What’s in My Bag: Tierra del Fuego

The weather in Tierra del Fuego is notoriously fickle. It can be sunny one minute and snowing the next. But one thing you can be sure of — the wind. So what gear should you bring to the end of the world? Three words: layers, layers, layers.

The North Face Progressor Collection made up the bulk of my top layering system. Designed as an alpine layering collection for climbing, it fits perfectly into Tierra del Fuego as the weather there mimics a high-alpine environment.

The North Face FuseForm Progressor Shell: For those really windy days, I threw on this super light, 100% windproof shell. Made from three-layer Gore-Tex, this jacket will protect you from any kind of weather while remaining super breathable. The seamless, FuseForm construction aids in movement and adds a level of durability. You get three zippered pockets, including a chest pocket, and pit zips for when you need to vent out a little heat.

The North Face Apex Flex GTX Jacket: Rain or snow — no problem. This jacket doesn’t feel or sound like your average rain shell as it’s made from a durable, stretch-woven fabric on the outside, with a cozy soft, knit face interior on the inside of the waterproof Gore-Tex membrane. The drop-tail hem adds a bit of coverage, while pit-zip vents give you added ventilation when needed. The jacket comes in a variety of colors and just looks awesome.

Helly Hansen Icefall Down Jacket: In the morning and evening or when I was standing outside on the boat deck, I usually threw on my down jacket. The Icefall jacket is stuffed with 80 grams of 700-fill power water-resistant down to keep you nice and toasty warm.

The North Face FuseForm Progressor Fleece Hoodie: This warm yet lightweight smooth-face fleece features a seamless FuseForm construction to eliminate any friction as you move. The body-mapped knit backing breathes really well and an abrasion-resistant print on the elbows adds durability to those high wear areas.

The North Face Progressor Insulated Hybrid Hoodie: On colder days I switched out the fleece for this hybrid midlayer. The body uses 100 grams of PrimaLoft Gold insulation with a stretch-woven hood and sleeves for easy movement. The hood and cuffs are elastic to keep wind from whipping in underneath. The underarms feature super cool laser-perforated venting for extra breathability.

Columbia OutDry Ex Pants: Made from membrane-on-the-outside OutDry Extreme, these pants are not only waterproof but 100% windproof. After one day of freezing in only long johns and hiking pants, I ended up living in these rain pants for the rest of the trip. They blocked out the cold wind while remaining breathable and with all the water adventures we had, I was the only one to stay dry. 

Danner Mountain 600: Designed to withstand anything the Pacific Northwest can throw at them, you know these boots are going to rock it in Tierra del Fuego. The hiking boots feature a combination rubber and EVA midsole to provide lightweight cushioning that won’t break down easily over time — they were super comfortable right out of the box. The Vibram Fuga outsole with Megagrip compound gives the boot great traction on both wet and dry terrain. The minimal seam, durable suede upper with a waterproof lining can withstand the wettest conditions. And the classic hiking boot style looks super cool — I received many compliments on these boots.

Stio CFS Duffel: For rugged travel on both land and water, you need an ultra-durable and weatherproof duffel. Designed with TPU-coated 600-denier polyester and welded seams throughout the main body, the CFS Duffel also features a PU-coated zippered top opening with a storm flap for weather resistance and easy access. We had a weight limit on many of the internal flights so the light 28-ounce weight of this 40-liter duffel meant I could shove in a few more items. 

SpiderLight Holster and Backpacker Kit: This kit enables you to holster your camera or your GoPro onto your backpack strap for quick access. There is nothing more annoying than having to stop and take your camera out of your pack every time you want to take a photo — you will have missed the shot by then or simply grabbed your iPhone instead. I found the holster works well with the GoPro Karma Grip for stabilized hiking point-of-view shots.