From a Tropical Girl to Iceland in Winter: My Cold-Weather Packing Guide

Traveling to Iceland and other places in the arctic circle like Finland Lapland, Norway Tromso and Lofoten islands in winter calls for serious cold-weather gear. Whether you’re hiking or simply road-tripping, packing the right clothes is essential if you want to stay warm and dry — not cold and miserable. When packing for a winter trip to Iceland, prioritize comfort over style. Coming from a tropical country myself, where we only know two seasons — dry and rainy — packing for a Nordic winter took real planning and a fair bit of shopping.

Winter in Iceland

Winter in Iceland and the other Nordic countries runs from November to March. These are the darkest months of the year, with very little sunlight. The shortest day falls just before Christmas, on December 21st, with only 4–5 hours of daylight. March, by contrast, is the longest day of the winter season and the last good month to see natural ice caves and the northern lights.

Weather in Iceland during winter is famously unpredictable. Tours depend heavily on conditions and visibility, so they can be canceled with just a few hours’ notice — the same goes for road access. We visited in March, technically the last month of winter, and were surprised by how much snow fell — it snowed almost every day of our trip. Iceland itself isn’t as cold as people assume, but the wind is on a completely different level.

Before getting into what to wear, it helps to understand which fabrics actually keep you warm.

The Best Fabrics for Staying Warm

Wool — A great choice for winter activewear. Merino wool is especially popular: warm, softer than other wools, moisture-wicking, and resistant to odor and wear, making it a solid long-term investment.

Cashmere — Typically a luxury material, made from the underfur of mountain goats native to the Himalayas. It’s expensive because the underfur has to be combed out by hand each spring before the fabric can be produced. Cashmere can retain up to eight times more heat than wool and is very lightweight — the main downside is the price.

Silk — Best used as a base layer rather than an outer one, since it wicks moisture and helps retain heat. It’s smooth and comfortable, though on the pricier side.

Polyester — A synthetic, woven-plastic material commonly used for both base and outer layers, since it insulates well and repels water and wind. It’s less odor-resistant than natural fibers like wool, but it’s inexpensive and durable.

Nylon — Not particularly absorbent or warm on its own, but excellent at keeping you dry. Designed to imitate silk, it’s durable and works well as an outer layer in both rain and snow.

Polypropylene — A durable, hydrophobic material with excellent moisture-wicking properties, good for intense physical activity. It’s not especially warm, but ideal if you’ll be sweating a lot. One caution: it’s not heat-resistant, so keep it away from open flames or direct heat when drying.

Synthetic blends — Many base layers and winter garments blend natural and synthetic fibers. A merino wool–polyester blend, for example, is soft, warm, durable, moisture-wicking, and odor-resistant — combining the benefits of natural materials without the high price tag.

Fleece — One of the most versatile materials for clothing, blankets, jackets, and accessories. Fleece traps a layer of body-warmed air next to your skin while wicking moisture away through capillary action, so it keeps you warm even when wet. That’s why it’s a staple for hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and mountaineering.

Down — A natural material made from duck or goose feathers; the more down packed into a coat, the warmer it is. Down coats typically have a waterproof outer shell around the insulation. Like silk, down clothing tends to be pricier since it’s a natural material.

Gore-Tex — A waterproof, windproof material made from expanded PTFE. It’s strong, warm, and breathable, and commonly used as an outer layer for coats, snow pants, and winter boots. If you’re walking through snow in boots that aren’t waterproof, your feet will get wet and cold fast — so a durable, waterproof material matters.

How to Layer for Cold Weather

There’s one golden rule for staying warm and comfortable outdoors in winter: layer your clothing properly. I learned this the hard way over many winter trips — here’s what I’ve picked up. It’s easier than it sounds.

Base Layers

Base layers sit closest to your skin and help regulate your body temperature. They trap heat while wicking sweat away, keeping you comfortable as you move between warm indoor spaces and cold outdoor climates, or during outdoor activities. Base layers come as both tops and bottoms and should fit snugly against your skin.

Common base layer materials include merino wool, silk, synthetic blends (usually some form of polyester), and bamboo. Merino wool is generally the warmest option, but if your skin is sensitive to wool, go for a synthetic blend instead.

Mid Layers

Mid layers go between your base layer and outer layer. Depending on the temperature, you might wear one or two tops — just make sure they still fit comfortably under your outer jacket. We wore two tops each while out hunting for the northern lights. You likely already have suitable pieces in your wardrobe; my go-to fabrics for mid layers are merino wool, lightweight wool, cashmere, and fleece.

Pants count as a mid layer too. Fleece-lined pants work well generally, but if you’re doing a glacier walk or ice cave tour, opt for waterproof pants.

Outer Layers

Your outer layer protects you from rain, wind, and snow. Look for an insulated jacket or shell that’s windproof, waterproof, and rated for below-freezing temperatures. Paired with the right layers underneath, this top layer stops the wind from stripping away your body heat. Just remember — every layer in your system needs to be breathable for the whole setup to work.

I got mine from Columbia, which held up well below zero Celsius. The jacket is filled with down and the outer shell has Omni-heat technology which traps heat and at the sometime windproof and waterproof. North Face also has a great selection; Hubby and Son are wearing North Face Jackets.

If you go below Zero Celsius, which can happen at night when chasing aurora, simply add another layer such as fleece or another down after your wool sweater and before your outer shell jacket.

Other Accessories to Pack

• Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with good grip, comfortable enough for long walks on snowy and icy terrain. Prioritize comfort and function over looks. I got mine from Columbia; Decathlon also has good, more affordable options.
• Thick wool socks — pack several pairs. I doubled up on wool socks for our ice cave and northern lights tours.
• Spikes or cleats — walks to waterfalls can get very slippery, and cleats are a simple, inexpensive way to avoid a fall. If you can’t find them online, supermarkets in Iceland and Norway usually carry them. Glacier hikes and ice cave tours typically provide heavy-duty crampons through your tour operator, but the basic cleats mentioned here are great for everyday slippery footpaths.
• Wool or cashmere scarves
• Wool knit hats or ear muffs to protect your ears from the cold
• Waterproof gloves — ideally with touchscreen-compatible fingertips
• A swimsuit — yes, really! Iceland’s hot springs stay warm year-round, so pack one so you can take a dip.
• Sunglasses
• Hand warmers — absolute lifesavers when standing outside for long stretches chasing the northern lights. Available in Iceland, but I picked mine up from an online marketplace beforehand.

Where we shop for Winter gears

• Outdoor winter gear stores like North Face and Columbia are reliable options. For more affordable choices, try Decathlon or Mountain Warehouse (if you’re in the UK) — both carry solid ranges of jackets, fleece mid layers, base layers, pants, hats, gloves, and boots. We bought our outer jackets and boots from Columbia, and our kids’ boots from Decathlon, since there’s no point overspending on footwear they’ll quickly outgrow.
• Cold Wear (if you’re based in Indonesia or Singapore) is a Singapore-based company with a wide selection of winter jackets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, and travel accessories, with stores in Singapore and Jakarta. I bought merino wool base layers here, along with a waterproof jacket for my daughter when she was six.
• Uniqlo, the Japanese casualwear brand, isn’t a dedicated outdoor retailer, but offers solid winter basics at reasonable prices — including their Heattech base layers in Regular, Extra Warm, and Ultra Warm options, plus mid layers, puffer jackets, and accessories like shawls, hats, and gloves. I bought several mid layers, fleece pants, and accessories from them.
• Marks and Spencer is another solid option, with their own synthetic thermal range called Heatgen — similar in concept to Uniqlo’s Heattech — available in Regular, Medium, and Maximum heat levels. They also carry merino wool thermals, though currently only in men’s sizing. I bought Heatgen and merino wool thermals here for my husband and son.
• AliExpress, the China-based online marketplace owned by Alibaba, is where I sourced accessories like wool socks, gloves, hats, cleats, hand warmers, and some winter clothes for my daughter. Just note that shipping can take up to a month, so avoid this option if you’re short on time. Also note that buying direct from Jakarta is no longer possible — these days, your best bet for similar winter clothing sourced from China is shopping on Shopee instead.

What If You Don’t Want to Buy Everything?

If you can’t fit all this gear into your check-in luggage, or if the price tags on quality jackets and pants give you pause, consider renting instead. Some tour providers — northern lights tours, for instance — often rent out bulky parkas to help block the cold. Ice cave and glacier walk tours typically rent waterproof hiking boots as well. For general winter clothing rentals, check out Iceland Cover or Iceland Camping Equipment.

Hope these tips help make your packing a little easier — let us know in the comments if you have any tips of your own! 😉