Gear guide
What to pack for the lights
Two things decide whether you come home with an aurora memory: staying warm enough to wait, and having a camera that can catch what your eyes can barely see. This is the short, no-fluff list — and for the settings, see how to photograph the northern lights.
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Our picks
- Core kit
Sony a7 III (body)
The proven full-frame low-light body that 2026 aurora-photography guides still call the best budget buy — now well under its launch price.
from ~$1,700
Check price on Amazon See alternatives on Amazon - Most important
The North Face McMurdo Down Parka
600-fill down inside a waterproof shell — the winter-jacket guides' sane-money alternative to $1,500 expedition parkas.
~$280–400
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Photographing the aurora
The lights move and they're faint. You need a camera that shoots manual, a fast wide lens, and a rock-steady tripod for multi-second exposures.
- Core kit
Mirrorless camera with manual mode
Full-frame low-light bodies resolve faint green curtains the eye can barely see.
Our pick: Sony a7 III (body) — The proven full-frame low-light body that 2026 aurora-photography guides still call the best budget buy — now well under its launch price. · from ~$1,700
Check price on Amazon Fast wide-angle lens (f/2.8 or faster)
A 14–24mm f/2.8 gathers enough light for short exposures that freeze the motion.
Our pick: Rokinon AF 14mm f/2.8 (Sony E) — The classic affordable astro wide — 115° of sky at f/2.8, with autofocus, in the mount that fits our camera pick. · from ~$530
Check price on AmazonCarbon-fibre tripod
Long exposures demand zero shake — carbon stays stiff and light in deep cold.
Our pick: Peak Design Travel Tripod (carbon) — Packs to the width of a water bottle yet holds 20 lb — the travel tripod that tops long-term gear-guide testing. · from ~$600
Check price on AmazonIntervalometer / remote shutter
Trigger shake-free frames and shoot time-lapses hands-free.
Check price on AmazonSpare batteries + power bank
Sub-zero cold drains batteries fast. Carry doubles, kept warm.
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Staying out long enough to see it
Aurora watching means standing still in the dark for hours. The people who see the most are simply the ones who stayed warm enough to wait.
- Most important
Expedition down parka
A hooded down parka rated for Arctic nights is the single best buy.
Our pick: The North Face McMurdo Down Parka — 600-fill down inside a waterproof shell — the winter-jacket guides' sane-money alternative to $1,500 expedition parkas. · ~$280–400
Check price on Amazon Insulated, grippy snow boots
Cold creeps in through your feet first. Rated boots end the night early.
Our pick: Sorel Caribou (men's) — The −40°F classic with a removable felt liner — a best-overall winner in 2026 winter-boot testing. · from ~$225
Check price on AmazonMerino base layers
A warm, breathable foundation that doesn't chill you when you stop moving.
Check price on AmazonRechargeable hand warmers
Keep fingers (and spare camera batteries) working through long waits.
Our pick: OCOOPA UT3 Lite magnetic pair — A magnetic two-pack that splits one per pocket, with three heat settings — the cheapest fix for dead fingers and cold batteries. · from ~$27
Check price on AmazonTouchscreen liner gloves
Adjust camera settings without baring your skin to the cold.
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