Iceland was a hard place for me packing wise. We had never been before, and we didn’t really know what to expect. Watching the weather reports for a while, and searching through Iceland travel groups for posts that mentioned October and weather overwhelmed me with information.
We are from New England, so we’re no strangers to bizarre weather. But being at home is a little different than being on the road, without our closets, in Iceland. I wanted us to be comfortable without overpacking. October is the start of winter in Iceland, but it’s also on the cusp of fall and some decently warm days. And, to make it all more complicated, we also needed swimming items for the lagoons. So I am here to ease your minds and give you some ideas of what you’ll really need to bring.
First, you definitely want a base layer. Not cotton, as it holds in moisture and takes a long time to dry. You’ll be cold, wet, and miserable in a cotton base layer. Instead, you can find merino wool or synthetic fabric pants and long sleeved shirts. I couldn’t afford the merino wool, so we opted for a synthetic base layer from 32 Degrees. They were affordable, and they kept us dry and toasty warm. In fact, we never wore the pants layer on our trip, but I have since I got back home and we’re in the midst of an Arctic deep freeze here. We brought 3 pairs of these base layers for a twelve day trip.
Next, you’ll want thin layers of clothing. We opted for some cheap fleece sweats on Amazon. For my top, I just wore a long sleeved t-shirt. My husband and I both wore a flannel over our shirts, plus a nice fleece. One day I just wore a cotton hoodie and was perfectly comfortable. We brought outfits for three days, and I washed anything that got too dirty in the sink.
Another crucial layer coming up: an outer shell that is waterproof and windproof. PROOF, not resistant. We brought both waterproof/windproof pants and a jacket, both from 33,000ft on Amazon. These two items were used daily. My biggest tip is to get them extra roomy, especially the jacket. You will want your rain coat to fit over any fleece or winter gear you’ve got on to keep you warm. Get a nice raincoat with a zipper so it stays snug around your body in the whipping winds. We packed these two items in our backpacks and put them on as needed for waterfalls, rain, sleet, and snow.
For your feet, you’ll want waterproof (PROOF again, not resistant) hiking boots. A waterproof boot with great traction and ankle support is ideal. Couple that with some merino wool socks, and your feet will stay toasty and dry. I did go ahead and get merino wool hiking socks as they were not terribly expensive. I have been living in them all winter here in New England. Even though we did not do any long hikes, the boots were invaluable for traction and comfort. I did invest in some new Columbia boots for both of us while they were on clearance.
You’ll also want to bring a good winter coat (carry it on the plane so it doesn’t take up valuable luggage space), either waterproof or one that can fit under your rain jacket. A nice wool hat, gloves, and a neck gaiter will finish the job of keeping you cozy and dry.
Now that you’re all set for outdoors, let’s take a minute to talk about indoors. One reason you’ll want layers instead of one big chunky sweater is that indoors in Iceland is warm. Very warm. You will want to shed those layers you so carefully put on. The hotel rooms are sometimes stuffy, so I actually slept in summer pajamas with a fan on and the window open.
And last, you’ll definitely want your swimming gear for the lagoons and public pools. A quick dry towel (we had extra and kept one in the front of the car to wipe off rain), some slip on sandals, and a bathing suit should be all you need. We never used our sandals and just went barefoot around the lagoons.
That’s it! You are now armed with a list of items that will be functional and comfortable on your journeys through Iceland. We didn’t buy the name brand, expensive clothing. That stuff is so nice, but I am frugal and the less pricey alternatives worked wonderfully for us. Wishing you all safe, warm, and happy travels.
