The high mountain specialist on Svalbard
Arctica is a high mountain specialist which offers equipment and clothing from well-known manufactures delivering high-quality products.
You fill find Arctica inside ‘Lompensenteret’, a shopping centre located in the heart of Longyearbyen. Our store is only a short walking distance from most of the hotels and accommodation in the city.
Our employees are passionate about the outdoors and can often be seen out on trips and expeditions wherever possible. Ask us for advice prior to your trip.
Arctica was founded in 1997 and is owned by Arne Kristoffersen and Thomas Hukkelås. They have many years of experience on Svalbard. Like our employees, they have a keen interest in the outdoors and broad knowledge about a variety of mountain equipment.
Arctica is a company that enjoys being involved in activities related to Svalbard and the outdoors in general. We have taken part in the execution of expeditions on Svalbard, Baffin Babes and several different North Pole Projects. The Monster Diggers on Svalbard w/ Jørn Hurum use Arctica as their go-to store when they are going out digging for prehistoric dinosaur skeletons.
Arctica has several partners both locally and afar. Our partners include SWE (Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions), The Monster Diggers on Svalbard, Toppturfestival and Polarcharter.
Our employees
Daniel Jørgensen
Manager
You will probably find Daniel if you enter the office or in the store. He is new in the retail industry, but he loves spending his spare time outdoors, summer and winter.
Bjørn Egil Strathmann
Bjørn, the Arctic’s outdoors philosopher and gadget junkie, is from Geilo and was raised in the Hardangervidda and in the woods of Skurdalen. He visited Svalbard his first time as a 12-year-old, but only decided to move up here in 2012.
Bjørn has been on both shorter and longer trips, by foot, on cross-country skis with a pulk, by dogsledding, and by snowmobile.
He is far above average when it comes to his interest in skiing as well as outdoor clothing.
Katja Baum
Katja Baum moved from Germany to Svalbard in 2012 and has since then never looked back.
Her background is in Geology and she has been working for several years as a nature guide here on Svalbard. During her time off from work, she enjoys spending time with her 10 huskies on long and short trips both summer and winter. Her kayak is probably the only place the dogs aren’t allowed.
It’s through all these different activities Katja’s passion for quality and durable outdoor equipment shines through.
Julie Keyser
Julie has spent most of her holidays on Svalbard the last few years, but decided to make the big move up north to work at Arctica spring 2018.
She’s from Oslo and has always been enthusiastic about the outdoors on mainland Norway. It was Svalbard’s epic nature and the endless possibilities on this archipelago that are the main reasons why she wanted to become a «Svalbardian».
Julie’s an active hiker and you’ll often find her on the mountain tops surrounding Longyearbyen. She padles, skis, and is now a novice dogsledder. With a big smile on her face you’ll find she’s above average enthusiastic about spending time outdoors!
Our products
Arctica is a store which focuses on high quality equipment and clothes from well-known manufacturers. The selection of products available in our store reflects many years of experience from the outdoors on Svalbard. You will receive qualified customer service and help making the right choices.
Additionally, we can assist you with custom orders of equipment. Contact us prior to your next expedition and the necessary equipment will be waiting for you once you arrive Svalbard.
Rental
A Personal Locator Beacon, or PLB, is a portable transmitter that sends out a personalised emergency distress signal to your nearest rescue services.
If you are a hiker, camper, backpacker, kayaker, etc. and are simply out of cell phone range, a PLB is a highly effective and internationally recognised way to summon help.
PLBs are emergency life saving devices to be used when all else fails! They should be used only if there is grave and imminent danger or a life-threatening situation.
At Arctica AS we have three distress signals that we rent out all year. Contact us for reservation/booking.
Prices:
NOK 200 per day
NOK 1000 per week
(NOK 1000 as a deposit required)
Environmental profile
The environment in focus
Arctica is focused on the environment and sustainability. We wish to offer our customers high-quality products which have a long duration. Additionally, we help to ensure that our customers experience what the outdoors have to offer and hope that also they will help taking care of the nature surrounding us.
Contact us
Do you have any questions or need help finding the right equipment prior to your next expedition?
Contact us via the form and we will reply shortly.
Arctica AS
The high mountain specialist on Svalbard
Opening hours
Monday-Friday: 10.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 10.00 – 16.00
Sunday: 11.00 – 16.00
(Opening hours may vary during the holidays and low season)
Mail address
Postboks 355, 9171 Longyearbyen
Store address
Lompensenteret, 9170 Longyearbyen
E-post: svalbard@arctica.no
Phone: +47 79 02 11 22
(weekdays 10.00 – 16.00)