10 Packing Essentials for Iceland in the Summer

Aaron told me being from the midwest: There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Our trip to Iceland was filled with every type of weather possible. It made it extra tricky to pack both thoroughly and lightly! We packed the basics and planned to layer. Here are our 10 Packing Essentials for a trip to Iceland in the Summer.

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1. Osprey Backpack

When we pack only carry ons our Osprey bags are the way to go. These bags are spacious enough to load in the essentials but small enough that you can stuff it under an airplane seat in a pinch. Ideally the overhead space is available but we've had a couple instances where we were told we'd need to check bags at the airport, and then countered by letting them know our Ospreys could fit under the seat. I've had my bag for over 10 years and it's held up SO well. These bags are a dream!

2. Hiking shoes

A quality pair of hiking boots will really save the day! We averaged 8-10 miles of walking or hiking each day. I thought it was helpful to have one pair of boots and one pair of regular tennis shoes incase one set was wet. With weather changing often, a waterproof pair would really save the day! I'd brought a heftier pair of Northface lace up boots but in hindsight I think a smaller shoe like these would have been great.

3. Lightweight long sleeve shirts

With constantly changing weather, the layers are going on and coming off. I didn't need any short sleeve tshirts when we went, but a lightweight long sleeve did the job!

4. Waterproof rain jacket

I brought a halfzip puffer jacket as well as a waterproof rain jacket and I was grateful for the options! The waterproof rain jacket had a hood, which helped with both wind and rain.

5. A warm beanie

A warm head for me is a warm body, and having a beanie was a quick and easy way for my body to feel comfortable. I love this one from The North Face.

6. Warm Socks

Most extra warm socks are long, so this might be controversial but I prefer a shorter ankle sock especially if I'm wearing an ankle boot. These ones are well reviewed and could be a great fit for Iceland. May not be the cutest but definitely look like they'd work!

7. A puffer jacket

I was so glad I had this with me! There were days that were warmer than others but the days that it was cold, it was cold. No matter the amount of layers, nothing can really replace the warmth of a puffy! Mine was black because it goes with everything but I would have loved a fun pop of color like this one in our pictures.

8. A travel towel

If you're planning on camping, you'll want to pack a towel. We used microfiber towels since they are quick drying. Another must if you're camping is shower shoes since you'll be using a public bathroom.

9. Quick drying pants

It can rain at any moment, and having clothes that dry easily is key! Our sweats and leggings worked for layers but something like this would have been awesome.

10. Water bottle

This probably goes without saying but the water in Iceland is clean and readily available at campgrounds. We actually hadn't brought our own bottles initially and went to Costco to pick up a pack. We almost didn't find any spring water, most likely because no one in their right mind bothers buying it there! Lesson learned, ha! We'd highly suggest bringing your own water bottle.

Let us know if there's anything you would add to this list as an Iceland essential!