Nordic skiing is a popular activity in Svalbard, where the weather can be quite unpredictable. The archipelago climate is subpolar along the west coast, which is reached by the last branch of the Gulf Stream, while it is polar on the east coast, where the temperature remains around freezing (0°C or 32°F) even in summer time. The clash between air masses of different origin gives rise to unstable and windy weather for much of the year.

I was really excited to embark on a journey to Svalbard, I had heard stories about the beautiful landscapes and challenging weather conditions and, of course, polar bears. Prior to the trip I bought a new pair of FUBUKI boots which I was extremely excited to use, knowing that they would be useful in these conditions. The boots are designed to withstand extreme cold, but at the same time whey very little. Hence, for someone that had to pack light for a long flight from Iceland to Svalbard, they're extremely nice to travel with.

Arriving in Longyearbyen, Svalbard I was greeted by a breathtaking view of snow-capped mountains, fjords and glaciers. The wind was howling, and the temperature was well below freezing. The spring in Svalbard is quite grey and dull in Longyearbyen so I was really excited to embark on a 7 day ski trip in a remote snowy fjord of the Svalbard island.

The trip started with a boat ride across Isfjorden, the boat ride was long and cold which made me very thankful to have the FUBUKIs on. We were aiming for Nordre Isfjorden National Park where we planned a 7 day ski trip from one glacier to another exploring the remote areas of Svalbard. The experience was once in a lifetime thing and I‘m extremely grateful to be able to embark un such jorney and have the physical ability and good equipment to enjoy my self in such conditions. But really nothing did beat the feeling of skiing for 10 12 hours knowing I had my dry, warm and extremely comfortable FUBUKIs waiting for me once arriving in camp.

In conclusion Svalbard’s weather can be unpredictable, but with a pair of FUBUKI boots in your pulka, you can be sure to have an enjoyable journey, your feet will stay warm and dry no matter what. Like we say in Iceland, there is no bad weather just poorly dressed people!

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Solveig Sveinbjornsdottir - 2023