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Things You Will 100% Forget to Pack for Alaska (and Regret with Your Entire Soul)

Look, I know you think you’ve got Alaska figured out. You bought the heavy coat. You bought the boots. You are spiritually prepared to stare dramatically at a glacier while pretending you’re in a prestige cable drama.


But Alaska is sneaky. It doesn't just hit you with "cold" - it hits you with a weird, hyper-specific cocktail of wind, horizontal rain, dry air, and a severe lack of electrical outlets.


Here are 10 tiny, wildly unglamorous things you will completely forget until you are on a boat in the middle of nowhere wishing you could trade a kidney for a zip-top bag.


1. Lip Balm with SPF

You think because it’s cold, the sun isn't plotting against you. Wrong. Between the glacier glare and the howling wind, your lips will turn into two chapped, peeling dried cranberries before noon. Get the SPF kind unless you want your vacation photos to look like a hostage video.


2. Microfiber Towel

Alaska rain does not care about your cute outfit. It will find you. Having a quick-dry microfiber towel stashed in your daypack means you can wipe down soaked binocular lenses, wet park benches, or your own weeping face without dragging around a heavy, damp bath towel that smells like a wet golden retriever.


3. Waterproof Dry Bags / Zip Pouches

If your phone dies because it took a direct hit from a rogue wave or a rainstorm while you were trying to film a whale, that’s between you and God. Drop your tech, passport, and sanity into a dry bag.


4. Binocular Lens Cleaner

Congratulations, you spotted a bald eagle! Too bad your lenses are covered in saltwater spray, fog, and your own frantic thumbprints. A lens pen or cleaning kit is the difference between seeing a majestic bird of prey and staring at a blurry gray blob.


5. Reusable Water Bottle

The air in Alaska is deceptively dry, and you will turn into a human raisin if you don't hydrate. Plus, buying disposable plastic bottles at every port stop is bad for the planet and worse for your wallet. Clip one to your bag and keep moving.


6. Hand Warmers

Do not let your pride fool you into thinking "my gloves are enough." When you’re standing on an open deck at 7:00 AM waiting for a glacier to calve, your fingers will go numb in approximately four seconds. Slip these into your pockets and thank me later.


7. Moisture-Wicking (Non-Cotton!) Socks

Repeat after me: Cotton is the enemy. Cotton holds moisture, meaning your feet get cold, stay cold, and end up covered in blisters. Wool or synthetic moisture-wicking socks will save your feet—and by extension, your entire mood.


8. Compact Umbrella

Yes, you have a rain jacket. No, it is not always enough when the skies open up during a shore excursion. A tiny, wind-resistant umbrella that slips into your pocket is pure insurance against looking like a drowned rat in every family photo.


9. Multi-USB Power Strip

Cruise ship cabins and older historic lodge rooms were apparently designed in 1974 when human beings owned a single desk lamp. When you and your travel companion need to charge two phones, a camera, an iPad, and a watch at the same time, this thing is liquid gold. (Pro tip: Make sure it’s a non-surge protector if you’re cruising!)


10. Sealable Snack Bags

Excursion hangry is a very real, very dangerous condition. Keep a stash of resealable bags in your luggage so you can grab trail mix, pastries, or snacks from the breakfast buffet before you head out into the wilderness for six hours.


Bottom line? Pack smart, layer up, keep your gear dry, and don't let chapped lips or a dead phone ruin your trip of a lifetime!!

 
 
 

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