold, so Ousland pre-repairs them before an expedition by drilling and threading thin nylon cord through the vulnerable areas.
Alfa Mørdre Extreme boots.
Kartankers: Felt boots, hand-made in Norway. Here’s a second model.
Vapor barrier socks, 30 prs: Thin plastic shopping bags.
Wool socks, thick: Devold Nansen.
Sports tape: Non-stretch. For blister protection. Applied liberally on the feet before the expedition begins.
Medical foam: Added blister protection.
Tent booties: Used around camp. The common bootie used in alpine huts or mild winter camping is not warm enough for -40, so Ousland uses an old, thicker pair he picked up in Poland. The most promising modern commercial model we’ve seen is the Expedition Booties from Western Mountaineering, perhaps bought extra-large and shored up with their Flash Down Booties as an inner liner for the most extreme conditions.
Ousland in his element. Photo: Borge Ousland/Norrøna
