Use our ultimate Iceland Packing List as a guide for what to bring along while you’re exploring Iceland. We’ve packed this Iceland Packing List with our trail-tested favorites and recommendations, plus lots of useful info on the best gear for adventuring in all of Iceland’s conditions.

Our biggest piece of advice is to pack light and smart, and bring durable, multi-use items that you can layer as temperatures and weather changes (because they will)! Test and break in all your gear beforehand and use common sense and your own best judgment and discretion when choosing exactly what you pack. After all, no one knows you better than you! If you tend to run cold, pack an extra layer or two. If you have a finicky stomach, bring extras of your go-to snacks.

We’re firm believers that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate gear! Stocking up on quality gear from brands that are doing it right will make all the difference for enjoying all your adventures in the great outdoors!

THERMAL BASE LAYER

You’ll need a thin, snug-fitting top and bottom set that you can wear underneath everything. These will regulate your body temperature by wicking sweat away from your skin. We recommend a sport synthetic fabric like polyester or merino wool. We love these Smartwool tops and bottoms.

Pajamas

Down forget to bring your favorite cozy pajamas to wear when you’re staying in hotels before and after the trek.

3 PAIRS OF HIKING SOCKS

Bring durable wool socks in a few different weights - lighter for warmer days, and heavier ones for the nights and colder days. A couple of pairs of liner socks are great to help prevent blisters too! We love Darn Tough’s Hiker Boot Sock in Full Cushion.

UNDERWEAR

Bring as many pairs as you know you’ll want! Check out REI’s Merino Hipster Undies which are comfy and great for adventuring!

DAYPACK

You’ll need a lightweight hiking backpack to wear on the hikes and to carry your water, extra layers, snacks, etc. Something around 30 L should work perfectly. We recommend getting one compatible with a water bladder and hose. While some packs come with a pack cover in case of rain, not all of them do, so make sure you get a rain cover. Brands we love: Deuter, Osprey, Gregory.

Pro Tip: Bring a fanny pack to keep snacks, your phone, and sunscreen in for easy access.

WATER BLADDER

Staying hydrated is so important when you’re hiking! We highly recommend getting a 3 L water bladder. It’s the easiest way to carry and drink water while trekking.

WATER BOTTLE

Bring a 1L wide mouth, BPA-free plastic Nalgene water bottle to fill with fresh Icelandic glacial natural spring water!

TREKKING POLES

These are MANDATORY, and a life (and knee) saver on tricky terrain. Make sure they are collapsible, for easy stashing, and simple to adjust for up and downhill. Check out our favs at Leki.

BONUS: You get 15% off Leki poles for being a part of the WHOA family! Just use this special link to see our fav poles and save!

BUFF OR BANDANA

An all-around great item to always have with you! You can use it as a neck gaiter, headband, sweat rag, etc. Plus, there are so many different fun designs to choose from!

HEADLAMP

An essential piece of gear that should always be in your daypack. Start the trip with fresh batteries, and bring a spare set just in case. We love Black Diamond.

POLARIZED SUNGLASSES

You have to protect your eyes from the sun! Make sure they are UV-blocking and polarized. Goodr makes ones that are good (and cute) for hiking.

SWIMSUIT

You always have to be ready for a spontaneous hot spring!

CAMERA + EXTRA BATTERIES

There are so many amazing photo ops! We highly recommend bringing a camera that is compact and durable. These days most smartphones have great cameras, and we’ve found DSLRs can be cumbersome while trekking, so think twice before bringing anything too fancy. Remember to always pack your electronics in waterproof bags or cases.

portable battery charger

Whatever electronics you choose to bring, make sure you have a way to recharge your batteries. We always have a portable battery charger on hand so our camera is charged and ready to catch any spontaneous dance parties that may break out!

MEDS

Common medications you might want to bring along include, pain relievers, anti-histamines, antidiarrheals, etc.

PASSPORT

Bring a waterproof bag to keep it safe and dry. Also, it’s always a good idea to travel with an extra photocopy of it.

Travel Insurance

Travel doesn't always go as planned! That's part of the adventure, and it's also the reason we require all of our adventurers to have a travel insurance plan that includes medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation. We HIGHLY recommend purchasing a travel insurance plan ASAP to cover you financially with any costs that can come up like trip interruption or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. The IMG LX plan is one option that offers excellent medical and evacuation coverage, has no altitude restrictions, and offers cancel for any reason but do your research before purchasing a plan to make sure it works for you and your situation! 

reusable shopping bag

While you’re traveling, you’ll have quite a few chances to go shopping for souvenirs and snacks, so bring a small reusable shopping bag to eliminate the need to use a single use plastic bag. They’re also handy to have in case you need another bag to take on the plane. Just another way to make Mother Earth proud!

FIRST AID

We’ll have all this stuff on hand, but make sure you have a compact kit with Neosporin, bug spray, band-aids, moleskin, duct tape, anti-septic, etc. We like this one because it’s lightweight, waterproof, and has everything you might need.

SUNSCREEN + LIP SCREEN

This is a must-have for being in the sun all day, even on overcast days. We love Raw Elements Natural Sunscreen because it works great, is reef friendly, and plastic free!

TOILETRIES

Don’t forget the essentials like deodorant, sunscreen, lotion, lip balm, hair ties, hair brush, face wipes, tampons, contact solution, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, masks, and ear plugs etc. Remember our pledge to keep single-use plastics out of the places we love and aim to use reusable bottles, bar soaps, and biodegradable products! Pack it all in this Sherpani toiletry bag made from 100% recycled materials to make Mother Nature extra proud!

ADAPTER

Make sure you bring an adapter. Iceland has type C and F electrical outlets, the same kind as most European countries, with two circular pins.

REUSABLE + Biodegradable BAGS

Let’s do our part to reduce plastic pollution around the world! When packing, please only utilize reusable bags like dry bags, silicone bags (we love Stasher), and dry pouches for waterproofing your phone/passport/money. We recommend bringing along lots of different shapes and sizes to help organize and separate all your gear, dirty clothing, and toiletries. Also, having a stash of brown paper lunch bags, sanitary bags, or biodegradable poop bags is a must have for collecting and carrying out trash on the trails.

SNACKS

There’s plenty of hearty food provided at meal time, but be sure to bring plenty of extra snacks! The days can be long, you need to keep your energy up, and nothing beats comfort food when you're on the trails! Some of our favorite morale boosters are Cheez-Its, gummy worms, and Pringles. 

Packing extra snacks is especially important for those with dietary restrictions. While we can accommodate all dietary restrictions, due to the remote nature of our adventures, there might not be as much variety as you’d find at home, so packing the snacks you know you love is definitely advised. If you have questions about what to expect on your adventure when it comes to food, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.