Igloo

Komatek

The Komatek sleds used by Team GoNorth! are exact Inuit design.
And even though Team GoNorth! does not carry seals, walrus, or polar bear on their sleds like the Inuit traditionally would, they sure pack a lot of stuff on there!

Have you ever jotted down a list of all the food and gear you'd need to pack for a family picnic or maybe a weekend camping trip?
Carrying supplies for five weeks a sled weighs between 1200 and 1400 lbs. A racing sled (i.e. in the Iditarod) weighs 100-150 lbs!

Imagine what the list would look like if you knew some days the below-zero wind-chills would hit triple digits and other days you could be slogging through slush and deep snow; and that the gang you'd be feeding would need food with the calorie equivalent of a holiday feast ...every day.

Our team members use some of the most advanced survival gear ever designed, like BGAN communication system designed by Thrane & Thrane, as well as pretty ordinary-looking equipment that might surprise you. The team does its cooking and ice melting for example, on the familiar green, two-burner Coleman stoves, just like ones you could pick up at a sporting-goods store. Here is a look of some of both the low-tech and the high-tech gear used on the trail.
Dogsleds

The Dogsleds haul between 1,200 and 1,400 pounds each. The team uses two sleds that haul between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds each. (as rule of thumb, each dog pulls its own weight x 1 - 1.5.). There are about 11 dogs per sled, and each dog weights about 100 pounds. The 14 foot sleds are made of birch and ash, except for the slippery and durable plastic runners. The sled is lashed together, giving it both strength and flexibility. Even though they do not have nails, the sleds have to be as tough as one. Imagine struggling up and then crashing down jagged ice ridges as high as a small house.

Each sled carries personal and expedition camping gear for two, plus people food and dog food. One sled carries the Thrane & Thrane communication equipment especially designed to fit the harsh and very cold weather the team travels in. Another sled carries the dog-harness repair kit and radio equipment. Each sled also has emergency flares which might be needed to contact the rest of the team in the event of trouble. Each of the sleds is designed to hold enough supplies for two people for 30 days.

The only time the explorers might ride on the sleds is if they are sick or injured, or for very short spurts, for example, when crossing a narrow space of open water.