I hate being cold, but didn’t let that stop me from booking an expedition cruise to Antarctica, the coldest place on earth. I visited during summer in the Southern Hemisphere, but Antarctica is cold year-round. I started worrying that I would spend my trip trying to warm up instead of enjoying the beauty of the frozen continent. My Minnesota-born-and-bred husband reminded me that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. I took that advice to heart and put a lot of thought into my wardrobe for the trip. Here’s what kept my family and me warm, even as we were surrounded by icebergs and stark white snow day after day. After testing clothing and accessories in some of the world’s most challenging conditions, I now have the tools I need to enjoy winter hikes, skiing, and standing in a field while my son plays soccer in frigid temperatures. A cashmere crewneck that comes at a reasonable price Cashmere is known for being exceptionally warm. Bringing a cashmere sweater to Antarctica was a no-brainer, but I didn't want to invest a ton of money. I was relieved to find Quince's iconic Mongolian cashmere crewneck sweater for $50. I loved pulling this sweater on as soon as I got back on the ship after landings. It warmed me up instantly and looked great with minimal effort. The sweater comes in 15 colors and sizes XS-XL. "These Quince cashmere sweaters are great! Soft, warm, and lovely colors. Well worth it!," says Dawn R.The North Face’s Future fleece – the MVP of my tripThe MVP of my trip was a North Face Summit Series Future Fleece full-zip hoodie. Whenever I went off the ship, my hoodie came with me, and I couldn't believe how warm it kept me despite being so thin. Because it’s so comfortable and flattering, I also wore it around the ship. I was so impressed with Future Fleece on the trip that I picked up a pair of matching leggings when I returned home for deep winter hikes. The women's version of this hoodie comes in two colors and sizes XS-XXXL. The men's version comes in three colors and sizes S-XXL. Eeep begins their review by saying: "I wore this hoodie over a bunch of high altitude mountain passes all over the Andes. Over the Huayhuash Circuit, Salkantay Trek, on day hikes and up to the summit of Cotopaxi in heinous conditions. It was a PERFECT fleece layer. Well vented, but kept me warm while walking in cold temps, lightweight and abrasion resistant, packs small. Chest pocket held my phone without sagging. Stayed clean, and still looks new after over a month on the trail."I took a cue from the crew about pants that work hard and keep you warmWhile on board my ship, I noticed many crew members wearing Fjällräven Keb Agile trousers. I figured that people who spent their careers in Antarctica know how to stay warm, comfortable, and stylish. Exploring Antarctica requires a lot of walking on the ice and snow, and I could tell that these pants could stand up to the challenge. I got a pair for myself when I got home and have worn them hiking on frigid January weekends. They work just as well with a baselayer and without. I love that these pants have zippers that allow for venting if I get too hot. "The holy grail of hiking pants" is how REI reviewers Anna described these trousers. A magical jacket that is incredibly warm yet thin and lightThe Fjallraven Expedition pack down hoodie has come with me on several trips. It's a magical coat that is incredibly warm yet somehow thin and light. It also packs into its own pocket for travel. It was a no-brainer to bring this coat with me to Antarctica, where I wore it under a shell for landings and on the ship's deck while watching wildlife in the cold. The hoodie is available in four colors in sizes XXS-XL. "I absolutely LOVE everything about this jacket. I have the beautiful blue and it's so vibrant and alive. When I zip up the front all the way, the soft fleece covers my mouth and chin and keeps my face nice and warm. The jacket is lightweight, but so warm and cozy. I really like the zipper pockets because they are big enough to carry lots of stuff. I can't say enough good things about this jacket. I wear it on walks, hikes, and for riding my horse in cold weather. Well made, gorgeous color, warm, comfortable, perfect fit, and a large hood that completely covers my head. Keeps me dry in the rain and warm in the cold. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!," wrote choqchee.Insulated pants that can keep (almost) everyone toasty Traveling to Antarctica often involves getting splashed with freezing cold water. For that reason, the cruise line I traveled with requires all passengers to wear waterproof pants every time they get off the boat. Since avoiding being cold and uncomfortable was a primary goal of mine, I wanted my family to have waterproof pants that could stand up to the job. My husband and son both wore The North Face Freedom insulated snow pants. They handled the frigid waters of the Antarctic Ocean admirably. My husband has since worn these pants skiing and gave them rave reviews. They come in sizes S-XXL. I'm considering getting the women's version, which comes in four colors. "Comfortable, warm and cozy...I'm in Tahoe right now. This was definitely worth it. Wore it while shredding and held up great. I'd recommend this for your next shredding session. Highs 40 degrees and low 20s in the night. Kept me completely warm and cozy. Not overly hot," wrote Corey. Some alpaca socks designed for super-cold temperaturesWhenever I am out in the cold for more than a few minutes, my toes start to freeze. I knew this would be a problem in Antarctica. Some people suggested wearing two pairs of socks, but I worried that would be uncomfortable. Instead, I purchased a pair of ultra-warm Hollow alpaca boot socks that promised to keep my feet warm up to -50 degrees and hoped for the best. I am happy to report that my feet stayed toasty whenever I wore these socks, and my toes never felt numb. These are now my go-to socks throughout the winter. “[T]hese pretty much have replaced my regular socks during the winter,” wrote Amazon reviewer Travis Butler. “I’ve bought six pairs and I cannot recommend enough.”Suburban boots that feel like slippers While on the ship, I needed a pair of shoes that would keep me warm and cozy in my cabin, and while watching wildlife from the outdoor observation deck. I decided to bring my trusty Ugg Classic Mini II boots. They worked perfectly for sitting with a book in the ship's lounge and dashing outside when an onboard naturalist announced they spotted a whale. These boots come in seven colors and sizes 7-12. I love that they feel more like slippers than boots. Some touchscreen gloves that were really good at keeping me warmGloves are an important part of staying warm outdoors. At home, I usually wear thin mittens, which don't provide much protection. I knew I needed something better for my Antarctic exploration, so I picked up a pair of the North Face Montana ski gloves. The gloves' fleece lining kept me warm, and the weather-resistant outer layer kept me dry. Perhaps more importantly, these gloves are touch-screen compatible, so I had no problems taking photos of penguins while wearing them. These gloves come in five colors and sizes XS-XL. They are available in men's sizes as well.A superior base layerFor almost any cold-weather activity, a good base layer can make-or-break your experience – a trip to Antarctica is no exception. Everyone in my family had a set of Woolx base layers to wear on the continent. I brought Woolx's Sadie and Stella bundle for myself and was never cold. I also loved having a layer of soft merino wool next to my skin while out exploring and appreciated that this set is not bulky. My kids reported that their smaller-sized base layers were comfortable and warm as well. The Sadie base layer top comes in three colors, and the Stella leggings come in seven colors. Both come in sizes XS-XXXL. They can be ordered individually or as a set. A packable hat that's already in my rotationA good hat is essential to staying warm, whether you are taking a winter walk or heading towards the Antarctic Circle. My Smartwool unisex cuffed beanie is a staple in my winter wardrobe at home, and I decided to bring it to Antarctica because it's incredibly soft and warm, yet small and light enough to easily fit into my coat pocket. The hat performed just as well in Antarctica as it does at home. The beanie comes in 11 colors and one size that fits most.The coziest cardigan that I wear all the timeThe Quince oversized cardigan is a constant in my rotation back home. No matter where I go, this cardigan comes with me. This cardigan has kept me warm on cool Caribbean nights and chilly days in Iceland. I wasn't sure how much I would wear my oversized cardigan on my trip to Antarctica, but I wound up wearing it daily. Although my ship didn't have a dress code, I usually slipped it on at dinner to spruce up my look a bit. After my polar plunge, I reached for this cardigan right away when I got back to my cabin. "Amazing cardigan! Love it. It's super warm and very heavy," wrote Donna B on Quince’s website.Some hiking boots that can stand up to a stormEveryone who sets foot on Antacica is required to wear rubber boots that can be easily cleaned. This helps preserve the white continent's environment and prevents the introduction of new organisms. Nevertheless, I brought my pair of sturdy Danner Mountain 600 boots with me. I wore them on the ship's deck in cold, windy, and snowy conditions. They kept my feet warm and dry, even under challenging conditions. "I have room for a medium or heavy sock although I probably won't need the latter because the shoe is already super warm. I live in Chicago where it drops below freezing and I have been hiking a lot more post pandemic so this shoe checks my list 1) keeps my feet warm 2) keep them dry 3) has grip 4) looks cute," an anonymous reviewer says as part of their review.