What to bring

Alaska’s weather can be tough and unpredictable, we are at the mercy of Nature when out in remote regions like Katmai National Park. Being comfortable in the field requires trusting your gear.

The Coastal Explorer II has some gear available such as hip waders to use while onboard.

Below is a list of gear we recommend bringing. If you have any additional questions about gear, please contact us!

Camera Gear

  • Camera bag that fits you comfortably when hiking or walking

  • Rain cover for camera bag if camera bag is NOT weather resistant

  • Camera bodies, go-pros, your media equipment.

  • Lenses: we recommend bringing a telephoto lens, midrange, and landscape. You will have opportunities to photograph different animals and landscapes in different situations

  • tripod

  • batteries

  • Memory cards

  • card readers

  • laptop or device to store, edit and review photos with charging cords

  • Offline capable editing software (Adobe Suite, Davinci rEsolve, Photoshelter, etc.)

  • Hard drives: we recommend using a hard drive to back up media materials

  • Weather proof camera covers: covers can protect your camera if there is rain while we’re out in the field or ocean spray while out on the skiff. We recommend Aquatech sport shield rain covers.

  • Lens caps and covers

  • strip cord for charging batteries and electronics

  • Lens cleaning kit

  • For emergencies: sensor cleaning kit or swabs

  • Additional camera accessories you may use (ex: remote camera trigger for time lapses)

Outdoor Gear

  • Rain Gear: it can rain in Alaska, it keeps you warm and dry. We recommend having a rain jacket and rain pants. We recommend that your gear has GORE TEX technology as it not only keeps liquid off of your water-proof out layer but also helps evaporate vapors like sweat from the inside.

  • Chest waders/Hip waders: This is optional as the ship will have hip waders available to you. If you are smaller or perhaps feel more comfortable in your own gear, we recommend purchasing.

  • Thick socks/hiking socks: important to keep you warm and also may help with the ship’s provided hip wader fit.

  • gloves: we recommend bringing at least two pairs in case of rain and cold.

  • winter hat

  • scarf/buff/neck gator: we use lightweight neck gators called Buffs in the filed. They can be handy in many ways.

  • jacket capable of keeping you warm at 30 degrees F. We often use the lightweight puffy jackets from REI, Patagonia, Sitka, Arcteryx, and other outdoor brands

  • mosquito net: sometimes the mosquitoes can be rough during this time of year. A Mosquito net for your face might be nice to have. Lianna uses ones when the bugs are bad and she’s very grateful for it

  • Sunglasses/hat/sun protection

  • Base layers: it can warm up during the day so having base layers are important.

  • Hand warmers: if you are like Lianna and get cold easier, it might be nice to bring a couple hand warmers.

How we dress in the field: “On the bottom I will normally have a pair of long underwear underneath my chest waders. If I am wearing hip waders I would wear rain pants over my long underwear layer. I wear thick wool hiking socks because my feet get cold easily. On top I wear a base wool layer or a flannel, something that I feel comfy in. I will typically wear my light puffy jacket over this when going out on the skiff. I normally wear my buff, a ball cap, and my sunglasses out on the skiff. If the weather is nice, I won’t wear my rain jacket but I will pack my rain gear, mosquito net for my face, an extra pair of gloves, and some hand warmers. I never leave the boat without my rain gear for myself and for my cameras.”

On-board

  • regular clothes to hang out in.

  • Toiletry kit and medications

  • Slippers/indoor shoes: outdoor shoes are not allowed to be worn inside the ship. You can wear your regular shoes when walking around outside the ship

  • Book or downtime activity

Packing Tips:

  • You are allowed 100 lbs. of equipment which includes any carry-on or checked luggage. If your luggage is more than 100 lbs, you will have to pay the difference out-of-pocket. Be sure to weigh your gear prior to your departure.

  • We recommend packing your non-camera items in a duffle bag. Duffle bags are easier to break down and don’t take up a lot of space.

  • If you are traveling with camera gear in a large hard case (ex: the large pelican brand checked luggage) be sure that it can be removed from the hard case before boarding the float plane. We do not take hard cases with us. They will be stored at the float plane operator’s facility free of charge.

  • There should be an opportunity to do shopping in Kodiak if you forget or need additional items (i.e. specialty snacks, souvenirs, books, etc.) Do not depend on Kodiak for essential equipment items unless coordinated in advance.