Planning a winter trip to Iceland and not sure what to pack? This Iceland winter packing list covers everything you need to pack for Iceland in winter, from clothing and hiking gear to camera equipment, van essentials, and food. Jesse and I just went through this ourselves and are here to make it a lot less stressful.

If you’re still planning your route, check out our Top 10 Things to Do in Iceland in Winter and our Perfect 9 Day Southern Iceland Winter Itinerary.

Iceland Winter Packing List (Quick Overview):

Winter Clothing for Iceland
Hiking Gear For Iceland in Winter
Camera Equipment for Iceland Winter Photography
Campervan Essentials for Iceland Winter Travel
Food & Groceries to Pack for Iceland

Winter Clothing For Iceland

Traveling through Iceland in the winter is no joke and you need be dressed appropriately. Thermal base layers, wool sweaters and windproof thermal lined pants are going to be your best friend. Below is a list of specific items we brought that we’d highly recommend.

Uniqlo warm lined pants: we brought two of these and ended up exclusively wearing them. They are comfy, roomy and kept us super warm when combined with the thermal base layers
Uniqlo heat tech thermal base layers
Icelandic wool sweater: I happen to have two Icelandic wool sweaters that were passed down from my parents and they ended up being a staple. Not only was it fun to wear the traditional sweaters but they really do keep you warm. There are lots of places in Reykjavik where you can buy one! I recommend getting one from the Knitting Society of Iceland as it’s authentic and made right there! Forewarned - sticker shock might occur.

**Outfitted in our Unqlio warm lined pants, thermal base layers and Icelandic sweater**

In terms of how much you’ll need to pack and what you will actually end up using depends on what type of adventure you’re in for and what campgrounds/hotels you’re staying at. For us, we knew ahead of time that we’d be staying at least two campgrounds with free washers and dryers so we factored that into our packing. In total we were there for 9 days. We washed all our clothes at the halfway point in our trip, roughly 5 days in.

This list applies to both Jesse and I:

X3 base layer long-sleeves - I’d keep in mind, wool base layers don’t smell. This was the perfect amount.
X2 base layer tights - you likely don’t sweat too much given how cold it is so two was fine.
X2 windproof pants - could have just gone with one pair but we wanted different pant options for photos. If it's raining you’ll be happy for a backup.
X5 wool socks - this was a perfect amount.
X3 sweaters - three ended up being unnecessary. Again we brought options as we wanted to spice up our photos but we never ended up taking our jackets off. With the base layers underneath, you’re not likely to sweat through to the sweater. One or two max would have been fine.
X1 warm lounge outfit - I hesitated about packing this but Jesse insisted we’d want a comfy pair of sweats to switch into once we were cozied up in the van for the night. As usual he was right.

We stayed clear of packing items like; date night outfits, high heels etc and truly there was not a single point in which we wished we had them to switch into nor did we see anyone else dressed up. Unless you’re staying in Reykjavik, this is a waste of suitcase space.

Hiking Gear For Iceland In Winter

Proper hiking gear is a must! I want to start off by acknowledging that winter-specific gear can run you a very pretty penny and if you don’t already have it and need it only for this trip, it might not make sense to spend your savings on it…but you do need it.

While I was born and raised in a winter wonderland and had everything I might need, Jesse is a born and raised beach boy. While we’ve been slowly building up his winter wardrobe there was still a few essentials missing.

I strongly recommend checking out Iceland Cover Outdoor Clothing Rental if you need any gear such as winter jackets, boots, hiking poles, waterproof pants etc. It’s super budget friendly and you only rent by the days you are using the gear. It’s located in the heart of Reykjavik. We got Jesse outfitted here and were very impressed with the quality.

What we brought/rented:

X1 hiking boots - essential.
X1 comfy shoe - if you’re tight on space you can pass on this but it was really nice having an easy to slip on, comfy shoe for walking around the campgrounds. I brought Uggs and loved it.
X1 hiking poles - never ended up using them.
X1 crampons - never ended up using them. The glacier tours provided their own as they have special required ones. It wasn’t icy enough for us to need them just casually walking around.
X2 winter jackets - we both brought two, again for photo ops but it was actually nice to have a heavier jacket and a bit of a lighter option for warmer days.
X2 Mittens - essential. You get your mittens wet and you’ll seriously regret not having another pair to swap into. I soaked mine rappelling down a glacier wall and was beyond happy to have a warm dry pair waiting for me in the van.
X2 Toques - only one would have been fine..again trying to swap out the looks in our photos.

**After hours hiking in Iceland, I was thankful to be dressed warm!**

Camera Equipment for Iceland Winter Photography

If you’re anything like us, you’re excited about the beautiful photos and videos you’re about to capture on your trip. One thing to keep in mind is that the cold temperatures can affect your camera equipment and drain batteries very quickly. Having backups of everything will be important, especially if you’re outside for an extended time without the option of running back to the car to recharge equipment.

We brought along our tripod for couple shots and I ended up snapping it in half by accident. The plastic got so cold that when I went to close it, it just snapped. So again, backups are important in extreme weather.

Jesse even brought along a camera lens warmer we got off Amazon but we didn’t end up using it. It’s a smart idea though if you know it’s going to be well below freezing.

**Jesse looking for the perfect spot to set up the tripod…right before I broke it**

Campervan Essentials for Iceland Winter Travel

Spending an extended amount of time inside a van can test the patience of any strong relationship. Our best advice, come prepared to make it as cozy and fun as possible! In truth we love van life and always have a fantastic time but there are definitely some things that can be done to make the experience easier.

Twinkle lights - this might sounds ridiculous but we promise it’s worth packing. Van rentals don’t really prioritize mood lighting and there’s nothing worse than having dinner with a spotlight shining in your eyes. Having the twinkle lights attached along the interior of the roof made for some extra cozy feels.
Card games - duh! Who travels without card games?
Thermal mugs and coffee maker- typically vans come with the basics and not much else. If you’re like us and value the importance of a fresh, hot cup of coffee in the morning, this will be a game changer.
Outlet/power bar - there likely won’t be a lot of places to charge your electronics so make sure to pack one of these. We also noticed the ones in our van were too loose to hold the cables in place for charging.
Massager - do I need to say more? Having a travel-size massager that we bring with us on adventures is key. We’ve lugged this thing all over the world. Nothing like a massage at the end of a long day hiking.

**Sipping hot chocolate from our campervan in Iceland - such a treat!**

Food & Groceries to Pack for Iceland

Eating out in Iceland is expensive. We met a woman traveling on her own and she said she spent $44 USD on nachos and one beer in Reykjavik! That’s not exactly in our budget so we made sure to come prepared. We did have a camper van so we knew we’d have to buy groceries when we arrived but the key for us was trying to bring as much dry food as we could from home.

Important to note, there are weight restrictions on the amount of dry goods you can bring into the country. We learned this after we had already gone to the grocery store and stocked on all the cans of food. The limit is 10 kg of food per person. While they didn’t check upon arrival, it’s best to play it safe and stay around that weight.

Below is a list of some of the items we brought and were happy to have. Keep in mind you’re not going to find a lot of your normal foods in the Icelandic grocery stores.

Hot chocolate - Highly recommend. It was so nice after being outside in the cold all day.
Our favourite coffee.
Trail mix.
Power oatmeal.
Chocolate.
Chia seed smoothie snack packs - great for on the go protein.
Instant mac and cheese/mashed potatoes - there’s not a lot of cooking space. Having options that only require one pot make life easier.
Maple syrup.

Frequently Asked Questions About Packing for Iceland in Winter

What should I wear in Iceland in winter?
Wear thermal base layers, wool sweaters, waterproof or windproof pants, insulated jackets, warm socks, mittens, and a hat.

Do I need special boots for Iceland?
Yes, waterproof hiking boots with good traction are highly recommended for winter conditions.

How many layers should I pack for Iceland?
Plan for 3 layers: base layer, insulating mid-layer, and waterproof outer layer.

Do I need crampons in Iceland?
Some tours provide crampons, but having your own can be helpful if walking on icy paths.

Packing for Iceland in winter can feel overwhelming, but we hope this Iceland winter packing list helps you feel prepared and excited for your trip!

We’d love for you to follow along our journey by checking out more of our blogs or staying up to date on our day to day adventures over on our social channels!

Cheers,

Liv and Jesse

Iceland Winter Packing List: Everything You Need to Pack for Iceland in Winter