The quick answer
Pack for cool and wet, not for arctic cold. A summer Alaskan day is layers weather: a base layer, something insulating, and a genuinely waterproof shell over the top. Visitors routinely bring a heavy parka they never wear and no rain pants, which is exactly the wrong way round.
The layering system, which is not a cliche here
- Base. Merino or synthetic. Not cotton, which holds water and then holds cold against you.
- Mid. Fleece or a light down or synthetic jacket. Something you can put on and take off ten times a day, because you will.
- Shell. Waterproof and breathable, with a hood, and waterproof over-pants if you are doing anything on a boat or a trail. This is the single item most worth spending money on.
Leave the umbrella. It is wet and windy here, often at once, and an umbrella is useless on a boat deck and a nuisance on a trail.
Footwear
Waterproof walking boots with ankle support and real grip. Trails are muddy, rooted and often wet, and beaches are slick with kelp and rock. Bring a second pair of shoes for the evening, because the first pair will be damp. Wool socks, more pairs than seems reasonable.
Insects, which visitors underestimate
Alaska's mosquitoes are a genuine feature of the summer interior and of the tundra, and there are biting flies as well. Repellent is not optional, a head net weighs nothing and is worth its space in July, and long sleeves in the evening save a lot of misery. This is the item most often regretted.
Sun and glare
Sunglasses and sunscreen, both of which surprise people. The days are extremely long, the sun sits low and glares off water, snow and ice, and you can burn on a glacier on an overcast day.
What visitors most often wish they had brought
- Binoculars. The wildlife is frequently a long way off and this is the single biggest upgrade to an Alaska trip.
- An eye mask. Midsummer nights are not dark and hotel curtains are optimistic.
- A dry bag or zip bags for camera and phone, for boats and rain.
- A warm hat and light gloves, even in July, for glacier viewing and open decks.
- A reusable water bottle. Tap water is excellent.
- Motion sickness remedies if you are taking a boat, and take them before you need them.
- A day pack that closes properly.
Winter, which is a different list
If you are coming for aurora, add serious insulation: an expedition-weight parka, insulated boots rated well below what you expect, thermal layers, a balaclava, mittens rather than gloves and chemical hand warmers. Camera batteries fail fast in that cold, so bring spares and keep them warm against your body. Many aurora lodges lend outer gear; ask before buying a parka you will use once.
What to leave at home
Formal clothes, unless your ship has a formal night. Anything valuable enough to worry about. Cotton in general. And most of the volume, because laundry exists and every trip here involves more gear and fewer outfits than people expect.
Planning with LABUSA Travel
Tell us the route and the month and we will tell you what you actually need. A Southeast cruise and a Fairbanks aurora trip need almost nothing in common.
Sources
- US National Park Service: the authority for access, seasons and current conditions in every Alaskan national park. Accessed 11 August 2026.
- Travel Alaska, State of Alaska tourism office: the official state visitor information, including regional guides and seasonal planning. Accessed 11 August 2026.
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: travel health guidance, including cold exposure and outdoor risks. Accessed 11 August 2026.