What to Pack for Iceland in Summer
Pack for a cool, wet, extremely windy day in every month of summer: a waterproof and windproof shell, two insulating mid layers, and no cotton. Wind, not cold, is what makes Iceland uncomfortable, and it can change within an hour.
Icelandic summer runs from late May to early September. The Icelandic Meteorological Office describes the country's climate as "marked by frequent changes in weather and storminess", the result of mild Atlantic air meeting colder Arctic air, and notes that daytime air in summer is "usually cool" with cold nights. Rainfall is heavier in the south and west than in the north. Pack a layering system rather than clothes for a temperature, because you will use all of it in a single day.
What "summer" actually means here
The mistake is packing for a number. A forecast reading 12 °C sounds like a mild spring day in London. At 12 °C with 50 km/h of wind and horizontal rain on an exposed coastal path, it is a genuinely serious day out.
Three features define the conditions:
- Wind is the dominant variable. It strips heat far faster than still air at the same temperature, and it drives rain sideways so it finds gaps a vertical downpour never would. It is also what turns a comfortable walk into an exhausting one.
- Weather changes fast. The Met Office's own framing is "frequent changes", and in practice that means sun, rain, wind and calm within a few hours. You will not be able to decide what to wear in the morning and be right all day.
- It never really gets warm, and it never really gets dark. Summer nights are long and light, which is delightful and does nothing for the temperature. Nights are cold.
For actual figures, use the Icelandic Meteorological Office rather than any packing list, including this one. Their forecasts and warnings are the operative source, and they update frequently for good reason. Checked 19 August 2026.
Regional difference worth planning around: the south and west, which includes Reykjavik and the Golden Circle, get more rainfall than the north. If your itinerary is Reykjavik and the south coast, weight your packing towards rain. If it is Akureyri and the north, weight it towards wind and cold.
The layering system, applied
| Layer | What to take | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 2 long-sleeve merino or synthetic tops, 150 to 200 GSM | Cool enough that a t-shirt alone is rarely right |
| Base | 1 to 2 short-sleeve tops | For the genuinely warm afternoon that occasionally happens |
| Mid | Fleece, around 200 GSM | The workhorse. Warm when damp, dries fast |
| Mid | Light insulated jacket, down or synthetic | For evenings, waterfalls, boat trips and the wind |
| Shell | Waterproof, windproof hardshell with a proper hood | The one item that must not fail |
| Shell | Waterproof over-trousers | Genuinely needed here, unlike most city trips |
| Legs | 2 pairs quick-dry trousers | No jeans |
| Extremities | Hat, gloves, buff, wool socks | All four, in summer, without exception |
Yes, hat and gloves in July. They weigh nothing, and at a waterfall in wind you will use them.
On insulation type: synthetic fill outperforms down in Iceland specifically, because down loses almost all its insulating value when wet and takes a long time to dry, and this is a place where things get wet. If you already own down, take it and keep it under the shell.
On over-trousers: this is one of the few destinations where we would call them essential rather than optional. Wet legs in wind at 10 °C drain body heat quickly, and the exposure is sustained rather than a dash between buildings. Choose a pair you can get on quickly, which usually means long ankle zips; we cover the reasoning in how to choose waterproof over-trousers.
The shell decision
Iceland is the clearest case in travel for a hardshell over a softshell. A softshell wets through in sustained wind-driven rain, and once it does, the wind strips heat from you through a heavy wet garment. There is no version of the Icelandic summer where that is the right trade. We set out the full comparison in softshell vs hardshell for travel.
What to check on the shell, in order:
- Taped seams. Non-negotiable. Untaped seams leak under wind-driven rain regardless of the fabric rating.
- A hood that adjusts and turns with your head. In wind this is the difference between a functional garment and a sail. Look for a wire or moulded peak and rear volume adjustment.
- A hem drawcord. Wind gets under jackets and lifts them. A cord that cinches the hem is more useful here than in most places.
- Cuffs that close. Rain runs down sleeves when your arms are on a camera or a walking pole.
- Waterproof rating around 20,000 mm. Wind-driven rain applies real pressure, and you will sit on wet rocks. Above that the number stops mattering; breathability figures are barely comparable between brands, which we explain in waterproof and breathability ratings explained.
Bright colours are worth a thought here for a non-fashion reason: in low cloud on a lava field, being visible to your group matters.
Footwear and the things that ruin a day
Waterproof walking boots with ankle support, worn in before you arrive. Iceland's terrain is uneven volcanic rock and loose scree far more often than it is groomed path, and the wet makes it slick. This is a destination where waterproof footwear genuinely earns its place, because the exposure is sustained and the temperature is low enough that a draining shoe never dries.
Wool socks, two or three pairs, and a spare in the day bag. Cold wet feet end a day faster than anything else on this list.
Two other items that punch above their weight: a swimsuit, because the geothermal pools are a genuine part of the country and are open in any weather, and a quick-dry towel for the same reason. And an eye mask, because in June and July it does not get properly dark and this will affect your sleep more than you expect.
Leave the umbrella at home. It will invert within a minute.
Wind is the variable that decides your comfort, not temperature. A shell that blocks wind completely, with a hood that stays put, does more for an Icelandic summer day than any amount of insulation underneath it.
Where VEAR fits
The VEAR Jacket is a hardshell built for exactly this kind of trip: a coated 100% polyester outer with no insulation, so it layers over a fleece and an insulated jacket as the conditions demand. SGS tested the shell in June 2023 at a hydrostatic head of at least 20,000 mm under ISO 811:2018, which is the range we would want for wind-driven rain and sitting on wet ground.
One honest limitation: we describe the jacket as windproof, but we have not had air permeability tested, so there is no laboratory figure behind that word. We would rather tell you that than let the claim sit unexamined. Everything we do and do not have data for is on what we do and do not have data for.
The VEAR Pants use the same shell and open along their full length, which in practice means you can put them on standing in wind at a car park without taking your boots off. That is a bigger advantage in Iceland than in most places, because you will be adding and removing layers repeatedly in unpleasant conditions.
Quick glossary
- Hardshell: a non-insulating waterproof outer layer, the right choice for wind-driven rain.
- Wind chill: the increased rate of heat loss caused by moving air, which is why 12 °C in Iceland is not 12 °C elsewhere.
- Synthetic fill: insulation that keeps working when damp, unlike down.
- Over-trousers: waterproof trousers worn over what you already have on.
- Hem drawcord: a cord that cinches a jacket's base so wind cannot lift it.
Frequently asked questions
How cold is Iceland in summer?
Cool rather than cold. The Icelandic Meteorological Office describes summer daytime air as "usually cool", with cold nights, across a season running late May to early September. The number matters less than the wind: the same temperature feels dramatically colder in the strong winds that are normal there. Check vedur.is for current figures.
Do I need waterproof trousers in Iceland in summer?
Yes, more than almost anywhere else. Rain arrives horizontally on wind, exposure is sustained rather than a dash between buildings, and wet legs at around 10 °C in wind drain body heat quickly. Choose a pair with long ankle zips so you can put them on over boots without sitting down in the wet.
Can I wear jeans in Iceland?
You can, but you will regret it if they get wet. Denim holds a lot of water, loses any insulating value when soaked, chafes, and takes a very long time to dry in a cool damp climate. Quick-dry synthetic trousers weigh less, dry overnight, and work under waterproof over-trousers.
Is a down jacket or a synthetic one better for Iceland?
Synthetic, if you are buying for the trip. Down loses almost all its insulating value when wet and dries slowly, and Iceland is a place where things get wet. If you already own a down jacket, take it and keep it under your waterproof shell rather than as an outer layer.
What do I need for the geothermal pools?
A swimsuit and a quick-dry towel, both worth carrying even if pools are not on your itinerary, since they are open in any weather and are often the best thing about a wet day. Icelandic pools require showering thoroughly without a swimsuit before entering, which is normal and strictly observed.
Keep reading
- Softshell vs hardshell for travel: why Iceland is a hardshell case.
- The practical travel wardrobe: the layering system in full.
- Choosing waterproof over-trousers: the leg layer.
- What to pack for a UK city break: the mild, wet, less extreme version.
- All destination guides and our lab test results.