We live in Florida. The coldest it regularly gets here is jacket weather — forty degrees, maybe thirty on a bad January night. So when we landed in Iceland in October and walked outside at Keflavík Airport into forty-degree wind with horizontal rain, we felt a very specific kind of underprepared. Not “forgot a layer” underprepared. More like “we understood the words ‘waterproof jacket’ but not what they actually meant in practice” underprepared.
This is what we learned. Not from travel blogs written by people who’ve never left their desk, but from ten days of driving Iceland’s Ring Road in October — waterfalls, black sand beaches, glacier ice caves, geothermal fields, and a lot of stops on the side of Route 1 where the wind would have knocked you down if you’d been standing upright. Here’s what to pack for Iceland in the fall, and why the waterproof layer is not optional.
The Short Answer (If You Just Need a Packing List)
Thermal base layer top and bottom. Insulating mid-layer (fleece or down). Waterproof and windproof shell jacket — the real thing, not a water-resistant windbreaker. Waterproof pants. Waterproof hiking boots. Wool socks, multiple pairs. Warm hat and gloves. That’s the system. Everything below explains why each piece matters and what we’d do differently.
Why Iceland in the Fall Is Different From “Cold”
People hear “Iceland in October” and think cold. Cold is manageable. You know how to dress for cold. What most visitors don’t anticipate is the combination — cold plus wet plus wind, often at the same time, from changing directions, in a place where there is essentially no shelter. Stand at the base of Skógafoss in October and you are being misted from a waterfall, possibly in light rain, while wind pushes the mist horizontally. Stand on the walkway near Gullfoss and the spray from the waterfall reaches you from fifty feet away. Walk out onto Reynisfjara black sand beach and the Atlantic Ocean is throwing moisture at you the moment you leave the parking lot.
Iceland’s fall weather — September through November — averages temperatures between 35°F and 50°F (2°C to 10°C), but those numbers are deceptive. Wind chill is constant and significant. Rain comes and goes without warning. You can start a morning in sunshine and finish it in a sideways squall. The Icelanders have a saying: if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. It’s accurate. What it means practically is that you need to be dressed for the worst of it at all times, because you will often be somewhere exposed — a waterfall overlook, a glacier face, a black sand beach — when the weather decides to change.
Layer One: The Thermal Base Layer
Start with a moisture-wicking thermal layer — top and bottom. This is the layer that sits against your skin, and its job is to pull sweat and moisture away from your body so you don’t get cold when you stop moving. Merino wool is the gold standard here, and if you’re going to Iceland anyway, it makes a certain amount of sense to appreciate the material firsthand. Merino wool base layers are warm, soft against the skin, naturally odor-resistant, and dry faster than cotton. Synthetic thermals — polyester or polypropylene — work well too and are often cheaper.
What you absolutely do not want is cotton. Cotton holds moisture against your body and stays wet. When you stop hiking and the wind picks up, you will feel cold in a way that is disproportionate to the actual temperature. Pack two sets of base layers minimum so you can rotate if one gets wet or sweaty from a particularly active day.
Layer Two: The Insulating Mid-Layer
The mid-layer is your insulation — a fleece, a lightweight down jacket, or an insulated synthetic jacket. Its job is to trap warmth. In Iceland, a mid-weight fleece is probably the most versatile choice because it retains some warmth even when slightly damp, which a down jacket does not do well. If you’re going to be near waterfalls or on a glacier tour — which means you will definitely get wet — a fleece mid-layer is the smarter call.
We each had a lightweight packable down jacket as a mid-layer and it worked fine for most of the trip. The ice cave tour was the exception — our guide told us upfront that down doesn’t insulate when wet and recommended layering synthetics underneath the shell jacket they provided. Take that advice. The caves are 32°F (0°C) and dripping with meltwater.
Layer Three: The Waterproof Shell — This Is the One That Matters
Here is the part most people get wrong: they buy a water-resistant jacket and think they’re covered. Water-resistant means the jacket sheds light rain for a while before it starts to soak through. Waterproof means it doesn’t let water in, period. In Iceland in the fall, you need waterproof.
The distinction matters most at waterfalls, beaches, and any hike with significant elevation change where you might walk through low cloud or fog. We were soaked with mist at every major waterfall we visited — Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Gullfoss, the falls along the Ring Road in the east. The mist doesn’t feel like rain, so you don’t necessarily notice it building up. But after twenty minutes of standing near the base of a sixty-meter waterfall, your outer layer will have absorbed a meaningful amount of water if it’s not truly waterproof. The layer underneath stays dry only if the outer layer actually did its job.
Buy a shell jacket rated for genuine waterproofness — look for Gore-Tex or similar taped-seam construction. Spend the money here. This is not a place to economize. A good waterproof shell can last you a decade of active travel, and you will absolutely use it again.
Don’t Forget Waterproof Pants
This is the piece most people leave off the packing list and regret. Waterproof pants. Not hiking pants. Not wind pants. Waterproof, taped-seam shell pants that shed water the same way your jacket does. Your legs will get wet from waterfall spray, from crouching near the water’s edge at Diamond Beach, from walking through wet grass or heather on any trail, and from the sideways rain that is just part of Iceland in October. Wet jeans are miserable. Wet hiking pants are uncomfortable. Waterproof pants keep everything underneath dry.
They don’t need to be fancy or heavy. A simple pair of waterproof over-pants that fit over your base layer and mid-layer does the job. Buy them a size up so they’re easy to pull on over boots. We wore ours every single day outside of Reykjavík.
Waterproof Hiking Boots and Wool Socks
Trail runners or light hiking shoes are not enough for Iceland in the fall unless they are rated waterproof. The ground is wet. The trails are wet. The grass is wet. You will walk through standing water without meaning to. You will get close to the edge of a waterfall and the path will be slick with mist. Waterproof hiking boots — mid or full height — are the right call.
Pair them with wool socks, not cotton. Wool socks stay warm even when damp, which they will inevitably get from condensation and activity, and they prevent blisters far better than cotton for extended hiking days. We went through two or three pairs per day between the glacier tour (which involves crampons over the boots and a lot of walking on uneven ice), the waterfall walks, and the beach hikes. Icelandic wool is also worth knowing about here — the local sheep wool has a water-resistant outer layer that’s genuinely different from merino, and the wool products from local shops include excellent thick boot socks that hold up to exactly this kind of use.
The Accessories That Actually Matter
A warm hat that covers your ears. Not optional. The wind in Iceland is relentless at exposed locations — clifftops, beach approaches, waterfall viewpoints — and a hat is the fastest way to stay warmer without adding bulk. We each brought two in case one got soaked (it happened).
Gloves — waterproof or at least water-resistant. Your hands are out in the weather every time you reach for your camera, open the car door, or zip something up. Thin liner gloves plus a heavier outer glove is the best combination because you can pull the liners alone for dexterity when you need it.
Neck gaiter or buff. More useful than a scarf because it stays in place in high wind and doubles as a face covering when the weather turns. We each used ours daily.
Sunglasses. Even in overcast Iceland, the glare off water, ice, and white snow is real. On clear days at higher elevations it can be significant. Polarized lenses are worth it.
What We Wore at Specific Places
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: Full system. Thermal base, fleece mid, waterproof shell jacket and pants. The wave spray at Reynisfjara is real and the beach is exposed. We watched a group in regular jeans and light rain jackets get wet within ten minutes of arriving. Waterproof boots are essential because the sand is regularly wet from wave runoff and you can’t always judge the slope.
Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss: Same system. Both waterfalls produce serious mist at the base and along the approach trail. Seljalandsfoss specifically — where you can walk behind the falls — is a full-body misting experience. The path behind the falls is also slick. Good boots with grip matter here.
Gullfoss and the Golden Circle: The waterfall mist at Gullfoss is significant from the main viewpoint, especially if the wind is blowing toward you. The Geysir area is windy and open. Þingvellir is beautiful and relatively sheltered by the rift valley. Full system for the entire day.
The Glacier Ice Cave: This is the one where layering matters most. Your guide provides crampons and typically a hard hat or helmet with headlamp. What they don’t always provide is sufficient insulation. We wore thermal base layers, a mid-layer, and were given an outer shell on the cave tour. Bring your own gloves — specifically ones that let you operate your camera. The cave stays at about 32°F and the ice walls and ceiling drip with meltwater. No cotton anything. Bring hand warmers.
Little-Known Tidbit
Iceland’s sheep outnumber its people — by about three to one. The country has a human population of roughly 380,000 and approximately 800,000 sheep. Those sheep have been bred in Iceland for over 1,100 years since the Norse settlers brought them in the ninth century, completely isolated from outside breeds, which is why Icelandic sheep wool is genuinely unlike anything else. The outer coat fibers (tog) are long and water-resistant; the inner coat (þel) is fine and insulating. Combined as lopi — unspun blended wool — they create a material that is both warm and naturally sheds moisture. When the early settlers of Iceland needed to survive on a volcanic island in the North Atlantic with no synthetic fabrics, this was their solution. The lopapeysa sweater you find in the wool shops today is made from the same sheep, the same wool, in the same basic construction that has kept Icelanders warm for more than a millennium.
What to Leave Home
Jeans. Just leave them. Jeans take forever to dry, provide no insulation when wet, and are heavy to carry around once soaked. Bring quick-dry hiking pants or wool-blend trousers instead.
Cotton anything that’s going below the waist or against your skin. The base layer rule applies all the way down. Cotton underwear, cotton socks, cotton long underwear — none of it.
Fashionable rain jackets. The ones with a light laminate that looks waterproof but isn’t rated for sustained exposure. Iceland will find the gap in that jacket inside twenty minutes at a waterfall.
Overpacking shoes. You need one pair of waterproof hiking boots that work for everything — hiking, walking on ice, wading through soft ground, standing in waterfall mist. That’s it. Maybe a pair of casual shoes for Reykjavík evenings. You don’t need trail runners plus hiking boots plus casual shoes.
The Complete Fall Iceland Packing List
Here’s the consolidated version. This is what we’d pack today, knowing what we know:
Base layer (×2 sets): Merino wool or synthetic thermal top and bottom. No cotton.
Mid-layer (×1–2): Fleece or lightweight insulated jacket. Fleece is better near water.
Outer shell jacket: Genuine waterproof and windproof — Gore-Tex or equivalent. Taped seams.
Waterproof pants: Shell pants that fit over your other layers. One pair is enough.
Hiking boots: Waterproof, mid or full-height, good ankle support. Break them in before you go.
Wool socks (×4–6 pairs): Merino or Icelandic wool. Two pairs per day if you’re active.
Warm hat (×2): Covers ears. Wool or fleece. One gets wet; the other stays dry.
Gloves (×2 pairs): Liner gloves plus a waterproof outer. Or waterproof ski gloves.
Neck gaiter or buff: Wind blocker and face cover. One is enough.
Sunglasses: Polarized preferred.
Thin liner gloves: For camera operation in cold conditions.
Hand warmers: For ice cave, glacier walks, or any day below 35°F with wind.
Nic’s Pick
The hand warmers. I know that sounds minor, but I cannot overstate how much they helped at the glacier. We were waiting outside for the group to assemble before entering the cave and the wind was coming across the ice field in a way that made it feel much colder than the thermometer suggested. I had a pair of hand warmers in my jacket pockets and after about five minutes I wasn’t thinking about my hands at all — which meant I could focus on the ice, the guide’s instructions, and actually being present for one of the best experiences of the trip. Buy a box, stuff them in every bag, and thank yourself later. They’re also useful at any waterfall where you’re standing still and taking photos for twenty minutes in mist. Anything that lets you stop thinking about whether you’re cold is worth the three dollars it costs.
FROM THE SHOP
We created SunSpun Creations to turn some of these Iceland travel stories into prints, shirts, and gifts. If this post is part of your planning, these Iceland designs are a good place to start — for yourself or for a traveler you know who’s made the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About Packing for Iceland in the Fall
Do I really need waterproof pants, or is a good jacket enough?
You really need waterproof pants. The waterfall mist, beach spray, and occasional rain in Iceland will soak regular hiking pants from the knees down, and wet legs in cold wind is miserable regardless of how warm your upper body is. One pair of lightweight shell pants weighs almost nothing and solves the problem completely.
Can I rent or buy gear in Iceland if I don’t want to pack everything?
Yes. Reykjavík has outdoor gear shops including 66°North (an Icelandic brand built specifically for this climate) and Cintamani that rent and sell high-quality waterproof layers. Renting for a 10-day trip isn’t always cheaper than buying once you factor in convenience, but it’s a legitimate option if you’re flying carry-on only or coming from a warm climate and don’t own the gear yet.
Is Iceland in September warmer or drier than October?
September is typically a few degrees warmer — averages around 45°F–52°F vs. October’s 38°F–47°F — and slightly less rainy on average. But “slightly less rainy” still means rain is common and the same packing rules apply. The waterproof layer is essential in September too. The bigger September advantage is longer daylight hours — about 13–14 hours versus 10–11 in October — which matters a lot for how much you can see and photograph in a day.
What should I wear in Reykjavík vs. the countryside?
Reykjavík is more sheltered than the open countryside and you’ll mostly be walking on streets rather than wet trails, so you can get away with slightly lighter layers in the city. That said, the wind off the harbor is real and the temperature is the same. We wore the same gear in the city as on the Ring Road — just minus the waterproof pants unless it was actively raining.
What would you pack differently if you went back?
Better gloves. We both had decent gloves but they weren’t truly waterproof, and by the end of a long day at the waterfalls they were damp inside. Waterproof ski gloves with a removable liner would have been the right call. Also: more wool socks than we thought we needed. We ran short by day seven.
What We’d Do Differently
The only real gear mistake we made was underestimating how wet our hands would get. We prioritized the jacket and pants and boots, which was right, but we didn’t spend equivalent attention on gloves. By mid-trip we were buying hand warmers at every N1 gas station we stopped at. That worked, but proper waterproof gloves would have been cleaner. The second thing: we both wish we’d bought wool socks in Iceland at the start of the trip rather than at the end. Buy them on day two in Reykjavík and wear them for the rest of the journey. They’re not cheap, but they’re better than anything we brought from home.
Read Next
These Iceland posts will help you get the most out of the trip you’re packing for:
- Iceland Ring Road: A 10-Day Adventure Guide From a Couple Who Actually Drove It
- Iceland Glacier Ice Cave: What It’s Actually Like to Stand Inside a 10,000-Year-Old Glacier
- Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: Iceland’s Most Dangerous Beach and Why It’s Worth It Anyway
- The Golden Circle, Iceland: Geysers, a 1,000-Year-Old Parliament, and Europe’s Most Powerful Waterfall
- Icelandic Wool: Why It’s Worth the Price, How to Care for It, and What Our Guide Wore Into the Glacier
- Iceland Travel Costs: What We Actually Spent on a 10-Day Ring Road Trip
More from the shopBrowse the full travel wall art collection — canvas prints and posters of Iceland’s south coast, Paris and Eilean Donan.
Ben & Nicole Mathews
We’re based in St. Augustine, Florida, sharing the places we’ve actually been — from our home turf to corners of the U.S. and abroad. Ben is an attorney and a retired Air Force JAG (22 years), and a private pilot, which is why aviation and military history shows up here too.