Packing list for Iceland – What you shouldn’t miss in your suitcase!

Since equipment is very important for a Iceland trip, and we’ve received many questions about it, we decided to create a packing list for Iceland. There, you can see what equipment, clothes, and other items we brought with us in Iceland, and what you shouldn’t forget in your suitcase. If you don’t pack a windproof jacket, you’ll have just as little fun in Iceland as someone who brings a thick cotton jacket.

While it may keep you warm, it dries very slowly. Choosing the right clothing is therefore crucial. You’ll find out below what clothing is best to bring. Camping in Iceland is also very popular, which is why we also traveled with a tent and can provide detailed tips on equipment. You can find out everything in our packing list for Iceland.

Iceland packing list – Camping gear

In Iceland, both your clothing and camping gear must withstand pretty much any weather. Even in the summer months, you have to expect heavy rain showers, strong winds, or even storms. The weather is simply unpredictable and extremely changeable. Accordingly, a simple pop-up tent that only costs €20 is obviously not enough in Iceland. Jeans and sneakers don’t really make sense either. Especially when camping and self-catering, you should think about this in advance.

Camping-On-Island-Camping-Stove

Our packing list for Iceland got longer and longer even before our trip, and in the end we didn’t regret it. We had everything we needed with us. This also meant we saved a lot of money. If you’re wondering how much the entire trip cost us, take a look here: ▷ Our costs for Iceland. We decided on a travel period between May and September. Those who want to camp in winter have correspondingly higher requirements, which we cannot take into account here.

Packing list for Iceland – the tent, sleeping bag & Co

We definitely recommend spending a little more money on high-quality products. A sleeping bag with a comfortable temperature of 0–5°C may cost a little more, but you’ll be happy to have a warm sleeping bag every night. We’ve also heard of tents that leaked or pegs that no longer stayed in place. You usually only buy good material once. Then you’ll have it for a long time. We brought a small 2-person tent, 2 sleeping mats (5 cm), 2 sleeping bags, 2 small pillows, and a small tent lamp.

Since we were able to leave our luggage in the car, the size of the tent was sufficient. However, if the luggage has to be stored in the tent, we recommend a significantly larger tent. Otherwise, it lived up to its promise. We had no problems at all during our Iceland tour. It even withstood strong winds and heavy rain. We also want to mention that the tent and its interior can be set up and taken down in just 10 minutes. Really easy! In the following table, you’ll find the complete packing list for Iceland on the topic of “camping equipment”:

Camping Kitchen & Co.

The Iceland packing list is slowly taking shape, isn’t it? Gas cartridges for cooking can be purchased at almost any gas station (screw cap). The windbreak and gas stove have proven to be a great team. Because the cooking unit isn’t screwed directly onto the gas cartridge, you can cook very low on the ground (since the cartridge and cooking unit are separate).

The cooking area is therefore low and can be perfectly protected by the windbreak. Cooking units that are screwed directly onto the gas cartridge are very high overall, and the windbreak is no longer high enough. The center of gravity of the entire structure, with the cooking pot, is also very high, so it can be knocked over relatively easily.

Useful Camping Gadgets

In addition to the absolutely necessary items, we also brought things that simply made our lives easier. The LED light for the tent, the power strip, and the binoculars served us very well. Earplugs or tape are also good companions on such trips. Your Iceland packing list should include some of the following items:

Packing List for Iceland – Technology & Photo Equipment

These incredible landscapes and scenery simply have to be captured! Therefore, we’ve listed our technical equipment here. This is, of course, very individual. Before the trip, we bought USB chargers for the cameras. This meant we could always charge most of the batteries in the car while on the go.

Thanks to the large power banks, we were able to survive for several days without a power outlet, as not every campsite has enough outlets; sometimes there are none at all. If you’re interested in our complete photo equipment, take a look here: Our Photo Equipment.

Good Clothing for Your Iceland Trip

Your Iceland packing list should, of course, also include clothes. Does the weather forecast predict sunshine? You should definitely bring a rain jacket to Iceland anyway! We saw more rainbows there than we’ve seen in a long time. Why? The weather in Iceland is simply much more changeable than here – sun and rain follow one another within minutes.

Then add the typical island wind, and whoosh… you’re wishing you had some decent clothing. The best thing is the well-known onion principle. This involves three layers: first, breathable underwear, then the insulating and warming layer, and finally, the protective layer. Cotton, by the way, is completely unsuitable for all aspects; polyester is much better. Exception: Merino wool is also excellent.

Breathable Underwear

The purpose of this layer is to wick moisture (sweat) away from the body. Therefore, you should definitely not use cotton, as this material retains moisture instead of wicking it away. The breathable layer must be worn close to the body. We brought a few long-sleeved shirts with us for this purpose, which served us really well and should be on your Iceland packing list.

Warming Layer

The warming layer retains body heat. Sweaters, jackets, vests… anything goes! As long as it’s not cotton. And you can never be wrapped up warm enough in Iceland. The wind can be really unpleasant and sometimes freezing cold. A warming layer is really important.

Finally, the protective layer

In the end, it’s all about not getting wet and fending off the cold wind. The best way to do this is with a rain or softshell jacket. Everything can be a little looser here. Nothing is worse than having a jacket that’s too short. Rain pants are also highly recommended. We often wore them over our hiking pants. It immediately made it warmer, and the cold wind couldn’t hurt us anymore. The rain pants were one of the best purchases ever anyway! Add them to your Iceland packing list!

Functional clothing doesn’t have to be expensive! We used the linked products ourselves and were very happy with them. We were even able to wear the clothes longer than planned because they wicked away sweat and therefore didn’t smell unpleasant! In addition to functional underwear, you shouldn’t forget the following items on your Iceland packing list:

Iceland Packing List – Comfortable Hiking Boots

Hiking boots should also be on your packing list for Iceland. The shoes should easily withstand occasional hikes of 3 to 5 hours without letting water through, becoming heavy, or uncomfortable on your feet. We got ankle-high boots with long hiking socks. Even though we had our comfortable sneakers with us, we ended up walking around in our hiking boots all day long – for 14 days!

The shoes are simply super comfortable, lightweight, and yet robust enough to withstand the demands of hiking. A clear recommendation! We also highly recommend the socks, which still didn’t smell unpleasant after a whole day. P.S.: Be sure to break in your shoes!

Important Documents

After talking about equipment and clothing, you shouldn’t forget the necessary documents. In Iceland, everything is paid for by credit card, including the €1.50 for using the toilet. Therefore, it’s important to have a credit card with you that, ideally, doesn’t charge fees abroad. At this point, we recommend our article about excellent travel credit cards. Other documents you should have with you:

Air tickets & hotel booking
Credit card (e.g., GenialCard from Hanseatic Bank*)
Health insurance card
International health insurance (e.g., from Hanse Merkur*)
Rental car booking & voucher
Identity card or passport
Driver’s license

Have you checked all the boxes? Great, then we can get started! We really hope our Iceland packing list was helpful. If you’re still looking for inspiration and tips for your trip, feel free to check out our many Iceland posts.