What to Pack for a Summer Trip to Iceland
Today, let’s chat about what you should bring along on your summer vacation to Iceland. I learned the hard way so you can learn the easy way!
My shopping for the trip started only once I remembered that I needed to pack for all sorts of weather – even in summer! We had some 50s and 60s F weather, a rare 70s day, and every day there was rain at some point. Plus, I did go inside a glacier, which was as chilly as one can anticipate.
I started packing with the basics: PJs, a swimsuit, and underwear. Along with these, I packed two pairs of jeans, thermal leggings, and rain pants. You know I was serious about staying warm when I say I wore the most unflattering LulaRoe leggings on the flight because they were comfy, warm, and I didn’t care about their appearance.
The thermal leggings were a smart move for the glacier visit. They were the Yogipace Water Resistant Fleece Lined Thermal Leggings. Super comfortable and they even have a hidden pocket for my phone – bonus!
My only disappointment was that I had to pay for the return of an extra pair that didn’t fit me, despite being a Prime member on Amazon.
As for footwear, I packed ballet flats, sneakers, flip flops and a pair of heavy-duty boots. Balancing between comfort and practicality, I wore those boots everyday except when I was in pools and lagoons or stepping out for quick dinner runs.
Next up were t-shirts, a bulky sweater, a cardigan, a sweatshirt, a rain jacket, and a lightweight down coat. The bulky sweater and rain jacket were my go-to items most of the week.
One thing I really fell in love with was the Wantdo Hooded Ultra Light Weight Down Jacket. Although I only wore it once, its light weight and compact size when packed makes it a great choice for chilly trips.
A surprise enjoyment was the Cranky Jacket, a fashionable and sustainably made raincoat by a company called Nau. Despite its quirky name, I practically lived in this thing in Iceland. It was comfortable, waterproof and just warm enough without causing me to overheat. Great investment!
Other essentials I packed included a quick-drying microfiber towel and a strange product called No-Jet-Lag that turned out to be surprisingly helpful! I usually suffer quite a bit from jet lag, and this product seemed to help me function on the day after the flight with minimal sleep. For its small price tag, it was worth the gamble.
Some of the things I packed but didn’t use include a thermal undershirt, a dress, a long-sleeve t-shirt, sneakers, and a scarf. Overall, though, I feel like I did a good job packing for this trip and kept all of it well-organized with eBag packing cubes.
In the end, spending on extra clothing appropriate for Iceland totaled $371.12, which still kept me under budget for the trip!
That concludes my packing guide for a summer trip to Iceland! Got any packing tips of your own for an Icelandic summer holiday?