Equipment

Overview

Most of the equipment that Ben is taking with him was either custom-made or modified by the North3 team, and sometimes both. We don’t necessarily go for equipment that has been used by the most polar expeditions in the past or made by the biggest companies. Instead we look for companies that show a willingness to innovate and push boundaries, and an obsessive attention to detail and quality. Often they are small businesses like Brenig, Fuizion and Acapulka, but their willingness to accommodate our atypical demands means we have become huge fans.

Below is an abridged list of the equipment that Ben is either wearing or dragging.

image © Andy Ward

worn/carried equipment

  • Wristwatch Bremont Supermarine
  • 2nd (UTC) wristwatch Polar
  • GPS Garmin eTrex
  • MP3 player iRiver T60 4GB x3
  • Multi-tool Leatherman Juice S2 (modified)
  • Harness Lifeventure custom
  • Carabiners Camp Nano 23 x3
  • Balaclava (full face) Outdoor Research Gorilla WS
  • Facemask Custom WS fleece (fitted to goggles)
  • Sunglasses Oakley Jawbone

pulk/trace/rucksack/drysuit

  • Pulk Acapulka carbon/kevlar 1.6m (custom)
  • Trace x 6 metres Marlow Excel Racing Dyneema 4mm
  • Drysuit Helly Hansen (custom)
  • Drysuit stuffsack Lifeventure Dri-Store

clothing

  • Thermals Sunspel bespoke merino
  • Salopettes Brenig (custom)
  • Jacket (with fur-trimmed hood) Brenig (custom)
  • Down jacket Mountain Equipment Gasherbrum (AW 2011 prototype)

nav/comms/tech

  • Spare GPS Garmin Geko
  • Chart NOAA JNC5
  • Logbook/diary Field Notes
  • AA Cells Energizer Lithium AA 1.5v
  • PDA HP iPAQ hx2490
  • Tracking beacon Solara FT2100
  • Iridium phone Motorola 9505
  • Digital camera Nikon Coolpix L20
  • Video camera GoPro HD 1080p

spare clothing

  • Spare clothes sack Lifeventure Dri-Store
  • Liner socks (spare) Bridgedale Coolmax
  • Calf socks (spare) SmartWool Mountaineer
  • Liner gloves Mountain Equipment Touch Glove
  • Gloves (windproof) Mountain Equipment Cascade
  • Mitts (outer) Brenig (custom)
  • Thermal bottoms Sunspel bespoke merino
  • Thermal top Sunspel bespoke merino
  • Neck gaiter Polar Buff Thermal Pro
  • Duvet vest Brenig (custom Primaloft)

bear safety

  • Shotgun Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Synthetic (customised)
  • Hand held flares
  • Cartridges x10

shelter & cooking

  • Tent Hilleberg Nammatj2
  • Snow shovel Arva Snow Plume
  • Pee bottle Plastic, 28g
  • Sleeping mat Thermarest Ridgerest Solite x2
  • Sleeping bag outer Brenig (custom)
  • Sleeping bag Haglöfs Zensor Nordic Winter
  • Stove (inc reflector) MSR XGK II-Shaker jet
  • Fuel bottle MSR Titanium (no longer in production)
  • Stove fuel pumps MSR XGK II
  • Dry bags and stuff sacks Lifeventure
  • Stove maintenance kit MSR XGK II, assorted
  • Spoon Sea to Summit AlphaLight
  • Cooking pan (inc lid) MSR Titanium (customised)
  • Pan handle MSR LiteLifter
  • Stainless steel vacuum flask x 2 Lifesystems 1l (customised)
  • 500ml bottle Nalgene
  • Flask parka jacket Custom closed-cell foam

hands

  • Wristlets Brenig (custom)
  • Liner gloves (thin) Mountain Equipment Touch Glove
  • Outer mitts Brenig Pertex/pile (custom)

footwear

  • Liner socks Bridgedale Coolmax
  • Calf socks SmartWool Mountaineer
  • Skis Asnes Amundsen 180cm
  • Bindings Rottefella BC-Manual
  • Ski poles (plus insulation) Swix Mountain
  • Ski boots Custom