All seasons, all weather, and all fun if you dress well!
How hard can it be to decide what to wear when visiting a country called ICELAND? Well! We have had some complaints (at least one) about not telling our guests to be aware of the cold, wind, rain, heat (not so much), and the burning sun. Below, we were going to divide the year into four seasons but didn't. This may surprise you, but the seasons can sometimes become very similar, and from time to time very hard to tell apart. You will need an expert to tell you what season it is, as some days, and even some hours, can seem to have all of them. There is also a significant difference, or at least there can be, between the weather in the north and south of Iceland. The weather in the northern part is more similar, usually, to a continental climate where it is warmer in the summers and colder in the winters, while in the south, the climate is more like an island climate with sometimes the same temperatures all year round. Iceland is an island, and some people even believe that the word island comes from the name of this particular island, which is in Icelandic written 'Ísland'. The summer typically starts, when that happens, sometime in June. It doesn't come suddenly; you must look at the calendar and guess if it has arrived. All the snow will probably have disappeared from the lowlands, and you don't have to scrape your windshields in the mornings. If you are going on a day tour, you can't be sure what the weather will be like here and now after an hour of driving. So, what do you do?
Well, the answer is layers. Many layers. Closest to the body, you need a layer that breathes. Cotton is a no-no. You don't wear cotton in Iceland when there is the slightest possibility of rain, unless you are Icelandic and downtown. Cotton gets wet from rain or even just your sweat. When this happens, and you stop walking, the wind will make you very cold, and there is always wind. I know I am not supposed to scare you off, but people have died because of this. Cotton takes a long time to dry and is therefore unsuitable clothing except for downtown use. For the innermost layer, use polyester or wool, and it has to breathe. This could be a T-shirt in summer or long sleeves in winter. Layer two would be a fleece or wool sweater to keep you warm. Depending on how thick this sweater is, you might want to add another layer of a similar kind. The third, or fourth, layer would preferably be a wind stopper; depending on whether it is waterproof or not, you add a waterproof layer. This would be a thicker jacket in winter, preferably waterproof if the snow turns into sleet or icy rain. Using layers makes it easier to adjust to the ever-changing conditions you are experiencing. When you get the hang of it, you will take off and put on layers all day.
Different rules:
Do not imitate how people dress when you see them outside wearing shorts and T-shirts. These are typically Icelanders who have seen sunshine at some part of the day. The temperature could easily be around the freezing point or about 20°F, and they don't notice.
Jeans are cotton and therefore no good except for downtown use.
Shoes! Wear preferably hard-soled shoes with support for your ankle. Spray them with silicon to make them water-resistant to rain and snow. Of course, you should also use good wool socks or layers of socks.
Yaktrax/crampons are essential in the wintertime to stay safe. On our tours, we provide them when needed.
