What to Pack for Iceland (Summer vs. Winter)

Iceland's weather is its own thing. It's not cold like New York cold. It's wet, windy, and changes every 30 minutes. Pack for it correctly and the trip transforms.

The non-negotiables (year-round):

• A real waterproof shell jacket. Not "water-resistant." Actually waterproof. Patagonia Torrentshell, Arc'teryx Beta, or similar. This is the single most important item.

• Waterproof pants. You will thank us at Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi, haha. My go to ones are from The North Face (Men's & Women's).

• Wool or synthetic base layers. Cotton kills in Iceland. It gets wet and stays wet. You want to prioritize layers with Merino Wool. Here are some of my favorites.

• Hiking boots (waterproof). You'll walk on gravel, mud, ice, and volcanic sand.

• Wool socks. Darn Tough or Smartwool. Bring twice as many as you think.

• A warm hat and gloves. Even in July.

• A swimsuit. Hot springs are everywhere.

• Quick-dry towel. For spontaneous hot spring stops.

• Reusable water bottle. Iceland's tap water is the best in the world.

• Sunglasses. The sun sits low and glares off water and ice year-round.

• Sleep mask. Essential in summer. The midnight sun is not a metaphor.

Summer-specific (June–August):

• Lightweight mid-layer fleece

• Shorts for the couple of warm days (yes, it happens)

• Hiking pants (zip-offs are underrated here)

• Bug head-net if you're going to Mývatn (the midges are brutal in July)

• Sunscreen

Winter-specific (November–March):

• Heavy insulated jacket (down or synthetic puffy under the shell)

• Thermal base layers (merino wool top and bottom)

• Microspikes for your boots. Reykjavík sidewalks are an ice rink.

• A balaclava or neck gaiter

• Hand warmers (for northern lights hunting — you'll be standing still in the cold)

• Headlamp with extra batteries

Camera/photo-specific:

• Lens cloths (you'll need dozens — waterfall spray is relentless)

• Rain cover for your camera

• Extra batteries (cold drains them fast)

• Tripod (mandatory for aurora and long exposures)

What NOT to pack:

• Umbrellas. The wind destroys them in 3 seconds.

• Jeans. If they get wet, you will be extremely unhappy.

• Bulky snow boots. Hiking boots + wool socks are better.

• A hair dryer. Voltage issues. Your guesthouse or accommodation most likely has one.

The rule: pack in layers. Two thin layers beat one thick layer every time. You'll add and remove something every two hours.