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 |
1 |
|
| Hat |
1 |
Thick wool hat |
| Face mask |
1 |
Custom-made Arctic face mask |
| Sunglasses |
1 |
Julbo with nose protection |
| Goggles |
1 |
With juryrigged neoprene protection below, serves as a second face mask |
| Ball Cap |
|
For eye relief when going into the sun |
| Balaclava |
1 |
Always in the pocket |
| Hands | ||
| GoreTex mittens |
2 |
Norrøna Arktis. These long windproof mittens come almost up to the elbows. |
| Wool mittens |
2 |
These mitten liners come with the Norrøna Arktis mitts |
| Synthetic mittens |
2 |
These mitten liners come with the Norrøna Arktis mitts |
| 5 half-finger woolen liners |
1 |
|
| Upper body | ||
| Down parka |
1 |
Norrøna no longer makes Ousland’s specialized model, but there are several suitable polar parkas here. |
| Down vest | ||
| GoreTex shell jacket |
1 |
|
| Fleece long sleeve |
1 |
|
| Wool jacket |
1 |
|
| First layer wool, T-shirt |
1 |
Devold Breeze |
| First layer wool, long sleeve |
Devold Breeze |
|
| Lower body | ||
| GoreTex shell bibs |
1 |
|
| Knee pads |
2 |
For windproofness and insulation. Ordinary closed-cell foam, custom-trimmed, slips inside a pocket in the Norrøna Arktis pants. |
| Down Shorts |
1 |
|
| Boxer |
1 |
|
| First layer wool – long john – thin |
1 |
|
| First layer wool – long john – thick |
1 |
|
| Feet | ||
| Ski boots |
1 |
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. |
| Kartankers |
1 |
Felt boots, handmade in Norway. Here’s a second model. |
| Vapor barrier sock |
60 |
Light plastic shopping bags |
| Wool socks – thick |
2 |
|
| Sports tape |
2 |
Non-stretch. For blister protection. Applied liberally on the feet before the expedition begins. |
| Medical foam |
1 |
|
| Tent booties |
1 |
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. |
Norrona Arktis shell.
Norrona Arktis bibs.
Gauntlet-length Norrona Arctis mitts. Liners included.
Norrona down knickers.
Ousland in his element. Photo: Borge Ousland/Norrona
Alfa Mørdre Extreme boots.
Devold Breeze Merino 150 boxers.
Devold Breeze Merino 150 Longs.
Devold Expedition Arctic Pro Longs.
