Best Packing List for Iceland – Budget Friendly and Practical

Packing for Iceland can be overwhelming as it usually involves quite an eclectic mix of items that you typically wouldn’t pack together for one trip 🙂

You have winter clothes mixed in with bathing suits and hiking gear! After I came back from my first trip to Iceland, I looked at my laundry that had winter base layers and swimsuits all in one load and thought – only in Iceland!

But don’t worry! You’re in the right place.

I’ve put together this article to help you get organized and pack everything you need for your Iceland adventure.

Consider this list my heartfelt attempt at answering every first-time visitor’s question: “What to pack for Iceland?” and at taking the confusion and overwhelm out of the packing process.

Keep reading and you’ll find out that it’s easier than you think!

What’s on the list?

Here is my comprehensive list of Iceland essentials as well as other things you may not have thought about bringing to Iceland, but which DO prove extremely useful, especially if you’re travelling the Ring Road.

We are rather frugal people, so this list for the most part will be really budget friendly. The only pricier items are our daypacks (a CRUCIAL item for your trip) and hiking sneakers. I personally am not a huge fan of ankle high hiking boots, although you’ll absolutely see them on the list. I do have them and wear them on the trails that require them. My husband wears them all the time. Myself, when I can, I wear hiking sneakers and those I spent some money on. They seem to last, so they were definitely worth the investment. Details below.

I did not include personal items and toiletries in my list, or items like hair dryers or flat irons. Not everyone uses them, but if you do and want to bring your own, just make sure they are dual voltage travel ones.

Happy packing!

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Footwear:

Waterproof hiking boots:

We have HI-TEC, Nortive8 and EMS Journey hikers and are very happy with them. Our feet are comfortable, and ankles supported. AND they are waterproof, which is a must.

Hiking sneakers:

We all have Salomon hiking sneakers. The exact models have very limited availability now, but try Salomon, Amazon or REI websites and search for “Salomon trail running shoes”. Then wait for a sale! We have Salomon Outbound Prism and Alphacross.

Whichever trail runners or hiking shoes you choose to buy, please make sure they are waterproof and have soles with good traction. There is nothing worse than wet feet during a hike!

Flip flops:

You’ll need them for hot springs, both natural and man-made, like the famous Blue Lagoon. They are also great for walking around your hotel room or a guesthouse.

Day trip backpack:

Backpack rain cover:

Gregory packs came with it, the Kailas packs didn’t. We bought Joy Walker Waterproof Backpack Rain Covers and they work great.

Trekking poles:

Definitely a good thing to have for steeper hikes (you don’t necessarily need them on flat paths) and are highly recommended for those longer hikes in the Highlands, like Landmannalaugar or Kerlingarfjöll. We weren’t quite sure how much (if at all) we’d use them, so we bought these inexpensive hiking poles and we wound up using them quite a bit. Although they are not the smallest or the lightest out there, for us they did the job. For reference – they fit in a 25” suitcase.

Update 2024 – we recently ordered a more expensive, brand name set to try and ended up returning them! Same wieght, same size, no carrying bag or spare baskets. As a result, our inexpensive hiking poles are still the winners!

Outerwear:

Raincoat/windbreaker:

Very important, you’ll wear it a lot! REI Rainier raincoats work great and pack small. We also have Outdoor Research Aspire and Outdoor Research Foray II GORE-TEX jackets. They are awesome, especially if you can grab one on a good sale like we did!

Packable warm jacket:

I love 32 Degrees coats! They are lightweight, packable and the price is unbeatable. Your coat should have a hood – you’ll love having it on a windy day!

Hat, gloves and a scarf or a neck gaiter/warmer:

I personally prefer neck warmers to a scarf, especially for hiking as they easily double as face protection on cold and windy days. You should plan on bringing lightweight gloves just for everyday use and a pair of heavier waterproof ones if your itinerary includes glacier hiking/ice climbing.

Wind/rainproof pants:

Waterproof clothing is generally a staple of any packing list for Iceland, but waterproof/windproof pants are super useful for visiting waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss or Kvernufoss, where you can get thoroughly wet. They are also perfect for outdoor activities, like glacier hikes or ice climbing.

We got our 33,000ft rain pants last minute before our first trip to Iceland and they ended up being perfect for the job! Kept us dry, pack small and didn’t cost a fortune. And they fit over the pants you’re wearing at the moment, as an extra layer that you can easily put on and remove when no longer needed.

Rain ponchos:

We always have them; we keep them in the hip pockets of our backpacks just in case we’d need more cover that the raincoat would give us. These rain ponchos are inexpensive enough to buy just in case.

Clothing:

Lightweight sweater/fleece sweater:

No suggestions here, whatever you like, as long as you can put a baselayer under and a jacket over it.

You’ll notice in various guides that wool sweaters are recommended A LOT, and they ARE a great option for colder days – especially those gorgeous handmade authentic Icelandic ones! Unfortunately, on a personal note, 100% wool is not my skin’s best friend, so if you’re like me you’ll be happy to know that fleece sweaters work just as well!

Long sleeve baselayers:

Quick drying and breathable is a must, especially if you plan on hiking. Again, 32 Degrees comes through with affordable baselayers that are easy to wash, wear well and last a while.

Compression sleeves:

Totally optional, but they are perfect for those nice days that are still a bit chilly in the morning. Put a T-shirt on with the sleeves added and when it gets warm, just take the sleeves off.  That’s some smart layering 😊 I’ve had these compression sleeves for a while and love them – and not just for Iceland!

Comfortable pants:

You’ll probably read in some guides that under no circumstances should you ever wear jeans in Iceland. Well… I disagree. If it’s pouring rain? Absolutely not. But otherwise, as long as you can move freely and the weather if ok, go for it. I spent both of my Iceland trips primarily in comfy stretchy jeans. You can also take leggings, hiking pants… Bottom line – whatever you’re comfortable in.

Hiking socks:

Again, wool socks are recommended and I like (and tested) wool-blend Columbia hiking socks for my boots but you can wear any socks that are moisture wicking and have cushy soles.

For my hiking sneakers I swear by these merino wool no-show hiking socks – they are cushy, keep me warm and NEVER slip off my feet.

Bathing suits:

I recommend bringing two in case you visit two hot springs or lagoons on two consecutive days and the bathing suit you wore doesn’t dry in time 🙂

A quick dry towel:

You’ll use it at any geothermal bath (renting costs extra) and natural hot springs you’ll visit. We stand by these quick drying towels – they come in a set of 3 convenient sizes, are lightweight and easy to pack, absorb water well and dry nice and quick.

Shorts?…

That one is debatable and really weather dependent. We each took a pair on our first trip and never took it out of the suitcase. Second time around we didn’t pack them and we had some really nice days (like 60s F and sunshine) and we could have used them while hiking. So it’s up to you. We are actually considering purchasing convertible hiking pants for our next visit to Iceland, where the legs simply zip off and you’re left in shorts. I’ll keep you posted 😊

Travel gear:

Charging cords:

For phones and all your other electronics.

Multi-port USB device charger:

If you have multiple devices to charge (like us, travelling as a family, charging phones, tablets, cameras, headphones etc.), this multi-port charger is a life saver – you plug the cord it into one outlet and you have 10 USB ports ready to go! We have an older version of this handy worldwide voltage charger. We don’t travel without it!

Multi-port USB car charger:

If you need to plug in more than one device in your car, I strongly suggest bringing a multi-port car charger. Many rental cars in Iceland (especially the smaller ones) only have a couple of charging ports in the front and sometimes none for the back seats. One of those ports may already be taken up by the wi-fi box if you rented one (more on that in my tips for first time visitors article)

Suction cup phone holder:

For me it is a must if you use your phone for navigation. It will keep your device safe and securely in place. Check prices here.

Wall plug travel adapter:

I use these Amazon plug adapters to plug in my dual-voltage gear and phone chargers. If you’d like something with USB ports in it, check these European Travel Plug Adapters, they work great, too.

Solar power bank:

Very useful for those times when there is nowhere to recharge your gear.  Saved the day many times as taking all those pictures does drain the batteries! Take a look at the newer (and better!) version of the solar charger I use.

Selfie stick:

We got this 40-inch expandable selfie stick to also double up as a tripod, so that we didn’t solely rely on other tourists to take our family photos.

Helpful tip: prop the tripod with your backpacks on windy days!

If you’re bringing real camera gear (not just your phone), remember your spare batteries, chargers, lenses and memory cards!

Food and drink on the go:

Foldable fabric cooler:

Perfect for putting your groceries in, especially if you have to travel with them. Also great for packing sandwiches and snacks for the day.

Helpful tip: we froze water bottles to act as ice packs.

Thermos:

This was a life saver on the road.  Thermos Stainless King 40 ounce holds hot water for 24 hours, super convenient to make coffee or an instant hot meal in the middle of breathtaking Icelandic nowhere 😊 Perfect for driving the Ring Road or longer day hikes in the Highlands (like the epic loop hike in Landmannalaugar).

Collapsible cups:

You’ll find them very useful for the same reasons as the thermos above. These collapsible cups were easy to pack, use and clean.

Reusable portable cutlery:

Complementing the thermos and cups, these portable cutlery sets are eco-friendly, easy to clean and eliminate the need for a bunch of plastic spoons and forks to carry and dispose of.

Travel mugs:

Optional – but if you’re a sipper like me, unable to just down your coffee in the morning to get on the road quickly, a travel mug is a great idea. One without a handle is best to fit in any rental car cup holder.

Food to consider bringing with you:

You can bring food to Iceland, and I strongly recommend doing that. To my best knowledge you can bring up to 3 kg of food per passenger, just no raw meat, eggs or milk. Each time we travelled to Iceland we brought the items listed below and it saved us a lot of hassle and money, too!

• Granola/protein bars
• Cracker/cookie packs
• Boxed pasta salad
• Boxed mac’n’cheese
• Trail mix/nuts
• Peanut butter pouches
• Instant soup packs/cups
• Freeze dried backpacking food – this one really saves some money and hassle on the trails. We used Mountain House adventure meals, and they were actually very tasty.
• Instant coffee packs
• Coffee creamer packs (make sure they are powdered, not liquid!)

Miscellaneous helpful items:

Dry pack/bag:

A must to keep your clothes dry when you visit natural hot springs or Reykjadalur Geothermal River. Take a look at this 20 L dry bag – we’ve had it for a while, and it works really well.

Bug nets:

Especially needed in the Lake Myvatn area, but not only. The small flies, known as midges, were buzzing around us during our Reykjadalur Valley hike (our first time in Iceland) and we could’ve used the bug nets then, but we didn’t think we’d need them! We were prepared the second time around. These bug nets were inexpensive and small enough to have with us just in case.

Portable luggage scale:

Really nice to have to pack within airline guidelines for your flight home, especially if you bought a lot of souvenirs! Check prices here.

A good map of Iceland:

Like I stated in my tips for Iceland post, Google Maps works really well and is pretty reliable. But you never want to be without a backup in Iceland. We’ve purchased a few maps so far and only this Iceland Adventure and Travel Map is one I can absolutely recommend. Good quality, easy to read and – bonus! – lists gas stations!

Laundry detergent sheets:

These laundry sheets are small enough to pack for an occasional load of laundry on your trip.

Sleep mask:

To help you sleep on the plane or at night during periods of Midnight Sun in the summer. Check prices here.

Zip-lock bags:

Useful to pack your sandwiches and snacks.

Sunscreen/lip balm/sunglasses/

Hand wipes/hand sanitizer

First aid kit and any daily medications you may need

Always a good thing to bring on your hikes and tours with some Band-Aids, antiseptics, pain medicine and other basics in it you may need. Don’t let a headache or a scraped knee stop you from exploring!

Hair care:

I did not include personal items and toiletries in my list, HOWEVER, I wanted to share some items that will help keep your hair healthy despite the sulfur rich Icelandic water in the showers. I found that using keratin-based shampoo and conditioner really helps keep your hair soft and shiny on your trip.

If you’re like me and don’t go anywhere without my own hair dryer and flat iron, just make sure they are dual voltage travel ones.

Documents:

• Passports
• Plane tickets confirmations
• Hotels reservation confirmations
• Tours reservation confirmations
• Travel insurance information
• Health insurance cards
• Credit/debit cards, at least one with a PIN (see my tips for Iceland post for details)
• Some cash (you can exchange money at the airport, you may need it in more remote areas of Iceland to use the restrooms etc. Typically, credit cards are widely accepted in Iceland)
• Driver’s license – you will need one if you’re renting a car.

Helpful hint: Always pack for 4 seasons in Iceland! You know the saying: “If you don’t like the weather in Iceland, just wait 5 minutes”? It really is true! You can go from hats and gloves to T-shirts to raincoats all in a matter of hours (sometimes even minutes!).

For colder months:

The rule is: add extra layers!

• Bring warmer base layers or long sleeve tops, also consider fleece-lined leggings.
• Snow pants and a good waterproof winter jacket. If you’re a skier, just bring your ski jacket and ski pants – they are usually warm, lightweight but wind- and waterproof.
• Warm insulated gloves, hat and a neck gaiter.
• Warm waterproof hiking boots or lightweight snow boots.
• Bring crampons on nano spikes to put over your boots for safe walking on ice and snow.
• Consider a protective face cream for those blustery days! Cold wind in Iceland can be harsh…

I hope this list was helpful and that I didn’t omit anything important.

For more information on how to plan your first trip to Iceland, read: First trip to Iceland travel tips – all you need to know to plan your trip.

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• How to Visit Glaciers in Iceland – Need to Know Facts, Safety Tips and Best Tours.
• Best Glacier Hikes in Iceland – Top Tours + Tips for a Great Experience.
• Snæfellsnes Peninsula – A Complete Guide and Top Things to See
• Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi – How to Visit Two Stunning Waterfalls
• Skógafoss Waterfall – a Complete Guide (+ a Hidden Gem)
• Golden Circle in One Day – Full Guide to the Main Stops and Best Detours
• Best Black Sand Beaches in Iceland – a Practical Guide
• Landmannalaugar Travel Guide – All You Need to Know + Best Things to Do

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