Prior to setting off on his quest to reach the North Pole solo and unsupported, we asked explorer Wave Vidmar to lay out some of the gear he's packing along for his 600-mile odyssey. And you may be surprised to hear that much of it is on the shelves of an outdoor retailer near you.
CLOTHING AND GEAR
Mountain Hardwear's Alchemy Jacket and Pants
Specs: WindStopper laminate, microfleece lining, and stretch nylon fabric
Weight: Jacket: one pound, six ounces; pants: ten ounces
Price: Jacket: $249; pants: $225
Where: www.mountainhardwear.com
Outdoor Research's Hat For All Seasons
Specs: Gore-Tex shell, ear flaps, WickLine lining, and Moonlite Pile Liner for extra warmth
Weight: 6.5 ounces with liner
Price: $64 (shell and liner)
Where: www.orgear.com
Mountain Hardwear's 5th Dimension sleeping bag, with 3D Upgrade bag
Specs: Rated to minus 30 (Upgrade bag to convert lighter sleeping bag into a warmer overall bag system), double draft tubes to contain heat, Polarguard insulation and synthetic fill
Weight: Six pounds, one ounce (Upgrade bag: one pound, ten ounces)
Price: $355 (Upgrade bag: $115)
Where: www.mountainhardwear.com
Smith Optical's Apex OTG Snow Goggles
Specs: UV protection, anti-fog lens coating, molded face foam for comfort, Carbonic-X lens to provide clarity and scratch resistance
Price: $68
Where: www.smithsport.com
Black Diamond's Ascension Climbing Skins
Specs: Lightweight construction designed to offer minimal glide resistance
Weight: One pound, five ounces per pair
Price: $90 to $113 (depending on length)
Where: www.bdel.com
Hewlett Packard's iPAQ h5150
Specs: Wireless, handheld PC with 64 MB memory, compatible with GPS tracking devices and other "explorer" software
Weight: 6.6 ounces
Price: $549
Where: www.hp.com
Nikon's Coolpix 5400 Digital Camera
Specs: 5.1 megapixels, 4x digital zoom, 1GB microdrive
Weight: 11.3 ounces (without battery)
Price: $700
Where: www.nikonusa.com
Princeton Tec's Yukon HL Headlamp
Specs: LED-hybrid lamp, with one low- and three high-output lamps to conserve power
Weight: 8 ounces (without battery)
Price: $60
Where: www.princetontec.com
COOKWARE & TOOLS
MSR's XGK Stoves
Specs: White gas or kerosene, with extreme-weather performance and durability
Weight: 12 ounces
Price: $110
Where: www.msrcorp.com
MSR's Titan Titanium Cookset
Specs: Reinforced, lightweight pots and pans robust enough to withstand the rigors of a backcountry beating, plus fast-heating conductivity
Weight: 9.6 ounces
Price: $90
Where: www.msrcorp.com
Gerber's Multi-Plier 400 Compact Sport
Specs: Stainless-steel construction, configured with screwdrivers, drop-point knife blade, can opener, bottle opener, and scissors.
Weight: 6.6 ounces
Price: $35
Where: www.gerberblades.com
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