Packing for Iceland in January is the single most asked question for Icelandic travelers. How cold is it? What will I need? Will I have enough room? These are all great questions and ones I will answering below. What you pack in Iceland greatly depends on what your itinerary is and how adventurous you plan to be. For us, adventure is the the primary reason for visiting Iceland in January. Upon our arrival in Keflavik International Airport, people were wearing shorts and t-shirts with -4 degrees Celsius (~25 F) temperatures and wind howling at ~40 KPH (25 MPH). Don’t be these people and ensure you are packing properly for Iceland in January.
How Cold Is It In Iceland In January
Like all good answers to questions, it depends. Iceland is considered a subarctic country where all habitable zones are just below the arctic circle. Most of the country is below the arctic circle, but there is a small portion in the northern part which crosses the arctic circle. However, just because Iceland is directly under the arctic circle, it doesn’t mean it’s a solid frozen tundra. Iceland, to the contrary, is actually quite mild for it to be so far north. While sitting in the Keflavik International Airport, it’s actually 41 degrees F, which is warmer than Raleigh, NC at 38 degrees F and snowing.
The Good
The mild temperatures are a result of three different geoscience phenomenon. First, the Gulf Stream carries warm subtropical air to the subarctic countries of Iceland and Scandinavia. Second, ocean currents carry warm ocean waters north similar to the Gulf Stream. Finally, the entire country itself is an active volcanic island with over 100 volcanoes, so the island experiences geothermal warming. Geothermal warming is also the way homes are heated and electricity is generated.
So, while Iceland may be a subarctic island, the temperatures are quite mild compared to other countries along the same latitude. For example, most of Alaska is colder than Iceland although it’s along the same latitudinal lines.
Understanding the climate helps in deciding what to pack. For us, we took typical clothes, but our focus is on comfort rather than looks. This is what your goal is; dress warm and comfortable, but take an outfit or two for a nice dinner. If you follow our itinerary, then you will be thankful for the warmth and comfort.
The Bad
The bad part about the weather and climate in Iceland is it’s a subarctic country. When the warm, moist air from the Gulf Stream moves north it mixes with the arctic air to bring snow. This mix brings a lot of snow to the highlands of Iceland making most of the islands center uninhabitable.
Additionally, with Iceland being an island country, the wind is extremely vicious and blows surprisingly hard. While staying in our Airbnb cabin, the wind howls as it blows off the rocky mountains and hills. It blows so hard the wind comes through every unsealed opening.
When going on outdoor adventures and hikes, you will need to prepare for extreme wind speeds and very low wind chills. The ambient temperature for us is around 25 degrees F, but the windchill is in the low teens and single digits. It’s very cold with the wind.
What Do I Need To Pack For Iceland In January
What you pack for Iceland in January really depends on you and how accustom you are to cold weather. We are both from the southern United States, so winters are quite mild in some places. If you are very cold natured, then I do suggest packing extra items. If you’re typically hot like me, then you can get by with a little less. However, you will need to prepare for the worst conditions. Iceland’s weather and terrain are very unforgiving. If adventure is your jam, then pack extra, because you can leave it in vehicles or at base camp if not needed.
The first thing that we recommend packing for your January trip to Iceland is layers. Layers are essential clothes for every possible weather situation and good, warm shoes!
Clothing Items to Pack for Iceland in January
- Hiking boots – Regardless of where you stay, having good hiking or show boots are absolutely essential.
- Base layer – A lot of people recommend wearing extra layers under your clothes. This is a necessary requirement, but you must be mindful of having too much. I have a Patagonia polyester long underwear set that is very warm. Also, I recommend buying items before you go. The cost of everything there is very expensive.
- Fleece or wool – I am not a huge fan of wool, except for socks. However, fleece is a wonderful option and my choice for cold weather. Anything POLARTEC is excellent. My favorite beanie is PolarTec fleece and well worth the money to keep your head warm.
- Waterproof Parka and Waterproof jacket – For the parkas, it is best to buy a 3-in-1 waterproof jacket/parka combo. Both North Face and L.L. Bean jackets are excellent for this climate. You ca remove the inner layer and have a water/windproof outer shell.
- Water and windproof pants – It is windy in Iceland and it rains so bring the pants. Also, when it the weather is too cold, I suggest having a set of ski bibs or ski pants. Again, North Face and L.L. Bean are excellent choices for this.
- Hats, gloves, and warm socks – My gloves of choice are the L.L. Bean Gore-Tex Arctic gloves and lighter North Face e-tip gloves. This is helpful when trying to use your phone or take pictures.
- Swimsuit – This sounds counterintuitive, but a bathing suit is an absolute must for Iceland in January. The country is covered with little hot spring pools and commercial hot springs and spas.
- Shoe Spikes or YakTrax– Having some kind of spikes or snow cramp-on’s are necessary for any adventure excursions you do. The government does an exceptional job at keeping the snow off main areas, but hiking trails to sightseeing spots can be dangerous. These allow you to walk normal even on ice.
Technology Packing for Iceland in January
- Camera – Probably the most important part of your trip. You need a good camera for those perfect opportunities. Modern smartphones are capable of taking amazing pictures with the right settings. I suggest a GoPro camera too to capture those dynamic moments.
- Camera Tripod – Camera tripods are great to capture the moments together when no one is around. Also, they are great when trying to capture the northern lights during a long exposure picture.
- Battery Packs – You maybe asking yourself why you need a battery pack. Well, these little guys come in really handy on expeditions. Using GPS and your phones camera drain the battery quickly. Battery packs ensure you stay charged all day.
- International Plugs – The USA has a different plug and current than the rest of the world. You will need an adapter because you can’t use the 110 V American plug in a 220 V European plug. For one, it won’t fit, and two the voltage is too high.
- Handheld GPS – This might a bit of an overkill, but I feel better having my Garmin eTrex with me. I purchased the European maps, too, due to upcoming trips to Europe.
How Will I Fit All These Items
When packing for a trip to Iceland in January, you’re probably asking how all of this stuff will fit. You will need to fit all you daily clothes, cold weather gear, technology, and any food items you may want to bring. I have all the same concerns when I go anywhere. If I need all this stuff, where will it go?
Most airlines will allow you at least one checked bag, a personal item, and a carry-on suitcase. If you are trying to get all your gear there with one piece of checked luggage, then you will need to be creative. I’m going to take you through our strategy for packing and getting everything there.
Packing Strategy for Iceland
The one thing the Marine’s are good at teaching is packing your life into a sea bag. If you don’t know what a sea bag is, it’s the large green bag they issue everyone in boot camp. You basically put your life in that bag, and you must make it fit. Let’s go over what to pack in each bag.
Large Suitcase
I use a large, hard-side Samsonite suitcase that is equipped with TSA approved locks. The luggage set comes with three sizes: Large, medium, and a carry-on piece. When packing the large suitcase, the goal is to get as much in there as possible without going over the airline weight limits. They key here is getting all your cold weather gear and daily clothes into the large suitcase. If you take camera tripods and other gear, this may be a challenge but can be done.
One method the Marines teach is to either make Ranger Rolls or roll your clothes to stack them. I usually roll all my t-shirts, underwear, socks, shorts, and casual pants like sweats and jeans. This method helps with packing clothing items tightly in the suitcase. You will be surprised with how much you can pack. For large items like ski bibs, parka’s, and puffer jackets, you may be better off getting the vacuum bags specifically made for suitcases. These bags allow you to pack a lot of clothes and have all the air vacuumed out. This is a huge space saving method.
Carry-On Luggage
The carry-on luggage is ideal to have a change of clothes, items you can’t go without, and things that don’t belong in the belly of the plane. Your toiletry/hygiene bag, gloves, beanie, medicine, and maybe a book or two are good items to add, too. Also, It’s a good idea to roll up a pair of long underwear or other base layer.
If you have room in your carry-on, then you may be able to pack your extra batteries, GoPro accessories, and maybe your shoe spikes for ice. Oh, one more thought, if you’re wearing sneakers, then you may consider packing your hiking boots in your carry-on.
Personal Bag
My personal bag is always filled with items I need right away or my expensive things. I always carry my Swiss Gear back pack full of things I consider a necessity. Some may argue what a “necessity” actually means. I consider most of my electronics and related gear as a necessity. Here is my list of personal bag items I pack:
- MacBook with accessories
- Spare Cables
- Battery Pack
- iPad, if I want it
- Sunglasses
- Chapstick
- Water bottle
- GoPro Accessories
- Passport
- Wallet
Final Thoughts
Packing for an adventurous trip to Iceland in January doesn’t have to be stressful or a chore. The key is to plan smart and take what you need up to the limits of the airlines. Some airlines are more restrictive, but overall you should be fine to pack all these items. One more thing I would suggest is taking a spare duffel bag for souvenirs and any extras you decide to buy. If you take your luggage over there busting at the seams, you won’t have any room for extras.
Visiting Iceland in January will be one of the greatest adventures you will ever do. The history, geological wonders, and the majestic northern lights will leave you breathless. However, the weather and climate is very brutal and having the right gear is essential. This article hits the highlights of packing for Iceland in January, but you can see my entire packing list by downloading this checklist.
Explore unapologetically.
Brandon
