After booking flights, planning routes, researching sites, and reserving tours, there was one thing left to do for our trip to Iceland – pack! Trust me, I did a ton of research on packing for this trip and I still feel like I missed the mark.
Unfortunately, Iceland isn’t the easiest place to pack for. Regardless of when you plan on visiting, it’s one place where the weather isn’t consistent. One minute it’s cold and raining, the next it’s warm and balmy. It makes packing a pain in the ass.
This list is my idea the perfect packing list for anyone (mostly women) visiting Iceland during the spring, summer, or fall. I suppose it could be used in the winter as well, but add a parka and snowshoes to the list as well. The reason it works so well for all seasons is because you’re going to get a bit of everything – regardless of when you’re there. Your wardrobe needs to be adaptable, warm, and most importantly, waterproof.
Please note: this guide is also designed for anyone driving the Ring Road, and less so for those staying within the capital region.
Raincoat – and a really good one at that. Seriously, even if it doesn’t rain, there’s a chance you’ll be wandering close to powerful waterfalls. Having a really good raincoat is the most important item on the list. Mine is from Columbia and I’ve had it for the past eight years and it’s still in perfect condition.
Down Jacket and Fleece – on the days that are cold and dry, a down jacket and fleece combination is unbeatable. My preference is Patagonia, I love their fleece Synchilla sweaters because they’re super cozy, sustainably made, and they come in some really cool patterns.
Vest – because the weather is so unpredictable, it’s nice to be able to throw on a vest on those halfway days when you’re not sure if it’s cold or warm. I have two really awesome vests, one from Patagonia and another from Columbia. North Face also has some awesome options.
Base Layers – my biggest piece of Iceland wardrobe advice is… layer, layer, layer! That’s why base layers are so important. On cold days they provide extra warmth, on warm days they act as perfect shirts. And at night, when temperatures drop, you’ll be thrilled to have them. They’re super easy to find, sold at just about any sporting or outdoor store, and honestly, they aren’t that expensive.
Bathing Suit – because we were driving the Ring Road, we knew we would come across natural springs and pools every day. Personally, I packed two bathing suits, one full piece and another bikini and I actually wore both. I was glad I had two options to choose from based off the vibe of the pool and while one was drying I had a backup.
Leggings, Travel Pants, and Sweatpants – I didn’t pack a single pair of jeans for this trip, and I’m so glad I didn’t. Remember, when driving the Ring Road you’re not doing a whole lot of casual day trips to the city. You’re constantly hiking, walking, driving, exploring – you want to be comfortable and quick dry. That’s why leggings, travel pants, and sweatpants are the perfect combination. I bought my pants from Lulu Lemon, Columbia, and Roots – bringing two pairs of leggings, one pair of sweats, and one pair of travel pants.
Buffs – For women, the buff should always be a travel staple. It’s a headband, a scarf, a mask, an ear warmer… I can’t believe how much I wore mine. Basically every single day. Mine is cotton and hypoallergenic, purchased from MEC.
Hat and Mittens – we got extremely lucky with the weather, only needing to wear our hat and mitts maybe one or two days. That being said, it’s always a good idea to bring a pair along. Our horseback riding and whale watching tours would have been terrible without them.
Hiking Boots – I wore my hiking boots every single day, everywhere we went, for everything we did. Hiking boots need to be comfortable, perfectly sized, and able to fit a big wool sock with them. Try wearing your hiking boots a few days a week before you go so you can break them in.
Casual Shoes – for the night that we stayed in the hotel, it was nice to slip on casual shoes for wandering around and getting dinner. I also wore flip-flops at the campsites and when showering, as well as at some of the pools.
Wool Socks – bring multiple pairs, one for each day. They’re warm, comfortable, and perfect for Icelandic weather. I bought mine from MEC and they’re cotton, but you can also get some crazy ones made from alpaca wool and such.
Day Pack – my camera bag doubled as my day-pack and it was perfect for trips around Iceland. Basically, mine was able to carry my drone, my camera, my water bottle, snacks, my phone, our passports, my wallet, and a map. Buy something small, because otherwise, your back will be killing you after just a few minutes of walking.
Sleeping Mask – this is a summer-only tip, but an important one for anyone that wants to sleep during hours of the midnight sun. Basically, during the summer months, there are very few hours of darkness in Iceland. We were getting up early in the morning, so when we went to bed at 9pm it was still light out. The mask was a total lifesaver.
Quick-Dry Towel – a lot of our time in Iceland was spent in pools, so having a quick-dry towel was really important to us. We hung it in the back of our van after swimming and it was usually dry within 40 minutes.