It’s official, we’re heading back to Iceland! Literally, we’re so excited and we’ve already started planning on the best places to see and all the essential things to pack for Iceland when we visit.
We definitely couldn’t stay away for too long and we’re looking forward to getting around and doing some of the stuff we did before and a lot more stuff we didn’t get to do the first time around (which doesn’t seem like much as we spent every waking moment going from sight to sight in Iceland).
In any case, I’m not one for packing my bags too early; however, seeing as I have a reasonable idea what to expect, I figured I might as well put together a list of the essential stuff that I need to pack for a trip to Iceland in Winter!
Needless to say, you need to pack obvious things like clothes, underwear, toothbrushes…etc regardless of wherever you’re travelling to so I won’t cover those again here.
Let’s jump right in shall we?
1.) Cameras
I plan on taking my DSLR camera (as per usual) and my Go Pro.
The GoPro is a must on such an active holiday and I’m really looking forward to using this! I even have a chest harness, GoPro stick and a head strap-on thing so I’m all set on that front for cameras.
The one thing I’m realizing as we speak that I still need is a spare battery for the Go Pro. I seem to forget to switch the camera off all the time and find that the battery is all drained later in the day. Must get that before we head out. I wonder if I could use those mobile phone battery pack chargers to charge it (you know, like these ones?)
Honestly, cameras are one of those things to pack for Iceland that’s totally incredible for saving those memories. Still, to this day, I love looking over our old pics.
Update: I ended up getting this one and it’s amazing – it lasts ages, charges super-fast and is the most affordable for its capacity.
2.) Coats
In the past, I’ve tended to travel with somewhat ridiculously inappropriate jackets and instead depended on layering to keep me warm. This often led to feeling like the Michelin man underneath all those layers, so I figured it was high time to get something winter travel/adventure appropriate.
Cue the Columbia Turbodown jackets, I got this one, Lloyd got this one. Can’t wait to try them out.
Honestly, if you look at the older Iceland photos, you’ll see what I mean about the ridiculous layering. I actually packed a leather jacket to go to Iceland (and that was the only coat I took as well).
I want to say it was for fashion or some other justifiable reason, but the truth is I was just thinking practically. At that time, I had no idea how cold Iceland would actually be (the clue was really in the name but I figured I’d be okay). In the end, it was warm, but not without effort.
Looking forward to trying out the new coats. Took them for a test run when it got cold in London recently.
*Update: They were absolutely perfect! They’re so warm and toasty, even in the blistering cold.
3.) Sensible Shoes
This time, I plan on packing sensible walking shoes (like these).
Trust me, don’t go to Iceland without a good pair of walking or hiking shoes; it’s one of the essential things to pack for Iceland even if you’re not going hiking itself.
4.) Tripod
An absolute must if you want to catch the Northern Lights (and so much else of course).
Fingers crossed they make an appearance! If they do, we all plan on being ready with our tripods. Hopefully, it won’t be quite as cloudy as the first time we saw them.
5.) Swimwear
Sounds counterintuitive, but one of the best parts of visiting a country with a lot of active volcanoes is the presence of hot springs (heated geothermally). Case in point – The Blue Lagoon.
I actually plan on packing a pair of speedos, which I bought in Singapore as soon as I realised I would be heading over to The Marina Bay Sands for a mini staycation, and of course, to check out their infinity pool.
Alas, they’re not speedo briefs (ha!) but they’ll do.
6.) Sunglasses
Another seemingly counter-intuitive item but you’ll be grateful for them on bright days, walking on what seems like endless miles of snow (or ice).
You wouldn’t think you’d need that in winter, but the sun still shines loads in Winter, and sunshine on ice can be pretty bright.
It doesn’t hurt to get something you can use all year round, so while you’re at it, pick up a pair of Ray-Bans or whatever else takes your fancy.
Personally, I like the aviators and the club masters (especially the club masters – I want to get my actual reading glasses replaced and I think I’m definitely going for Clubmaster frames).
7.) Travel Adapters
Legit travel adapters are a must-have.
Unless you use exactly the EU 2-pin plugs at home, you can just skip this one on your list. Now, you will be able to pick these up at the airport, but I always find them so much more expensive than buying beforehand.
8.) Torchlight
This isn’t something I’d usually pack, but when you’re out at night in the middle of nowhere with no lights in sight (which you have to be when you need to see the Northern Lights), it does help to have your own source of light.
Thankfully, most smartphones have torchlights (or at least torchlight apps); however, just in case, a torch is one of the things to pack for Iceland if you’re heading around at night or dusk.
And it doesn’t have to be a big one either!
This mini Maglite is amazing (and surprisingly affordable). I got one a few years back and it still works perfectly now! They’re definitely durable traveller’s lights.
