Nordic ice skating gear

Dry clothing is part of the safety system

A complete change of clothes needs to remain dry if a skater breaks through the ice. Silva dry bags provide waterproof organisation inside the skating pack, separating spare clothing from wet gloves and equipment.

Pack the change of clothing so it can be reached in a logical order. If it is ever needed, speed and simplicity matter more than perfect organisation, especially when the person changing is wet and cold.

Protect the phone without burying it

Phones are commonly used for navigation, communication and information during a tour, but they are also vulnerable around water and snow. Silva waterproof cases add protection while allowing the device to remain accessible.

Keep essential electronics somewhere they can be reached without emptying the main pack. On a cold, windy lake, even a simple route check becomes less convenient when every item has to come out first.

Navigate beyond the obvious shoreline

Direction can be easy to judge on a small lake with a clear shoreline. Long routes over large lakes, archipelagos and sea ice introduce more islands, bays and route choices, while poor visibility can remove useful landmarks.

A map and an outdoor compass provide navigation that does not depend on battery power or network coverage. GPS can still be useful, but independent direction finding becomes more relevant as the tour moves across larger and less familiar ice areas.

Not every backpack is an ice-skating pack

For Nordic skating on natural ice, the pack is part of the safety equipment rather than simply a place to carry lunch. A dedicated skating pack needs to remain correctly positioned if the wearer enters the water and is packed to provide flotation.

A normal outdoor daypack should not automatically be treated as suitable for this purpose. Silva's clearest product role is the waterproof organisation inside an appropriate skating pack rather than replacing specialist safety carrying equipment.

Build the complete natural-ice safety system

Waterproof packing and navigation are only parts of the setup. A natural-ice tour requires specialist equipment and the knowledge to use it:

• Nordic touring skates and appropriate boots.
• Ice claws or rescue picks and a whistle kept immediately accessible.
• An ice pole or equivalent tool for assessing the ice ahead.
• A rescue line that can be reached while the pack is still being worn.
• A suitable skating pack with a complete change of clothing packed waterproof.
• A map and compass for large, remote or difficult-to-navigate ice areas.

A helmet, gloves and other protective equipment can also form part of the setup. Knowledge of ice conditions and travelling with others remain fundamental when moving onto natural ice.

Frequently asked questions about Nordic ice skating gear

These are common questions about waterproof packing, navigation and Silva gear for long-distance skating on natural ice.

Why do Nordic skaters carry a waterproof change of clothes?

If someone breaks through the ice, they need to replace wet clothing quickly. A complete change should therefore be sealed from water rather than relying only on the outer backpack for protection.

Do you need a compass for Nordic ice skating?

Not on every small or familiar lake. A map and compass become much more useful on large lakes, archipelagos and sea ice where routes and landmarks can be harder to interpret.

Can you use a normal backpack for Nordic skating?

A natural-ice skating pack has an important safety role and needs to remain securely positioned in the water. Do not assume that an ordinary hiking daypack provides the same function as equipment designed and configured for skating.

What should be stored in dry bags?

The complete dry clothing change is the priority. Additional insulation, first-aid supplies and other items that should remain dry can also be divided into waterproof sections.

Does Silva make ice claws and rescue lines?

Silva's relevant products for Nordic skating are primarily dry bags, waterproof cases and compasses. Touring skates, ice claws, ice poles, rescue lines and other specialist ice-safety equipment need to be sourced separately.