The Only Iceland Packing List You’ll Ever Need (From Someone Who Just Got Back)

This is the single most important item I brought to Iceland. Full stop.

At Reynisfjara, I was getting absolutely hammered by wind and sleet from the outside. But I stepped back into the 4×4 after, took off the jacket, and I was completely warm underneath. That’s what a proper hard shell does, it keeps everything out so your layers beneath can do their job.

The Summit Series is North Face’s mountaineering-grade line. It’s built for conditions most people will never face, but in Iceland in winter, you’ll come close. If you’re only going to invest in one piece of gear for this trip, make it a waterproof shell jacket.

One critical thing to understand: waterproof jackets are lightweight by design. They will not keep you warm on their own. They keep the rain and wind off you. Your warmth comes from what you layer underneath, which is why the rest of this list matters just as much.

Think of this as your everyday driver. Lighter than the Summit Series, it’s perfect for milder days around Reykjavik or inland stretches where the weather is more forgiving. On brutal days, I’d reach for the Summit Series. On easier days, this one was all I needed over my layers.

This is the layer that sits between your Woolly merino t-shirt and your waterproof shell, and you only need one at a time. I brought both and chose based on the day.

The North Face Fleece – reach for this on your most demanding days. Heavier, warmer, maximum insulation for glacier hikes and brutal coastal conditions.

Woolly Fleece – your go-to on milder days and city exploring. Lighter and more packable, but still genuinely warm. On a calm Reykjavik day this over the Woolly t-shirt was all I needed under my shell.

The beauty of having both is flexibility. Iceland forces you to adapt, having options means you’re always comfortable regardless of what the weather decides to do.

This goes on directly over the Unbound Merino base layer and under whichever fleece you choose for the day. Woolly’s merino t-shirt adds meaningful warmth without bulk and regulates temperature in a way synthetic fabrics simply can’t in wet, variable conditions. I wore this every single day of the trip.

Before the Woolly t-shirt, before the fleece, before any of it this is what goes on first, directly against your skin.

On top, the Unbound Merino Long Sleeve Crew is the gold standard for a merino base layer. Ultra-lightweight, not bulky, and designed specifically for travel. It doesn’t add visible weight to your outfit and it’s the reason the entire upper layering system works. On the bottom, the Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer goes on under the Rab waterproof pants and keeps your legs warm without restriction, heavyweight enough for Iceland’s brutal conditions, merino enough to regulate temperature when you’re moving hard.

Merino wool against the skin outperforms any synthetic base layer in wet, variable conditions. It keeps you warm when it’s cold and doesn’t overheat you when you’re active.

The distinction matters: these two are your invisible foundation worn against skin on both top and bottom. Woolly is your mid layer, worn on top of the Unbound, adding warmth before the fleece and shell go on. Two different roles, both essential.

I cannot stress this enough. My dad forgot his waterproof pants. He regretted it after every single excursion. Every waterfall, every glacier, every beach in the rain, he was soaked and suffering while I stayed dry.

Waterproof pants are not optional in Iceland. You will get wet from below, rain bouncing off rocks, waterfall spray, wet glacier terrain. Your jacket protects your top half. The Rab pants protect your bottom half. Together they’re your armor.

Honestly? These boots were my highest-rated item of the entire trip.

I wore them on glaciers, in ice caves (where tour operators provide spikes that attach directly to these boots), across lava fields, and through wet coastal terrain. They handled everything Iceland threw at them without a single blister or moment of discomfort.

But here’s what surprised me most, they’re genuinely stylish. I could have worn these out to dinner and not felt out of place at all. Cool, comfortable, and completely capable. That combination is rare in a hiking boot.

Make sure you’ve broken them in before you fly. Iceland’s terrain is unforgiving on fresh boots.

Your feet are your most important asset in Iceland. Wet, cold feet will end your day faster than anything else.

Cotton socks are a mistake. Once they’re wet, and they will get wet, they stay wet, stay cold, and stay uncomfortable for the rest of the day. Smartwool’s Hike Crew Socks are the gold standard – thick, durable, and warm even when damp. Merino wool regulates temperature and manages moisture in a way cotton simply can’t in Iceland’s conditions. Pack one pair per day minimum and don’t cheap out here.

A beanie might feel like an afterthought. In Iceland it’s a daily essential.

I wore my Arc’teryx Grotto Toque on every single outdoor excursion. It fits perfectly under a jacket hood, stays in place in the wind, and doesn’t stretch out over days of use. Pack it in your daypack every day without exception.

This one surprised me. At Reynisfjara with sleet hitting your face at 50mph, a face covering goes from “nice to have” to “absolutely necessary” in about 30 seconds. My Carhartt face mask was one of the most-reached-for items of the entire trip. Functional, warm, and tough enough to handle whatever Iceland throws at it. Don’t leave without one.

Here’s something nobody tells you: regular gloves are a nightmare if you’re using a camera.

I was filming constantly throughout the trip. Having a thick glove on one hand while keeping the other bare in freezing conditions because you need to operate camera controls is not a system, it’s suffering. The CAMP G Comp Warm Gloves solve this. Warm enough for brutal Iceland conditions, dexterous enough to actually operate a camera without taking them off. Your fingers will thank you on every single excursion.

If you’re not filming, waterproof gloves are still non-negotiable. Without them at Reynisfjara your fingers are going to feel like frostbite is setting in within minutes.