This one is for the over packers. I’m a former over packer so I feel your hesitation, but I’m here to tell you that it is possible to travel to Iceland and drive the ring road with just carry on luggage. My husband and I went in May with just 7 kg’s each (in my previous life as an over packer I never would’ve thought this was possible!) Here’s my guide on how to pack for the ring road using carry on only based on what I took.
How To Pack For The Ring Road In Iceland With Carry On Luggage Only
Disclaimer
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Why should you pack light
There are two reasons to pack light for driving the ring road in Iceland.
Firstly, to save money. Depending on where you are traveling from, the baggage allowance might be carry on only, with the option to pay for checked luggage.
Save that money you would spend on checked luggage and put it towards a fun experience on your trip.
Secondly, if you plan to rent a campervan for this trip, there is not a lot of room in the van. This depends on which van you choose.
Give yourself some legroom when you sleep by using as little space as possible with your luggage.
What backpack I used
I have been using a 60L Patagonia Duffel backpack for my travels for years and it has made packing light very easy.
It’s different to a traditional backpack because it doesn’t have as many compartments. But, I like it because what it lacks in compartments, it makes up for in extra space.
How to pack top layers
I explained this in my packing for winter tutorial, but for your top layers, you want to pack a wicking layer, warming layer, then a jacket.
Wicking layer
2 x long sleeve undershirts
Your wicking layer is the layer that is close to your skin. The purpose is to wick the sweat away from your body.
This will help keep you dry and, the dryer you are, the warmer you will be. I packed 2 long sleeve undershirts and swapped them each day.
If you have the money or will be visiting in winter, I recommend investing in high-quality thermals
(since writing this post I have purchased these and they’re amazing!)
But, if you are trying to use what you have at home and visiting in a milder season, think of quick dry gym clothes material like these
.
Warming layer
2 x sweaters
The warming layer is your snug layer to keep you as warm as possible.
If you will be buying something new for this trip, I recommend looking for a wool blend
.
Wool is the ideal material for winter trips because it traps in the heat to keep you warm and dries quickly. If it does rain or snow, or you sweat, you won’t be wearing that moisture as much as you would with other materials.
To use what you have at home, just use the warmest sweaters you have. I used a cheap crochet sweater I had from home and bought a good wool sweater like this in Iceland.
Jacket
1 x jacket
The time of year you visit will determine how warm your jacket needs to be, but no matter when you visit, it needs to be windproof and waterproof.
Iceland is super windy and it cuts right through you, so a windproof jacket is going to be worth its weight in gold.
If I was visiting in summer, I would take this one
. For other seasons, I took my warmer jacket which is similar to this one
.
How to pack bottom layers
For your bottom layers, it’s the same process as the tops in terms of a wicking layer and warm layer.
You don’t need to worry as much about getting wool or warm materials, because generally your legs usually don’t get hit by the cold as much as your chest does.
Wicking layer
1-2 pairs of leggings or thermals (depending on when you visit).
Again, if you will be buying something new for the trip, it would be worth investing in a good set of thermals
(and again I bought these since writing this post and they’re well worth it).
If you are trying to use what you have at home, you can try using gym leggings.
Warming layer
2 x pairs of warm pants
If you will buying new pants to pack for the ring road, then it’d be a good idea to invest in some good pants like these
.
For my trip, I used what I had at home and wore jeans for the whole trip.
The Levis High Rise Skinny jeans
are amazing if you are thick in the bottom half.
Either way, pack 2 pairs of warm pants and swap them out each day.
Socks
3 x wool socks
Wool socks are best for the same reasons wool is best for your chest warming layer. I recommend buying a couple of pairs like these
if you don’t already have some.
Pack 3 pairs of thick, wool socks and swap them out each day to give them a chance to air out.
Footwear
1 x pair of boots, 1 x pair of flip flops (shower shoes)
I used the Chloe boots by Baffin
.
If you visit in Summer, these may not be necessary and you might be able to get away with a light boot. For the other seasons, the Chloe boots are a great choice.
Whichever boots you choose, it’s good to make sure they are waterproof around the bottom in case you walk in snow.
Also, pack a pair of flip flops
for shower shoes and walking to the outdoor pools.
Day backpack
1 x day backpack
Your day backpack is what you can use when you go sightseeing and on other adventures. You just need something big enough to hold your wallet, camera, water bottle and any other things you like to take with you.
I use this Herschel backpack
but it’s large so I can use it for travel days and fit all my camera gear in when I go out for the day as well.
If you don’t need it for those reasons, you could probably pick up a smaller one from a local store.
When I travel, I put my big backpack in the overhead storage and keep my valuables in my day backpack which goes under the seat in front of me on the plane.
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What camera gear and electronics to pack for Iceland
Realistically, you just need to pack whatever camera you own.
But, if you are looking for recommendations on a new travel camera here’s what I recommend. There’s no best camera, it all depends on how you want to use it.
GoPro
The GoPro is an awesome action camera for versatility. It’s able to go underwater and can withstand adventures since it is not too fragile.
The wide lens can fit a lot of the scene into the photo and it also takes a great selfie.
I use a GoPro with this compact selfie stick and tripod combo
.
Sony RX100 IV
This is a powerful compact camera
if you want the option to play with manual settings but don’t necessarily want to delve into photography too much.
Sony Alpha a6000
This is my favorite camera for travel
if you want the power of a big camera and option to change lenses, but don’t want anything too bulky.
I use this 35mm lens
for most of my photos.
Lightweight towel
1 x lightweight towel
You’ll need a towel for showers at the campgrounds. I packed a lightweight turkish style towel like this one
and hung it in the van to dry each night.
Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit
1 x swimsuit
Even though Iceland is cold, you’ll want your swimsuit to go swimming in local pools, outdoor springs, and thermal pools.
How to pack minimal toiletries
Here’s what I packed in my minimal toiletries kit.
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo and conditioner (travel size)
- Soap (I cut a bar of soap into smaller sections and took a couple of pieces)
- Makeup (foundation, concealer, highlighter)
- Moisturizer (I use a small container and fill it with a moisturizer from home)
- Deodorant
- Tweezers
- Makeup remover wipes
Packing gloves and a beanie
1 x pair of gloves, 1 x beanie
Again, get a wool blend if you can otherwise, just pack a pair of gloves and beanie from home like this
.
If you are visiting in a really cold season, it might be worth getting a pair of touchscreen gloves
so you can use your phone or camera without needing to have bare hands.
Other guides to help you plan your trip to Iceland
Everything You Need To Know About Renting A Campervan In Iceland
A Detailed Guide On Cheap And Free Things To Do In Reykjavik
Iceland Ring Road In 7 Days – Here’s Your Step By Step Itinerary
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