What to Pack for Iceland: A Practical Packing List

Iceland's weather doesn't care what the forecast says, and it doesn't care what season it is either. After driving the Ring Road and hiking most of the best trails in the country, here's what actually earned its place in my bag — and what I wish I'd packed differently.

Layer, even in summer

This is the single biggest thing people get wrong. Icelandic temperatures can look perfectly mild on paper, but the wind is relentless, and wind chill will cut straight through you. Pack in layers — a base layer, a warm mid-layer, and a proper outer shell — so you can add or strip down as the wind picks up or dies down over the course of a single day. Don't assume that because it's June or July, you can skip the warm layers.

A water-resistant jacket is non-negotiable

Bring a genuinely water-resistant (not just water-repellent) jacket. Between waterfall spray, sudden rain, and coastal wind, you'll wear it almost every day, regardless of season.

What I got wrong: not enough waterproof layers

This is the one thing I'd change about my own packing.

I went in May, and it rained and was cold for most of the trip. Not the occasional passing shower the averages suggest — persistent rain, day after day, with wind behind it.

One waterproof layer isn't enough in that situation, because it never gets a chance to dry out overnight. Pack more waterproof gear than you think you need — waterproof trousers as well as the jacket, and a second shell if you own one. What catches people out isn't a single downpour you can wait out; it's reaching day four with nothing dry left to put on.

Hiking pants over jeans

Skip the jeans. Hiking pants dry faster, block wind better, and hold up to the kind of scrambling you'll do on trails like Þakgil or Múlagljúfur.

Footwear with real grip

Pack waterproof hiking shoes or boots with solid grip — and not just for dry trail conditions. Even in the middle of summer, you can run into patches of snow or ice at higher elevations or on certain hikes, so you want soles that can handle both normal ground and a sudden change underfoot.

Gloves, always

Even in summer, gloves are worth the small amount of luggage space they take up. Wind at exposed viewpoints and waterfalls gets cold fast, and your hands will thank you.

Hiking poles, if you have them

If you already own trekking poles, bring them. Several of the best hikes — steep descents at Þakgil in particular — are much easier and safer with poles, especially if you're not used to steep, loose terrain.

If you're traveling outside summer

Everything above still applies, but treat it as the baseline, not the ceiling. Outside the summer months, be prepared for genuinely extreme and fast-changing weather — pack heavier insulation, and check conditions daily rather than once before the trip.

My own trip was in May, and the weather was much closer to this version than to the mild summer one. Don't let a shoulder-season date talk you into packing lighter.

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Pair this list with my driving guide for Iceland for what else to prep before you get behind the wheel.