Camping in Iceland: Complete Gear Rental Guide
August 13, 2026
What to Wear on Your Iceland Trip: The complete guide with directions to the articles you need.
- July 16, 2025
- Iceland
Are you wondering what to wear on your Iceland trip? You might be thinking what you should pack, and you want answers that are specific.
And I’m here to help!
In this post I’ll link to our blogs that will answer what you should wear in Iceland for each month and/or season!
That way you’ll get the information you need for time you’ll be in Iceland!
So let’s get to it!
Scroll down for direct links to our focused packing guides.
General Packing Advice for Iceland (Any Season)
No matter when you visit, here’s what you need…always.
- Layered clothing: Base (thermal underwear), mid (fleece or wool), and outer (waterproof shell or a winter parka).
- Waterproof everything: Jacket, pants, shoes, you name it!
- Sturdy footwear: Waterproof hiking boots. Leather and Gore-Tex.
- Accessories: Hat, gloves, and wool socks.
And trust me, cotton is not your friend in Iceland. If it gets wet, then it’s basically game over. It won’t keep you warm after that and it takes FOREVER to dry.
Stick to merino wool, fleece, or synthetic material.
If you’re only just starting planning, here is a brief overview:
Season | Typical Months | Conditions
Winter | Nov – Mar | Snowy, icy, windy, and very dark
Spring | Apr – May | Unpredictable, chilly, and may have snow
Summer | Jun – Aug | Mild, warm, and long daylight hours
Autumn | Sep – Oct | Windy, cooling temperatures, and quite nice
Monthly Packing Articles
Here is a list of articles for what to pack for Iceland for each month of the year!
Brief summery:
This is one of the coldest months of the year. So you’ll want all the layers!
Storms and weather warnings are common
Brief summery
While not as cold as January, it’s still very cold.
Storms are not uncommon.
Brief summery
Still very cold. Don’t be fooled, spring isn’t here yet.
Brief summery
Wild card month. No way to predict what to expect.
Brief summery
Also a wild card month but you can expect it to be milder than April
Brief summery
Nice month. The start of it might be very cold, but by the end, it’s usually nice.
Chillier than you think.
Brief summery
Warmest month of the year. Usually very nice.
Brief summery
Might be warm, might be cold. Very hard to tell. You want to be ready for chilly conditions.
Brief summery
Similar to August. Sometimes it’s an early winter, sometimes it’s an extended summer. Be prepared for the worst!
But not too cold.
Brief summery
Winter is here. Definitely colder now with the wind.
Brief summery
Proper cold. You want to wear all the layers.
Brief summery
Cold, windy, and dark. Chances of storms are high, and the wind will sting. You want to wear all the layers.
What to wear for each season in Iceland
If you want to know what to wear in each season, here is a quick summary for Iceland.
What to wear in Iceland in winter and this one!
Brief summary
With the wind and the cold, you want to be wearing base layers, mid layers, and outer layers. Maybe you won’t need it, but you’ll want to have it for sure!
October – early December is cold but rainy.
While the end of December – March is usually very cold and snowy.
What to wear in Iceland in summer
Brief summary
Mild and cozy, but not warm.
Beginning of June might be cold (and it might even snow) but by the end of the month, it’ll be summer.
July is very nice in general. You can get away with just a mid layer and shell for the wind and rain.
August is similar to June but in revers. So nice in the beginning and colder as we get closer to September.
What to wear in Iceland in spring
Brief summary
April and May are wild card months.
You want to be prepared for anything. Have all layers with you.
What to wear in Iceland in Autumn
Brief summary
September and October are hard to predict.
Maybe they will be mild, or maybe they’ll be windy and cold.
Definitely bring base layers, mid layers and outer layers.
What to avoid
Avoid these mistakes:
- No jeans for hiking – When they get wet, they won’ be any help at all.
- No dressy shoes – Hiking boots are king!
- Be careful with light jackets without layers – Light jackets are only good for summer
- No umbrellas – There are about 5 days a year when you can use an umbrella effectively; better to rely on good clothes!
Rent clothes in Iceland
If you don’t want to buy things you may not use again, consider renting outdoor clothes in Iceland for your trip to Iceland. This way, you can save money and space in your bag!
We’ve got everything you need to enjoy your time in Iceland!
FAQs: What to Wear on Your Iceland Trip
1. Can I rent outdoor gear in Iceland?
Yes! Check out our selection at icelandcover.com, we’ve got boots, pants, coats, beanies, gloves, hiking poles, crampons!
2. Are regular sneakers okay?
Depends on the time you come. Outside of June – August, I wouldn’t recommend having only sneakers. And even in the summer, I would not recommend it.
3. Do I need snow pants in summer?
No, you don’t even need them in the winter really. Good outdoor pants with base layer and mid layer is my go to
4. Will I need a heavy coat in July?
Not heavy not, however, it should be very water-resistant. A warm and breathable mid layer + a shell is a great option
5. Can I pack light and layer up?
Absolutely! Pack only the base and mid layers and rent the heavy and bulky outdoor clothes with Icelandcover
6. How do locals dress?
In the city? Poorly. But when we go out into the countryside, we dress for functionality.
Wrapping It Up
I hope you found what you needed in this article. Now you have a better idea of what to wear on your trip to Iceland!
And remember! If you need outdoor clothes for your trip we’ve got you covered, at Icelandcover!
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