Iceland is one of our favorite places to visit! And coming from New York City, it's a relatively short flight at under 6 hours. We've been to the "land of fire and ice" in various seasons. And the temperature difference between the warmest and coldest months is around 13 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit). While that doesn't seem like a big shift, if you are over- or under-dressed, you can certainly feel it!
When packing for Iceland, it is important to be prepared for all types of weather. It is a good idea to pack layers so that you can adjust to the changing conditions. But winter can be especially harsh. I was convinced my legs were going to fall off watching the northern lights (aurora borealis) in the middle of the night, in the middle of December.
Below is our Iceland packing guide to help you prepare for your trip, no matter the weather or season.
ICELAND PACKING GUIDE
12 ALL-SEASON ESSENTIALS
These are items you should pack for your Iceland trip, regardless of what time of year you are visiting:
1. Thermal Underwear
Our Pick Women's: SmartwoolMerino 250 Baselayer Crew & Bottom
Our Pick Men's: Carhartt Heavyweight Base Layer Poly-Wool Crew & Bottom
2. Gloves
Our Pick Women's: Carhartt WA575 Women's Quilts Glove
Our Pick Men's: Carhartt A511 Waterproof Glove
3. Fleece Jacket
Our Pick Women's: Cotopaxi Teca Fleece Full-Zip Jacket
Our Pick Men's: Marmot Drop Line 1/2 Zip Fleece Jacket
4. Hat
Our Pick Women and Men: Carhartt Acrylic Watch Cap
5. Scarf/Gaiter
Our Pick Women's: MERIWOOL 100% Merino Wool Neck Gaiter
Our Pick Men's: Carhartt Fleece Neck Gaiter
6. Sturdy Walking Shoes
Our Pick Women's: Forsake Waterproof Premium Leather Sneaker Boot
Our Pick Men's: Columbia Fairbanks Mid Shoe
7. Rain Jacket
Our Pick Women's: Columbia Hikebound Jacket
Our Pick Men's: Columbia Tipton Peak II Insulated Rain Jacket
8. Rain Pants
Our Pick Women's: Helly Hansen Waterproof Pant
Our Pick Men's: Columbia Rebel Roamer Rain Pant
9. Waterproof Hiking Boots
Our Pick Women's: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II GTX Hiking Boot
Our Pick Men's: Salomon Quest Element Gore-Tex Hiking Boots
10. Warm Socks
Our Pick Women's: Smartwool Performance Hike Light Cushion Crew Sock
Our Pick Men's: MERIWOOL Merino Wool Hiking Socks
11. Swimsuit (for geothermal spas)
Our Pick Women's: Speedo One-Piece
Our Pick Men's: Speedo Swim Trunk Short Length
12. Reusable Water Bottle
Related:
WINTER PACKING ESSENTIALS
If you are traveling to Iceland in the Winter you should consider packing these items:
Snow Jacket
Our Pick Women's: THE NORTH FACE Women’s Jump Down Parka
Our Pick Men's: Rab Neutrino Pro Down Jacket
Insulated Snow Pants
Our Pick Women's: Columbia Modern Mountain 2.0 Pant
Our Pick Men's: Columbia Snow Gun Pant
Ice Cleats/Crampons
Our Pick: Yaktrax Pro Traction Cleats
Hand/Feet Warmers
Our Pick: HotHands Hand and Toe Warmers
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
Some additional items to consider bringing anytime you visit:
Waterproof Phone Case
Our Pick: Pelican Waterproof Phone Pouch
Walking Stick
Sunglasses
Our Pick: RayBan New Wayfarer Polarized
Quick-Dry Towel
Our Pick: Rainleaf Microfiber Towel
Camera
Our Pick: Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR
Backpack/Dry Bag
Our Pick: Outdoor Research Day Pack
Related:
Things to do in Iceland...