We love seeing our gear pushed to the extreme. Whilst many of our customers take their gear further and test it harder than others, few put it through its paces in extreme cold weather as Joffrey Maluski. Armed with a few cameras and more Arctic-ready gear than you can shake a stick at, Joffrey traversed Lapland from the westernmost to easternmost points above the Arctic circle, during the polar night, experiencing temperatures below -30°C.
We’re thrilled Joffrey trusted Tailfin’s products to carry his gear in an environment so harsh. To survive, let alone travel, in such a climate certainly needs careful planning and meticulous selection of equipment – so we just had to do a Q&A and get a full rundown of Joffrey’s kit. As you might expect, this is certainly one for the gearheads, but also for lovers of beautiful snowscapes and expert photography…
Q&A with Joffrey Maluski
Tell us a bit about yourself, and what led you to the idea of this trip.
Hi, I’m Joffrey, a French photographer. It’s been 4 years now since I started going on adventures with my bike. In winter 2021, I embarked on a journey from France to Nordkapp, covering 4,500 kilometres over 2 months. It was both a physical and human challenge, dedicated to supporting the Association Léo, which aids families and funds research on pediatric cancers. Upon my return home, I became consumed by the idea of returning to Lapland during the Kaamos (Polar Night season) to experience it in its most untamed state.
Tell us more about the route, and how you planned it all out.
The idea of the route was to cycle 1,500 kilometres from the westernmost point to the easternmost point of Lapland (above the Arctic Circle), passing through Norway, Sweden, and Finland, from Å to Vardø over 25 days. Planning it wasn’t too challenging since there aren’t many routes available. So, I opened Google Maps, and Komoot, and started crafting the itinerary, aiming to take smaller roads.
What makes this type of bikepacking trip different to the norm? What drew you to this part of the world?
Cycling in Lapland during the polar night involves traversing a vast distance, often through extremely cold weather conditions, reaching temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius or even less. This necessitates having the right gear, which is often bulkier and heavier. However, being self-sufficient in the harshest conditions is exactly what I like.
What was the biggest challenge (outside of the cold)?
I had temperatures ranging from -23 to -28 degrees Celsius on my thermometer for the last 10 days. Sometimes, I experienced extreme cold in my body or fingers, especially during photo/video breaks or in the mornings before setting off on the bike. However, warming up the body and fingers was relatively easy. The most difficult part to manage in the cold, and to warm up, were my toes. My shoes were a little too small, which hindered blood circulation and caused considerable pain. Apart from the cold, I think the biggest challenge was cycling in the dark for hours every day. And getting out of the sleeping bag every morning!
Tell us about your bike!
I have a Genesis Longitude 1×10 with an 11-42T cassette, equipped for self-sufficiency with essential gear such as a -30°C comfort sleeping bag (Helsport Svalbard X-trem), an expedition tent (Helsport Lofoten X-trem Camp 3), a fuel stove (Primus Omnilite Ti), and 3.0 studded tyres for ice and snow.
For carrying my gear, I use the Tailfin alloy rack with the AP20 Trunk top bag, along with two 22L ultra-durable panniers and a top tube bag. I often get asked if the Tailfin is strong enough. After two big winter journeys with a bike weighing over 65kg, I can confidently say, yes, it is.
What’s the best bit of gear you packed with you? And anything you wish you’d had but didn’t?
Definitely, my camera is a vital part of my gear. I enjoy documenting my adventures and sharing them through my photos and films. Another essential item I always carry is my Fixplus straps. They enable me to securely attach various items to my bike, making it incredibly versatile. Lastly, a comfortable and well-insulated mattress is of paramount importance. It’s just as crucial as having a high-quality sleeping bag because it ensures a good night’s sleep and proper rest. In winter, an extra foam mattress on top of my inflatable sleeping pad is mandatory for me. I only carried a half, but I should have taken a whole one.
What did you wish you’d have done differently?
I’ve always spent a lot of time planning my trip and thinking about what I want to experience, so there isn’t much I’d change. Perhaps one thing would be the route between the end of the Lofoten Islands and Narvik. I should have taken a longer route that went further north but had fewer cars and was probably more beautiful.
What was your layering strategy on most days?
At temperatures around -5/-10 degrees C, I wore only a Merino base layer and my Goretex. Until -17/-20 I added a fleece and a down jacket. I aimed to avoid taking long breaks and maintained my effort to stay warm without sweating. Then, at the end of the day, I added my big down jacket, down pants, and down boots for extra insulation and a cosy evening in the tent.
What was the highlight of the trip (if you can think of one!)?
Always a difficult question to answer, but after starting the trip with 5 days of rain followed by 12 cloudy days, which meant cycling every day in a world of black and white from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, and then in the dark, I was truly thrilled to finally witness the beautiful and colourful sky of the polar night season during the last 8 days.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Next month, I’ll be spending some time in the mountains and on my bike. I have a few bikepacking events planned, as well as a trip to Scotland this summer. I have a few ideas for next winter, but I haven’t decided yet.
When and where can we watch the film of the trip?
I’ve just finished editing my film from last winter’s expedition, which was the east-to-west crossing of the highlands of Iceland. Now, I’ll start working on the film from Lapland, and I’ll keep you updated in a few months.
Gear List
| Item | Product | Item | Product | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bike | Genesis Longitude | Stove | Primus Omnilite Ti (3L of fuel) | |
| Tyres | 45nrth studded 3.0 | Pot | Primus 2.7L | |
| Saddle | Brooks B17 | Food | 30x Real Turmat dried meals + bars, chocolate, soup, electrolyte, 3kg of muesli – Thermos: Kean Kanteen 2L + 2x 0.5L Primus | |
| Front Rack | Old Man Mountain Elkhorn | Thermos | Klean Kanteen 2L + 2x 0.5L Primus | |
| Rear Rack | Tailfin Alloy Rack | Backpack | Deuter Durascent 44+10 | |
| Pannier Bags | 2x 22L Ultra-Durable Pannier Bags | Clothing | Patagonia | |
| Top Bag | Tailfin AP20 Trunk Top Bag | Shoes | 45nrth Wolfgar | |
| Top Tube Packs | 2x Tailfin 1.1L Zipped Top Tube Bag | Sunglasses | Poc Devour + Ora | |
| Straps | Fixplus | Helmet | Poc Octal Mips | |
| Dynamo/Lights | Son dynamo | Headlamp | Golum Piom2 x2 | |
| Tent | Helsport Lofoten X-trem 3 camp | Poggies | 45nrth | |
| Sleeping Bag | Helsport Svalbard -29°C | VBL Socks | Exped | |
| Sleeping Pad | Sea to summit Ether light XT + foam mat | Down Pants | Cumulus Outdoor | |
| GPS Watch | Suunto Vertical | Boots | Cumulus Outdoor | |
| SD Card | Pny | Gloves | Black Diamond Guide finger x2 | |
| Camera | Canon R6, RF 24-70 F2.8 and GoPro Max & Hero 11 | Powerbank | Nitecore 20ah + 10ah + 5ah, Zendure 2x 27ah | |
| Drone | Dji Mini 3 Pro | Tripod | Benro Rhino |
Thanks Joffrey – we look forward to seeing what you’ll do next.
