In May of this year, my husband and I went on an epic road trip to Iceland. We travelled around the entire country via rental car for two weeks. 

Our normal everyday get up.

Before leaving we researched everything we could possibly need (besides all the cameras I wanted to bring), and have narrowed down after returning what we used and utilized the most.

The Essentials:

Hiking Boots: The majority of our trip we were either driving, or hiking. We purchased water proof hiking boots, and wore them almost every single day. Iceland’s terrain is a hodge-podge of everything you can imagine. Near waterfalls it’ll be wet, rocky, and slippery. Near the beach it’ll be sandy, rocky, flat. Near mountains it’ll be hilly, rocky, and icy. Having quality shoes that can handle anything Iceland throws at you is a must!

Protective Clothing: This encompasses a variety of items that we needed. We each brought with us waterproof coats which had dual layers you could zip off. This was perfect for cold mornings, and warmer afternoons. You can shed a layer but still have a water proof shell for climbing near waterfalls. 

Our water proof boots and clothes came in handy here.

Black waterproof pants fit easily over my jeans!

Another must have are good gloves for a variety of reasons. One, depending on when you go it’ll probably be cold at some point. Two, if you plan on climbing on top of the DC-3 plane crash then you’ll have to do so via sharp jagged metal holes. (Which tore open my leather gloves, and luckily not my hand). Three, it’s not fun having a snowball fight with your bare hands. I’m also going to throw in a warm hat, there were many days when a beanie and a hood still didn’t keep my ears warm enough. 

Waterproof Pants: This came in handy a few times, and probably depends on what you’ll be doing. We purchased pants that fit over the jeans or leggings you’re currently wearing and keeps your legs nice and dry. We mainly used these when hiking near waterfalls and on rainy days. While we didn’t physically go on a glacier, I’m sure this would be a must for any icy activity. 

What we wish we had: a face mask or scarf. Iceland was very windy, a lot windier than we expected. There was more than one occasion when we wished we had something to cover our face and noses from the cold. Glacier lagoon tours, walking to the DC-3 airplane site, exploring on the black sandy beaches, having a warmer face would’ve made it nicer!

Weird Stuff: One item you should really consider getting if you plan to take a lot of camera phone pictures is a waterproof camera bag. We used this on rainy days, lagoon tours, under waterfalls, AND in the Blue Lagoon. I mainly got these just for the Blue Lagoon because I knew I’d want to take a lot of photos and not have to worry about dropping my phone or leaving it on the side. The case is a clear plastic bag which hangs around your neck on a lanyard, you can take photos without ever taking it out. Our only issue was the bag getting foggy from the heat, and sometimes water droplets covered the plastic. A definite must have! 

Water Proof bag in action, slightly underwater.

Panorama in the Blue Lagoon with the waterproof bag!

Toilet Paper: You don’t necessarily have to pack this before you leave, but you will more than likely need a roll if you’re road tripping. You’ll find a lot of picnic spots in Iceland, but you won’t find a lot of rest stops, gas stations, or toilets to stop at. 

GPS: Do not rely on your phone for directions, do not rely on printed directions with street names. We heavily used our car’s GPS and would’ve been very lost without it. While Route 1 only goes in a giant loop, it gets difficult when you’re searching for your guest house after a long day and don’t see any street signs on the dirt roads. 

And lastly, do not over pack. We brought a lot more than we needed, and could’ve saved a lot of energy from loading and unloading suitcases every leg of the trip. Pack clothes that can be mixed and matched, worn multiple times, and layered.