Onionizing: Dressing properly for an Alaskan trip

Alaska travel: what should one wear?

Assuming you intend to come to Alaskain the summertime, there’s no need to prepare for sub-zero temperatures and extremely harsh weather. Worst case, you’ll get rained on a bit. These are often light showers, not the downpours you typically see in warmer regions. However, cold weather could be an issue, especially up on higher grounds and in close proximity to glaciers.

The way of the onion

The weather in many areas of Alaska is not too steady and can change abruptly within minutes. Accordingly, the main challenge is not necessarily to prepare for extremely low temperatures or heavy rain, but to dress in a way that could be easily adapted to a wide range of situations.

The best solution is of course layers: add one when it’s cold, lose one when it’s warm. If you don’t intend to walk around much, you’ll be fine with simple clothing: T-shirt, sweatshirt and a jacket (a fleece jacket would be great). If you’re very sensitive to cold, or if you’re planning on spending lots of time outside, consider adding thermal underlayers.

Whether you intend to hike or not, you’ll probably have at least a few days of rainy weather – good rain gear is a must. If you plan on spending lots of time along the Alaskan coast, rubber boots are essential as well (Xtra Tuffs are super popular in Alaska. And so is duct tape).