The Ultimate Iceland Packing List

Iceland weather is all about the extremes and this ultimate Iceland packing list will cover all seasons. We promise to give you only the items you’ll need as packing room is always at a premium during adventure trips where bulky layers take up more room.

We love buying our hiking gear from REI as we find their products to have great quality, easy returns, and come in a range of price points including their outlet. Being good stewards of the environment, we always recommend trying to find used gear or passing it down among family members when possible. Options for budget-friendly gear are provided at multiple price points. For kid’s hiking gear we also like Mountain Warehouse so you’ll see a few low-cost favorites from there as well.

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How to pack for Iceland 

It’s difficult to imagine the weather changing every ten minutes but in most cases this is what you will encounter. Packing in layers helps, but also being prepared with backup options when gear or clothing gets wet is a good plan.

We’ll give you the must-have items for a trip to Iceland in the spring, summer, or fall, and then will give you extra items for winter. A summer trip to Iceland is not the same as typical summer season elsewhere so having the right clothing and gear will ensure a great trip.

Iceland Packing List

If you’re short on time and need a quick overview here are the must-haves for your Iceland packing list:

-Rain Jacket (waterproof and windproof) and waterproof pants
-Fleece and light down packable jackets
-Hiking pants
-Base layer preferably wool + quick-dry t-shirts
-Hiking shoes + backup athletic shoes (waterproof spray)
-Winter hat and gloves
-Swimsuit
-Wool socks and read on for more!

For winter add in snow boots and pants and check out our winter add-on section below. Read on for all the details on our tried and tested best selections for clothing and gear along with how many to pack of each for your trip.

Waterproof Pants

This is often an overlooked item but for Iceland waterproof pants are necessary. There are many waterfalls that when you get up close or go behind them you will be completely soaked so these pants save the day. Look for ones that open at the ankle so they can easily fit over a hiking shoe.
Amazon Mens | Womens | Kids
Mountain Warehouse Kids

Hiking pants 

Comfortable, versatile, and quick-dry hiking pants are essential to an Iceland packing list. Our favorite brands for lightweight hiking/travel pants are Kuhl, North Face, and Prana. No jeans needed on any Iceland packing list unless you’ll be spending a lot of time in the city.
REI Mens | Womens | Kids
Eddie Bauer: we also really like the quality and lower cost of Eddie Bauer hiking pants.
Mens | Women | Kids
For women, a good athletic legging is also a great option for hiking and layers great under waterproof or other pants. For winter months a fleece lined legging is a great option.
Eddie Bauer leggings
Amazon regular leggings | Fleece-lined leggings for winter

Packable down jacket

Base layering shirts

We like that REI has a weight rating system so it’s easier to see what season the shirt is good for. Mountain Warehouse also has incredibly good quality merino wool base layers for a very reasonable cost. For summer months you can use any lightweight long sleeve shirt and it being wool is less important. For short sleeve t-shirts look for quick dry fabric.
REI longsleeve/pants Mens | Womens | Kids
REI short sleeve

Fleece jacket

A basic fleece jacket that can be used for warmth and layering. An additional sweater could also be used.
REI Mens | Womens | Kids
Amazon Mens | Womens | Kids

Hiking shoes 

We are avid hikers, but we’ve completely switched to hiking shoes or trail running shoes when traveling. Hiking boots are not necessary (see exception for winter below) and can be challenging to pack during travel. Whatever you decide to bring having a backup footwear option is more important as it doesn’t matter how waterproof the shoe says it is, your feet are likely to get wet. We bring athletic or trail running shoes (our favorite women’s trail runners) as our backup and use a waterproofing spray on them, wear them on the plane so there are two options to alternate between.

Everyone’s comfort level for shoes is different but for men’s hiking shoes we prefer the Solomon brand and for Women’s and kids we prefer Merrell. Merrell’s also come in wide options and have styles that look nicer for versatility.

REI Mens | Womens | Kids

Hats–winter and ball cap

It’s a good idea to have a winter hat in any season in Iceland. A winter hat provides quick warmth and protects from the wind. A ball cap protects from the sun but also is great to wear under a raincoat hood to keep rain or bugs away.

REI winter hats | ball caps
Amazon winter hats | ball caps

Gloves or mittens

Knit gloves are great to have in all seasons and light to pack. They come in handy when horseback riding, whale or puffin watching on a cooler day. For the winter make sure to see the list below for waterproof mittens especially if planning tours or activities in the snow.

Amazon Knit Gloves Unisex Adults | Kids
REI waterproof mittens

Swimsuit

A swimsuit is a must if you plan to visit any of the hot springs or geothermal pools. If you plan to go frequently consider bringing two so one can dry in-between visits. Many pools do charge extra for towels which can add up so packing a quick dry travel towel can be useful.

REI swimsuits | Quick dry towel
Flip-flops for hot springs and shower sandals at public pools.

Socks 

Wool socks are great, cotton will do but bring extras as feet can get wet easily while hiking.
REI wool socks
Amazon wool socks

Reusable water bottle

The tap and fresh water in Iceland are some of the cleanest anywhere you’ll find. Bringing a reusable water bottle when traveling is always a good idea. We love stainless bottles from either Takeya or Thermoflask as they hold up and are insulated for staying cold/warm longer.
Amazon stainless steel waterbottles

Daypacks

Nice to have Iceland Packing List Extras  

These next items are nice to have but not essential but they made the Iceland packing list for us and were great things to have along.

Eye Mask to help you sleep during the midnight sun. Most airlines supply them now, but we also love this Bluetooth wireless mask that plays music. It’s also great if kids need to sleep in the same room but have trouble sleeping.

Reusable bags single-use plastic is banned in Iceland and there is a charge for paper bags. Bring a couple from home helps and can be useful when packing. We also bring reusable ziplock-like bags for food storage in between locations.

Fold-flat cooler we always travel with this cooler. It packs flat in the bottom of a suitcase and is great for meals on the go.

Travel Coffee Mug we love this Stanley travel mug that doesn’t leak and keeps beverages warm for a long time.

Quick-dry towel great for use at geothermal pools or hot springs when towels are charged extra.

Water bladder for longer hikes. We like the Gregory brand for water bladders.

Waterproof phone case for use at Blue Lagoon, hot springs, or near waterfalls. We’ve used this one on multiple adventures and it works great.

European Plug Adapters if coming from the US we love these ones that provide extra USB charging capability as well.
Protective rain cover if your backpack doesn’t come with a cover remember to bring one. Great for all the changing weather to protect your gear.

Head Bug Net can be nice to have if you encounter the swarms of midges and/or black flies near Myvatn located in the north during late spring/summer. Midges are more of a nuisance and similar to gnats in the US but the head net does come in useful. Overall, Iceland is known to be a country free of bugs, especially biting insects that you might find in warmer climates with this exception.

Lastly, sometimes over-the-counter medications can be very difficult to find in Iceland so plan ahead and bring items with you that you might need.

Iceland Packing List – How Many of Each

This gives approximates for how we packed for one person for 2 weeks and it assumes having laundry.

Base Clothing Packing List (without winter adds)	How Many
Rain jacket and waterproof pants	1 of each
Hiking pants or leggings	2-3
Packable down jacket	1
Fleece jacket	1
Base layers	2 t-shirts, 1 long sleeve
Sweater or buy an Icelandic one to take home	1-optional
Hiking shoes or boots and athletic shoes	2
Hat/gloves	1 each
Swimsuit	1-2
Socks	4 days
*For winter it’s this list, removing rain gear + winter list

Iceland Winter Packing List Add-Ons

It should be assumed that everything on the list above is needed (except the rain gear) and the items below should be added when going in the winter months (Nov-April). Note, if you want to be really prepared assume October and May as the weather is volatile and there could be snow.

Winter boots that are waterproof and insulated are important. When visiting in the winter a combination winter hiking boot can work as long as you find one that provides enough warmth and height for snow. Most people bring snow boots and then consider buying an inexpensive pair of crampons to put over their boots for better traction.
REI hiking/winter boots | Winter Boots | Kahtoola EXOspikes
Amazon Crampons Traction

Waterproof mittens are necessary for the winter and mittens are warmer than gloves.

Waterproof insulated jacket for the winter we recommend a waterproof, insulated jacket that has an outer shell that is windproof as well. This would replace the rain jacket for winter. It’s good to know temps don’t typically get below 0°c (32°F) in the winter which is warmer than most northern countries but with the windchill, it can feel much colder.

Snowpants These are both for warmth as well as to keep you dry. These replace any need for rain pants in the winter.

For Women fleece-lined leggings and/or wool base layers for all.
Mountain Warehouse is another budget option for fleece jackets and layers.

Fleece Neck gator can be easier than a scarf and protects from the wind.

Hand /foot warmers go easily in mittens and boots to provide warmth and pack easily.

Lightweight Flashlights or headlamps for long dark days/nights or out looking for the northern lights.

Hiking poles if you want them but we rarely travel with them and didn’t find they were needed.

Lastly, a trip to Iceland in any season will be a great experience if you plan and prepare for the weather. If you have lost luggage, don’t have cold-weather gear stores near you, or won’t use the clothing after your visit, consider renting high-quality gear from Iceland Cover. This is a great option to ensure you’ll have the right clothing and gear to be comfortable but don’t need to purchase things you won’t use again. There are also great stores like 66 North or Ice Wear where you can find warm clothing and gear after arriving.

Check out our other posts related to Iceland

Where to stay in Iceland on the Ring Road

Where to Find the Best Hot Springs in Iceland (with a map)

Why Visiting Iceland in June is the Best Month

Money-Saving Iceland Travel Tips

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