Been having the inexplicable urge to visit Longyearbyen (Svalbad) lately, not in a hotel like a tourist but expedition style, in a tent.
I'm planing on booking for march 2026.

Can you guys give me advises on gears (tents, outfits...) i should take? thanks.

i'm not rich so budget friendly things only

>>2824258 (OP)
Get a sleeping bag that's way warmer than you think you need. I'd get a carinthia setup (if in EU) or a MSS (if in the US) if it needs to be cheap. I've used a Def 4 in -20°C (which is just slightly warmer than svalbad in winter according to wiki) with just a tarp before, and was comfy, but I know other guys who already doubled up with the Tropen by that point or went straight to the def6.
Outfits depend on how cold tolerant you are and how long you want to stay there. March is cold enough that moisture shouldn't be a problem, so personally, I'd take heavy wool or light furs, but that's mostly due to me being a larper kek.
For heat, you'll need a gasoline stove. Ethanol will freeze, kerosene will jellify You could get away with ethanol / gasoline mix in principle, but those aren't the safest. Better spend the extra 20€ on a proper gasoline stove.
tents I can't speak to, as I use a tarp or no shelter.
Iirc, svalbad has legislations about needing to be armed at all times due to polar bears.

Disclaimer: I've never been to Svalbad, or any arctic island. My experience is from european continental winters. According to wiki's climate diagram, those SHOULD be comparable to svalbad's spring, but no clue how true that is.

>>2824258 (OP)
>i want to go to one of the coldest most remote places on the planet
>i have zero prior outdoors experience and no gear whatsoever
maybe try walking around your city park first champ

>>2824266
>but I know other guys who already doubled up with the Tropen by that point or went straight to the def6.
That probably has quite a bit to do with the sleeping pad. Foam pads tend to not be the warmest R value, but inflatables have an overinflated R value that doesn't reflect their actual performance. Since you compress your sleeping bag's insulation, your pad is all the insulation you get from the ground.

>>2824373
Interesting that's good to know. I've wondered why I see so many people mountaineering with foam pads

>>2824258 (OP)
have paperworks that you are competent and eligible with guns, its an absolute must to carry bear capable guns outside the settlements there and they even rent out old mausers and krags to tourists, but there is some minimum requirements you must fill before you can get one. as for bringing your own its a bit of a chore due to the flight there, you have to do a layover in norway and thus follow our gun laws. still not impossible just harder