If you couldn’t tell from my 1000 Instagram posts, I just recently got back from Iceland!
It seems like everyone and their mother have been going to Iceland lately, but it has always been on my shortlist of must-sees. When my friend Sharon texted me a few months ago asking if I would go with her, I pulled a very un-Carly-like move and said YES! Keep an eye out next week for an in-depth review of our trip, including our itinerary and where to eat/stay.
When I was googling tips on travelling to Iceland in the weeks leading up to my trip, I had trouble finding ideas for what to pack in September…there are summer and winter packing lists galore, but nothing geared towards transitional months. Ladies and gents (mostly ladies), I am here to help!
The weather in Iceland can be tricky (to say the least), but it is totally possible to stay warm and dry without lugging your entire closet. For the first time in my life, I DIDN’T OVERPACK! (Cue applause from the studio audience). We didn’t check baggage, so I had to somehow fit all of my clothes into a teeny-tiny suitcase. Not only did I not overpack, but I actually wore everything that I brought with me. This truly never happens.
Take a look below at what to pack for 7 days in Iceland. Yes, a lot of these things can be found at Sporting Life…what can I say, it’s the ideal outdoor store! This packing list is geared towards a trip around the Ring Road- not too much citywear, meant for time spent outside!
Rain Jacket– This one is a true must-have. Iceland is super rainy and the weather is very unpredictable. Sometimes it would rain for a few minutes, other times it was all day long. In the words of Scar: BE PREPARED!
Down Jacket– I am so happy I brought this jacket with me! I often wore this jacket on its own, or under my rain jacket for some added warmth. My jacket is a liner from my snowboard jacket, but TNF makes awesome standalone pieces. Say jacket one more time. Jacket.
Fleece– I want to buy 100 Patagonia fleeces after this trip! It was a fun way to add some colour to my otherwise dark outerwear.
Leggings– I brought one cropped pair and one long pair. This was stupid. I wore my long leggings every day! You could absolutely get by on one pair (as I did), but having a backup would have been nice.
Jeans– Nothing feels better than putting on normal clothes after driving & hiking all day. Jeans were a must for citywear!
Sweater– Same reason as above…it was nice to have a cozy sweater to throw on for dinner. I also brought a lightweight chambray shirt for an additional option.
Technical Tops- This is where you can get creative. I brought 3 long-sleeved tops, 3 t-shirts and 3 tank tops. This was perfect for me, as I ended up wearing everything! Layering is your best friend in Iceland. I love baselayers from Icebreaker, Nike Dri-Fit, and Lululemon…I also wore my Kit and Ace top on the plane and wore it again on the trip. Technical fabrics are the best thing to pack. You probably won’t be sweaty all day, but I managed to get pretty hot on a few of our hikes…it was awesome having the right clothing to keep me from getting damp and cold!
Wool Socks– My feet never got cold thanks to my trusty wool socks! Don’t skimp out on this one: saving some suitcase space isn’t worth chilly toes.
Bathing Suit– Hot springs are a big thing in Iceland. Between the Blue Lagoon and various other naturebaths, I fell in love! Be sure to bring a bathing suit so you can get some R&R (and some pics for Instagram like the one above!)
Hiking Shoes- You could probably get by with running shoes (depending on your itinerary), but I suggest picking up a pair of waterproof hiking shoes. I loved this Gore-Tex pair from Merrell; my feet stayed dry & blister-free and they kept me safe on and off the trails.
Flip Flops– For the Blue Lagoon…wet floors in public changerooms gross me out!!
Casual Shoes- Hiking shoes and flip flops aren’t exactly chic. I brought a pair of Toms to wear in the city, and they did the trick! My feet did get a bit wet on rainy nights, which sucked. The plus side is how lightweight and packable they are…I would bring them again based on that fact alone!
Day Pack- The airline we travelled with only allowed a small personal item. I wanted to bring a day pack for our trips away from the car, so I picked up this Fjallraven Kanken Mini backpack. I LOVED it! It was small enough to keep me from overpacking, but big enough to fit my water bottle, jacket and other necessities.
Gloves & Hat– Guys, Iceland is cold. Duh. A scarf would be a good idea as well, but I survived without one.
Honourable mention goes to my LifeProof phone case…that thing was the real hero on this trip.