What I Packed: Iceland in June
The weather for our trip started off in the 40’s and gradually warmed up to the mid 50’s by the time we left. The wind in Iceland got up to 26mph and was exceptionally biting when it was raining. We’ve lived through our share of cold wind in the winters in South Korea, but it still bites.
Hiking boots: Good footwear is a must! I bought these black Sorel’s last winter and raved about them so much. I actually put 16,000 steps on them in my first hike and they were insanely comfortable and are warm enough even with thin socks. They are waterproof which makes them great for days when it was raining.
Tennis shoes: I chose my high top converse because I’m loving them lately. I wore them in the mornings getting coffee and on days I didn’t think my feet would get wet. I also wore these traveling to and from Iceland.
Layering tees and sweaters: I packed my favorite Heattech sweaters from Uniqlo. They’re lightweight and so incredibly warm. They’re versatile and I usually layer a tank top under them and a heavy sweater, jacket or puffer vest over them.
Raincoat / Waterproof Jacket: This is especially important for when you visit waterfalls! Especially at waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Gullfoss, where you’re right up at the water. Add a rainy day on top of that and you’re going to want to bring spare clothes with you.
Puffer vest: If you’ve seen me in my hiking gear, you know I love a puffer vest during the winter… and spring and fall. LOL! I took my two favorites - my brown one and my long black one - and wore one literally everyday. I love a puffer vest because it keeps my core warm and my arms from getting too warm.
One puffer coat: I didn’t want to use a ton of suitcase space and weight on coats so I planned on taking a coat that would pack up compactly. I was excited when I found this gorgeous short red one in a thrift store. I knew the color would pop against any landscape in Iceland which was a plus. It came in handy when the temps were in the cool 40’s! I should also mention that I personally prefer a vest over a coat in general. You should pack what you know you will gravitate towards.
Bathing suit + thong sandals: I kept these in a suitcase in the trunk of our car “just in case” we found a roadside hot spring. Sandals are much easier to put than winter boots when your feet are wet. You’ll also need these for your trip to the Blue Lagoon, The Secret Lagoon, or the Sky Lagoon.
Fleece lined tights: I own these and these and wear them most of the year when I go hiking. They make even a basic legging or pant so much warmer. I bought both of these styles two winters ago and they’re still in like new condition. I wore them everyday except the last 3 days of our trip!
Ponte leggings: I prefer these over a regular legging for their thickness and they look more like a pant. They can be dressed up or down and never look too casual.
Wool/thick socks: These probably weren’t necessary with my warm boots, but I packed them and wore them anyway. I also packed some fleece lined socks that I love. I managed to find some warm socks for the girls just days before our trip and bought them 3 pair each. They wore those everyday, we had to wash them so many times.
A big scarf: I’ve had an American Apparel circle scarf since college. I love a circle scarf because it does so much more than keep your neck warm. You can cover your head, pull it over your shoulders, cover half your body, use it as a blanket or share it with your kids. This one and this one are very similar. London used one and my mom borrowed mine throughout the trip, too.
I packed way more and wore almost everything I packed, but this is a good list of necessities to start with. I’m used to being out in 40 and 50 degree weather so I knew what I would be comfortable in and that helped me with packing. Of all the clothes I packed, the only things I didn’t wear were dinner outfits. We almost never made it back to the house to change and go out again for dinner.
I’m a visual packer. I pull out my rolling rack and gradually start adding pieces to it that I want to pack over time. This helps me see if I have too much of something and what is missing.
I recommend keeping an eye on the weather leading up to your trip. I didn’t need the puffer coat for the last half of our trip but I would’ve been cold the first half. I also packed a fanny pack and a crossbody bag and all the guys carried a backpack each day. I prefer a hood on sweatshirt or jacket, but for the kids and my husband we packed beanies. We also packed gloves for everyone and consistently managed to lose London’s. I don’t know how we managed to come home with them. LOL
For the girls, I packed all of their sweat pants and sweat shirts, layering tees, Sorel snow boots and a pair of UGG’s for London. I also packed their snow suits. We used these a couple of times like the day we did the Into the Glacier tour. If our trip had been a week earlier, we probably would’ve gotten more use out of them, and if our trip was a week later they would’ve been useless. Since the girls were about to outgrow their snowsuits, we left them behind and asked for them to be donated. Hopefully they’ll be able to be passed along multiple times.
