Borge Ousland's Polar Equipment List, Part II: Key Gear

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, Gear, Repair Kit, and Medical Kit for polar expeditions. This list, in particular, is what he used during his 2025 vertical crossing of Ellesmere Island with Vince Colliard.

Today, a list of his key travel and camp gear.

General gear

Skis: Asnes Ousland.

Asnes Ousland skis.

Bindings: Rottefella telemark.

Long skins

Short skins

Glue for skins, one tube

Ski poles: Asnes Amundsen

Ski pole flags: to see the direction of the wind.

Glide wax for skins: to prevent the buildup of sticky snow.

Harness: homemade

Harness pulling sling

Sled: Fjellpulken Transporter

Sled bag: Piteraq sled bag

Sled tow rope: 10mm thick

Carabiners (3): for pulling the sled and connecting to the sled.

Several big lightweight bags for storage in sled

Several small lightweight bags for storage in sled

Snow shovel

Knife: always on harness.

Compass

Ice axe

Crevasse rescue kit

Climbing slings (4)

Ice screws (4)

Glacier rope (30m)

Crampons

Carabiners (4): for glacier travel/rescue

Prussiks (4)

Ski sail

Brush: for brushing snow off clothing, interior tent walls.

Polar bear protection

Gun: .308-caliber rifle

Ammo: 12 rounds

Bear spray

Bear fence

Second bear fence: A motion detector called Critter Gitter. Used it for the first time, and it worked very well. One 9V battery lasted the whole expedition. It may go off if something is flapping nearby. If it’s pointed directly toward the low sun, it also goes off sometimes.

Critter Gitter.

Flare gun: Orion Alerter

Flare cartridges (12)

Flare pistol holder

Camp gear

Tent: Helsport Fjellheimen

Snow stakes (4)

Tent bag

Tent footprint

Sleeping pad: ThermaRest RidgeRest

Sleeping pad, inflatable: ThermaRest.

Sleeping bag: Helsport Spitsbergen

Camp chair: envelope converts ThermaRest into a chair

Pee bottle: Nalgene 1 liter

Food & cooking

Real Turmat freeze-dried dinners (65)

Readymade breakfasts and lunches (65)

Food bags (10): to pack food inside sled

White gas, 24 liters: .2 liters per person per day

Fuel canisters (5): These five-liter gasoline cans can be bought in gas stations.

MSR fuel bottles (2)

Stoves (2): both MSR XG/K

Pot (1): Pot and plate made by Thomas Ulrich. Four-liter Trangia can also work.

Insulated cup (1)

Thermos bottle (2)

Eating bowl (1)

spoon (1)

Nalgene bottle: used a hot-water bottle inside sleeping bag

Matches (4 pkgs)

Lighters (2)

Spare MSR repair kit

Electronics

Starlink Mini: This was Ousland’s first expedition with Starlink. It worked really well, getting a reliable connection inside the tent, sitting on top of the sleeping bag. Just one problem, he says: “You feel like you’re spending two hours in the office in the evening.”