Your equipment guide for the ski touring trip to Lyngen

Preparing for a great ski touring week in the Lyngen Alps starts long before we put on our skins. In Northern Norway, the weather can change quickly. Temperatures vary throughout the day, strong winds can develop within hours and snowfall can be surprisingly heavy. The right equipment keeps you comfortable, safe and ready to enjoy every day in the mountains.

This packing list is based on one simple principle: bring everything you need—but nothing you don't. It reflects my experience from many seasons of ski touring in the Lyngen Alps and includes the equipment I recommend for our guided trips.

Clothing

The key to staying comfortable is the layering system.

• Base layer (merino wool or synthetic)
• Mid layer (fleece or lightweight insulated jacket)
• Insulation jacket (down or synthetic) for breaks and summit stops
• Waterproof hardshell jacket and trousers

Although softshell trousers are often sufficient on sunny days, I strongly recommend bringing waterproof hardshell trousers. They provide reliable protection in all conditions, and the ventilation zips make them comfortable even during warm ascents.

Also bring:

• Two pairs of gloves (lightweight touring gloves and warm downhill gloves)
• Warm hat or headband
• Buff or neck gaiter
• Ski socks

Small Items That Make a Big Difference

The little things are often the ones you appreciate most.

First-aid kit

As your mountain guide, I carry comprehensive emergency equipment. A few blister plasters or sports tape are usually sufficient for personal use.

Emergency blanket

An aluminium emergency blanket weighs almost nothing and is always worth carrying.

Ski goggles and sunglasses

Good-quality goggles are essential in flat light and poor visibility.

Thermos flask

You can fill it with hot tea or water every morning at breakfast.

Snacks

We keep a relaxed pace during our ski tours, with plenty of time for breaks and something to eat.

Sun protection

Even in the Arctic, the spring sun can be surprisingly strong. Bring sunscreen, lip balm and a cap for sunny days.

Ski Touring Equipment

Before travelling, please make sure your equipment is in good working order. Check that your bindings are correctly adjusted and that your climbing skins still provide good adhesion.

You'll need:

• Touring skis with climbing skins 
• Ski width between 90 and 100 mm is ideal (wider skis are perfectly fine, but anything above 110 mm offers little advantage in the Lyngen Alps)
• Ski boots with a comfortable walk mode and good grip
• Adjustable ski poles
• Avalanche transceiver (with fresh batteries)
• Avalanche shovel
• Avalanche probe
• Ski touring backpack (30–35 litres)

Every morning we perform a transceiver check to ensure that all avalanche safety equipment is working correctly. 

What Else Should I Bring?

The Magic Mountain Lodge is warm, comfortable and welcoming, so it's worth bringing casual clothes and slippers for relaxing after a day in the mountains.

Lyngseidet has two supermarkets where you can buy groceries, snacks, toiletries and other everyday essentials. There's also a well-stocked outdoor and sports shop offering ski touring equipment, accessories and small replacement items if needed.

For walking around the village, I recommend bringing warm waterproof shoes or winter boots, as roads and paths are often snow-covered during the ski touring season.

My Personal Tip

You don't need to bring the lightest or most expensive equipment. Reliable, well-tested gear that you're familiar with is far more valuable. Comfortable boots, clothing that keeps you dry and a ski setup you trust will contribute much more to an enjoyable week than saving a few hundred grams of weight.

Here you'll find an article about the ski touring equipment I use myself.