I Camped and Hiked My Way Through Norway's Fjords. These 15 Pieces of Gear Got Me Through It.

For a climate where the weather can change quickly, the Odin Breeze Hooded Fleece is the perfect layer. It was my main sweatshirt for travel days, and then became my main top layer on our hikes. It’s not high pile, or even really that “fleecey.” Rather it’s made with a gridded open design that is one of the best warmth to weight ratio pieces out there. When I was too warm, it did an incredible job of pulling heat off me without being breezy. And when we got into the upper basin with some snow, it insulated well and kept me warmer.

A good UPF hat is a must to prevent sunburn during spring and summer hikes. I’ve been leaning on this ultralight number from Mountain Hardwear lately. It’s super packable and adjusts incredibly easy with a drawstring adjustment. The stretch and quick-drying material were ideal for the warm hikes, as it never got sweaty or uncomfortable.

We also got to spend some time with the Norwegian RECCO experts, including a helicopter activity where we utilized the tech to find “missing hikers” in the woods. For those uninitiated, RECCO is basically a passive reflector that’s sewn into outdoor gear that makes you searchable to rescuers with a RECCO detector that uses harmonic radar if you should go missing. The detectors (a handheld version and a helicopter one) are a standard rescue tool in more than 900 ski resorts and mountain rescue organizations in 32 countries—so they’re pretty widely used by Search and Rescue teams. When you’re shopping outdoor gear, if you have the option to buy a RECCO version you absolutely should do so as it will pay for itself in spades if you ever need it.

The Transistor Backpack was the main bag I used on the trip, and sufficed well enough as a travel bag. But where it really shined was on our hikes, as this bag was made for the trail. The padded shoulder straps are comfortable enough for all-day lugging with heavy loads, the additional waist belt fits snug and doesn’t get too hot, and the pole attachments kept my poles in order when I wasn’t using them. At 30L it’s more of a daypack than a serious thru bag, but it performed impeccably for my purposes.

Read More: Best Hiking Backpacks

A lightweight, weatherproof pant is a must on hiking excursions where the weather can vary. This Brono Softshell Pant became my go-to when I wasn’t wearing shorts, as the utility of it with some finely placed pockets and ankle cinches came up big during hikes and excursions. The fabric is also pretty stretchy and breathes well, so even when it was warm I never felt too hot in them. And they’re light enough to wear a base layer underneath them for cooler days.

I’m a big proponent of using trekking poles on anything with some decent descent, and as such I used this pair on our way down the day of the big hike coming down nearly 800 meters. They helped keep me upright and take some of the load and impact off my lower half and onto my upper body. The great part is these are lightweight, have a comfortable cork handle, can handle all seasons with the detachable baskets, and telescope into themselves for packing and when not in use.

This base layer t-shirt is a blend of Merino wool and Cordura for a result that’s temperature-regulating and durable. Some Merino tees can still have a little bit of that wool itchiness, but the Cordura helps rid this one of that issue. On the big hike this was the base layer I wore and it really helped me never get too hot. Sure, I had a sweat going at times but I was never drenched and when the temp would notch down it’d immediately dry out. Plus, it just feels sturdy in the hand and a little thicker than other performance shirts.

I’ve been really enjoying the Sylan 2 for trail runs and hikes (even with the carbon plate, I haven’t found issues). I brought these as my second pair on the trip and wore them a couple times. These shoes are incredibly responsive and built for speed, but I continually feel supported in them no matter the pace I’m going. The lug system is surely legit, and I always find myself with plenty of traction. But it’s not so egregious that I was able to use these as running shoes on pavement while I was there for an easy short run one day in Bergen. And let’s face it, that neon green just looks good.

Any sort of hiking at elevation needs a shell—and that’s especially true in Norway, where rain is almost always in the cards. The great thing about Helly Hansen is it works directly with the Norway Mountain Guides (among others) on product development and testing. So while the brand also has some extremely serious chops in sailing, this shell was built specifically for the mountain with that very input.

Waterproof, windproof, and breathable are the name of the game with this shell thanks to the LIFA Infinity membrane—essentially, a membrane layer that’s hydrophobic without using solvents or chemicals. There is also a DWR treatment on the outer layer, which helps make it even more waterproof (though that DWR will need re-treating over the years). I found the shell to live up to its claims and was a perfect layer when we got up into the snow basin and when we did have some days with rain.

These Smith Ventures are my go-tos for hiking excursions. The big perk here, especially when traveling for outdoor adventures, is that the glacier sidewall and bridge covers are attachments that can be popped off. So I only needed to bring one pair of sunglasses to get full coverage like this, without looking like a weirdo in glacier glasses walking through an airport. The polarized ChromaPop lenses from Smith are tough to beat when it comes to varying outdoor conditions.

Another one of my recent stalwarts, I’ve yet to find a more stable, lighter-weight headlamp for running than the Range 500. It’s extremely easy to adjust the fit (so if you are wearing a hat, etc.) and the rechargeable battery range is pretty stellar (roughly 6 hours of runtime on the full 500 lumens). The light tilts for convenience and offers red and white lighting in three distinct modes. It’s also IP67 rated so no need to worry about inclement weather.

These shorts from Proof are like ninjas for warm weather pursuits. You can hike in them, you can hit the gym in them, you can go to the beach in them, you can swim in them, and you can sauna in them. And I’ve done all that in these and the versatility made them perfect for a trip like this. The day of the big hike I pretty much wore these all day, because when we got back to camp we hopped in the sauna and the fjord for a late afternoon back-and-forth contrast therapy session.

While it didn’t rain to the extent we expected, it still rained a little and allowed us to put some of the weatherproof gear into the mix—especially the last hike we did where we ferried from Bergen to Rosendal to see the Hattebergfossen waterfall. These Helly Hansen rain pants are a great over layer and really kept me dry when it mattered. The cinchable waist meant I was able to get the exact fit I was looking for as well.

UPF clothing is a must in the warmer months. And while REI’s Sahara Shade Hoodie has long been at the top of the hill in the category, the brand’s new Flash Shade Hoodie is less brushed cotton feel and more athletic shirt with a performance grid pattern and impeccable stretch. The high collar was nice to keep the sun off my neck (even when I didn’t want my hood up), and the material actually has some moisture-wicking to it so you can really put it through the paces.

Read More: Best UPF Clothing