Family-Friendly Iceland! The Best Tips For Laughing In The Face Of Snow, Rain, And Cold While Hunting For The Northern Lights. Part 2: What To Pack For Iceland

What To Pack For Iceland

Welcome back to my Iceland trip planning series! Here you will get invaluable tips on what to pack for summer and winter travel to Iceland.

Medicine And First Aid Kit – A Must For Family Travel!

When travelling, I like to pack all the medicine we could possibly need (read: moms plan for Armageddon). Yes, I could go to a store while away, but I don’t want to be bothered. Simply put, bringing it all saves time and effort. My DIY first-aid kit includes packing pain and allergy medicine (for adults and kids), Band-Aids, and antibiotic ointment. Additionally, I like bringing vitamin packets to keep my immune system up since we tour around so much and operate on less sleep. Lastly, I throw in a nail clipper in case there’s an incident. Here’s my little travel hack: I repurposed this 7-day vitamin organizer for my loose pills and vitamins to make it easy. Then I labeled everything with these cute write-on Mabels Labels.

Ice Gear – Is It Needed For Your Iceland Packing List?

I did more research than one could imagine on crampons aka ice cleats, ice spikes, microspikes. Who knew there were so many options to pack for Iceland so you don’t fall on the ice? We ended up bringing a variety, not using any, and returning them. Guess what? I fell on the ice. With that said there were some times when we visited waterfalls that they would have helped (see above) but for the most part we got by with a good pair of waterproof hiking boots. Rest assured that any tour requiring special gear will provide it for you, so don’t stress.

Footwear

Waterproof hiking boots are a must. They’re not only mandatory for your Iceland packing list for the foot traction, but also, you’ll likely be walking through puddles. Equally important are your socks. I did a ton of research and found these super warm, soft, incredible socks. They fit easily into our boots and didn’t feel bulky at all. As the yin to the waterproof boot yang, bring a pair of flip-flops or shower shoes for the lagoons. While you won’t need them in the pools, showering before entry is required so you’ll want them for the locker room.

Rain Gear

I did so much research on rain gear because apparently when it rains in Iceland it RAINS. It took us six days to experience the wrath of her rain but oh boy, when it rained it poured. I ended up outfitting us all with Frogg Toggs. They have the most incredible lightweight rain jackets (tons of pockets!) and thin, comfortable rain pants (also tons of pockets!). Funny enough, the days we were in and out of the car the most were the same days it rained and snowed. Luckily our Frogg Toggs gear was easy to wear and not bulky at all. In addition to the raincoats and rain pants, they have great compact ponchos too. All of the above fold up small requiring minimal suitcase real estate. These pieces will be assets to our travel wardrobe (not to mention outdoor sporting events) for many years.

Base Layer, Shirts, and Pants

Timing your long underwear need with a sale on long underwear is a beautiful thing. Thanks to the holiday sales before our winter trip to Iceland, I bought each of us a new base layer set for under $10! Then I moved on to fleece-lined pants and possibly bought every pair made trying to find the right one. If you’re not used to walking around in ski pants (me) you’ll want to find a thin pair that’s both comfortable for walking around and sitting in the car. My husband wore jeans most days and we packed ski pants/bibs for the kids (because we already had them). I loved the fleece-lined pants I bought myself so much and they were so warm I didn’t need a base layer! Plus, they had lots of zippered pockets. For our upper bodies we just layered up, packing a t-shirt and sweatshirt for each day. Of course, we topped it all off with our warmest coat.

Gloves and Hats

Since Iceland is cold in all seasons, packing a good pair of warm gloves and a cozy hat are a must. We loved our gloves from Weatherproof and appreciated the bonus zippered pouch to add a hand warmer. Do you see a theme here? Pockets. Additionally, these gloves were a bit longer than usual keeping our arms warm under our coats.

Hand and Foot Warmers

You can’t go wrong packing disposable hand and foot warmers for your Iceland trip. They’re great for colder day tours and a must when hunting for the Northern Lights. Since they’re individually wrapped, extras can be used throughout the year. Each night when we walked around my kids used hand warmers. Going along with Iceland’s sustainability, rechargeable hand warmers are a great option too.

Chargers And Cords Galore

Phones are so much more than phones these days, especially on a trip. They’re your camera, video camera, and your connection to home. Iceland’s scenery is so beautiful that without a doubt you’ll be snapping away nonstop. Some phones are better than others for different shots. For example, newer phones have night mode which works great for capturing the Northern Lights. Fun fact – you can see the Northern Lights better through a camera than with your naked eye. Iceland also has generous Wi-Fi everywhere so you’ll be on your phones a lot. With that said, you’ll be charging them several times a day. For this reason, I suggest packing a cord per person and a multi-head charger with USB and USBc slots so you can charge everything at once. Don’t forget, Iceland is on the European currency (two-round plugs) so be sure to pack a converter as well.

Snacks – A Must On Your Iceland Packing List

Family travel and food go hand in hand. You never know when your kid will get hungry (always), and a protein bar is the answer. Additionally, we don’t like wasting time eating a big breakfast (unless it’s included at the hotel), so we usually eat on the go. There’s a lot of driving in Iceland and while I encourage frequent Skyr yogurt pit stops, adding some sustenance to your Iceland packing list will save your sanity. Go ahead and throw some chocolate in there as well for emergencies!

Bathing Suit, Towel, and Sunglasses

While most of the above talks about the cold, we also want to mention the sun. Fire and ice, baby. It’s sunny in Iceland – even when it’s zero degrees – so don’t forget to pack your sunglasses. You may also want to pack suntan lotion if you’re traveling to Iceland in the Summer. Also, no matter the season, pools and lagoons are a huge part of Icelandic culture (even in the rain and snow) so be sure to pre-book yourself for a few visits and bring a bathing suit. Lastly, most pool admissions don’t include a towel so pack a quick-drying one from home (or be prepared to rent one there). Finally, don’t forget a water-tight bag for your phone for fun aquatic pictures.

Backpack and Reusable Water Bottles

My kids love bringing backpacks on the plane filled with entertainment. They also work great as day packs and long car rides lifesavers. My favorite type of backpack has an outside water bottle pouch and many – can you guess? Pockets. Since Iceland is a recycling and sustainability champion, your best Iceland packing list must also include a reusable water bottle. Everywhere you go will have complimentary, delicious, glacial water waiting for you!

Don’t Forget To Pack Books and Games

When we travel, I strongly suggest (force) everyone to disconnect and read. I love reading books on vacation, especially if they’re related to my destination. Funny enough the two books I read in Iceland didn’t have anything to do with Iceland, but randomly mentioned it! That was exciting. We also like to pack a card game or two in case we have some downtime and get tired of fighting.

Funny Slogans Help When You Forget What To Pack For Iceland

I hope this list helps you when you’re thinking about what to pack for Iceland. But don’t worry, if you forget something they have shops, clothing stores, and supermarkets close to most major sites. You can always pick up what’s needed. Don’t worry, you got this!

The Mint Chip Mama’s Iceland What To Pack For Iceland Work for Winter and Summer Travel in Iceland:

Be sure to check out The Mint Chip Mama‘s entire Family Friendly Iceland Vacation series, my travel gear, and my full itinerary here where you can book everything directly in one place!

Part 1: Iceland – Know Before You Go, Part 2: What To Pack For Iceland, Part 3: Reykjavík, Part 4: South Iceland & West Iceland, Part 5: The Golden Circle

More on The Mint Chip Mama:
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