Can I bother you about what to wear to Iceland in August?

[tacom]

I've read a few random articles, but I'd like to hear from actual people. tagging v here because I think she went in similar-ish weather.

Some questions:
1. Do I need  a pair of hiking boots, or will my nike running shoes work?
2. If we're hiking/horseback riding, can I wear workout tights with a long tshirt and a light fleece? I also have a waterproof lighter rain jacket. I don't want to look like a slob though if people don't wear workout clothes for this stuff.
3. Should I find space for rain boots, or does no one where those? I have a cute pair of purple hunters.
4. I know I need layers, so the plan is to pack the rain jacket, light fleece, scarf, vest, sweater, + lighter layers (tanks, tees, tunics). Will I need something more warm/heavy duty? We will be there for 5.5 days.
5. I'll throw in a few blouses and casual dresses with booties + tights for dinners out. Will this work, or do people get very dressed up in the evenings? 

thank you!

[Susie]

I went in mid-August a couple years ago.  From my experience:

1.  Hiking boots - totally depends on what you're going to do.  I did not bring mine.  It was fine.  The excursions/tours that I did provided any necessary gear.  I wasn't there long enough to do any unstructured "go hiking and exploring on my own," if you are going to do that you may want them.

2.  I don't think I'd wear workout clothes for horseback riding.  Tougher fabrics would be better.  My friend and I wore jeans and rain jackets to break the wind.

3.  I have a hard time imagining rain boots would be worth the space in your luggage, unless you look at the forecast right before you leave and it's going to pour.  Even then, I'd hedge bets with Gore Tex hiking boots rather than specifically rain boots.

4.  That sounds fine.  I had a rain jacket, a cashmere/wool blend funnel neck sweater, and a bunch of lighter, activewear layers.  I tend to pack lightly, and it was enough.

5.  We didn't go out at night much, but that sounds fine for dinners.

[gt7301b]

I can only speak to what we wore in October

1) Depends what you are doing. We went on a glacier trek and they were an absolute necessity, but just for walking around/ easy hikes sneakers would be fine.
2) Yes, but I would also want a pair of wind tights for hiking. It was pretty chilly when we were there and folks dress accordingly.
3) I didn't have space for rain boots. I'd rather have hiking boots than rain boots.
4) I'd bring something warmer. The average temps in October when we were there are 42 and 34, but it felt colder than that to me.
5) As a general rule folks tended to wear more functional clothing, so I don't see the need to get too dressed up. We mainly wore jeans and sweaters when we went out to dinner.

[Deleted]

I brought my hiking sneakers. We didn't do any hiking, but shoes with good traction that I could get dirty were a plus. If your running shoes fit that bill, go for it.

Outerwear plan sounds good. We regretted not bringing waterproof coats. I was freezing in a north face fleece (alone) on one of our days. Also pack gloves and a hat. I regretted not bringing those and bought them right away.

We didn't go anywhere dressy for dinner, but I don't think it tends to be dressy anyway. That said, I'd pack jeans. I was freezing in jeans and ballet flats (wished I had brought my leather boots for walking around the city) so I wouldn't want to wear dresses.

I'd prepare for it to be a bit colder than it sounds because you'll be coming from summer and won't be adapted to cold. We were colder than we should have been there for that reason.

[GilliC]

1. Hiking boots or shoes will be a lot more versatile if they're comfortable and you have the luggage space or are willing to carry them on the plane. As mentioned, you'll want them if you're doing a glacier walk. We were also unlucky with the rain at the beginning of our trip, and even on the "Inside the Volcano" tour near Reykjavik, the easy one-hour hike out to the volcano and back would have been horrible in sneakers because of the weather.

2. We didn't do any horseback riding in Iceland, but I've always been taught to wear jeans or thicker fabrics when riding. Personally, I don't think I'd want to wear workout tights in the saddle no matter how smooth the gait of the Icelandic horses is supposed to be. That just sounds uncomfortable!

As for hiking, do you normally hike in workout tights? If you do, then go for it. I don't think anyone will consider you a slob for whatever you're wearing, since most people are in trekking gear anyway! And I imagine anyone out trail running would be in workout tights. Don't you have a problem with them snagging on the underbrush?

As for the top layer, I think a long-sleeved top and fleece with an outer rain/wind shell would be just about perfect. That's pretty much exactly what I wore hiking in Iceland. We did a long hike at Ásbyrgi on one of the sunniest days, and I was comfortable in just a long-sleeved training shirt, but on cooler and windier days, I definitely used the fleece and/or shell.

3. We didn't spend much time in the city, but in the rest of Scandinavia they're quite common. However, I agree with the PPs that you'd be better served with the hiking boots, since you can use them for more activities.

4. If you can swing the space for a heavier fleece, I'd take it just in case. Maybe wear it on the plane. In mid-August we definitely had a few days when it was cool enough that with rain and wind, I was happy to have it.

5. Again, we didn't spend much time in the city, but that sounds reasonable to me.

One thing I would add is to consider bringing a pair of rain pants if you have them. If you're unlucky enough to end up in the kind of downpour we were in, they're a necessity, but the rest of the trip they were very nice to throw on when we were up close to some of the waterfalls like Skógafoss.

[tacom]

Jul 7, 2014 9:50:39 GMT -5 v said:

I brought my hiking sneakers. We didn't do any hiking, but shoes with good traction that I could get dirty were a plus. If your running shoes fit that bill, go for it.

Outerwear plan sounds good. We regretted not bringing waterproof coats. I was freezing in a north face fleece (alone) on one of our days. Also pack gloves and a hat. I regretted not bringing those and bought them right away.

We didn't go anywhere dressy for dinner, but I don't think it tends to be dressy anyway. That said, I'd pack jeans. I was freezing in jeans and ballet flats (wished I had brought my leather boots for walking around the city) so I wouldn't want to wear dresses.

I'd prepare for it to be a bit colder than it sounds because you'll be coming from summer and won't be adapted to cold. We were colder than we should have been there for that reason.

this is a very good point. I've never traveled to a colder destination, so it's always come on gradually. I'll swap in leather boots for the rain boots. I also never would have thought of hats/gloves!

sounds like I need to do some shopping. would love recs for hiking boots and wind tights if anyone has anything they love and are reasonably priced for someone who won't get a ton of use out of them.

[rupertpenny]

Jul 7, 2014 8:25:42 GMT -5 tacom said:

I've read a few random articles, but I'd like to hear from actual people. tagging v here because I think she went in similar-ish weather.

Some questions:
1. Do I need  a pair of hiking boots, or will my nike running shoes work?
2. If we're hiking/horseback riding, can I wear workout tights with a long tshirt and a light fleece? I also have a waterproof lighter rain jacket. I don't want to look like a slob though if people don't wear workout clothes for this stuff.
3. Should I find space for rain boots, or does no one where those? I have a cute pair of purple hunters.
4. I know I need layers, so the plan is to pack the rain jacket, light fleece, scarf, vest, sweater, + lighter layers (tanks, tees, tunics). Will I need something more warm/heavy duty? We will be there for 5.5 days.
5. I'll throw in a few blouses and casual dresses with booties + tights for dinners out. Will this work, or do people get very dressed up in the evenings? 

thank you!

1. Running shoes are definitely OK unless you plan to do some serious hiking. 
2. I agree with PP, jeans would probably be better both for comfort and warmth. I think you might need more than a light fleece (but not much more), as it can get windy. 
3. I wouldn't worry about rain boots at all. It rains often, but I don't think heavy downpours with puddles everywhere is the norm at all. If you have some riding boots you would like to bring anyway I might bring those.
4. That sounds fine. You might have to wear the rain jacket and the fleece at the same time, but it probably won't be an issue. I've been to Iceland several times in August and I think it's usually jeans, t-shirt, and fleece type weather. It's a good idea to bring gloves and a hat just in case, but you might not need them. And there is also the possibility that it might be really nice outside, I have memories of visiting when I was about 5 years old and seeing all the women in the square outside of the parliament building laying out in just their bras haha, I guess that made quite the impression on me. But laying out half naked weather for an Icelander is probably still jeans and t-shit weather for Americans. 
5. That sounds fine. It is Europe, so probably a little less casual than the US, but casual dresses and tights is fine. 

Also, don't forget to bring a bathing suit for the Blue Lagoon!

[GilliC]

Jul 7, 2014 19:40:57 GMT -5 tacom said:

sounds like I need to do some shopping. would love recs for hiking boots and wind tights if anyone has anything they love and are reasonably priced for someone who won't get a ton of use out of them.

Comfort is probably the biggest factor, especially if you're not going to use them a lot. One suggestion I'd make is to consider hiking shoes if you don't plan to do a lot of hiking. If you're not used to wearing heavier boots, you'll probably find them more comfortable, and they do tend to be cheaper. Also, they're more versatile and especially nice for travel, because you can wear them anywhere you could wear sneakers, but you still get the benefit of the waterproofing. I chose a fairly neutral light brown pair of Salomons, and I've even worn them around European cities when it was raining, so that my feet wouldn't get wet while we were walking.

I would hit up some sporting good stores, REI, etc. and just start trying some on. Definitely choose something with waterproofing, but beyond that, it's personal choice. Since you're not doing anything hardcore, lighter weight will be an advantage in comfort and packing. In terms of brands, my sister and I both love Salomon. I've had very good experiences with Merrell and Scarpa. The only bad experience I can think of is my boyfriend's North Face hiking boots.

Also, look into buying the appropriate re-proofing spray for them. Waterproofing doesn't last forever, and it's horrible to wear your "waterproof" hiking shoes in bad weather only to find that they're past due for reproofing and your feet and shoes are now soaked!

[CloudBee]

Pack layers. The temps won't be extreme. Even on the glaciers in the south. Jeans, fleece, warm socks, a pair of boots, sneakers, layers, hat, gloves, and a waterproof shell.

[CloudBee]

It's pretty humid so you want your layers to breath. Shells with air vents are preferable.

[PinkSquirrel]

1. I used my boots every day, but we did a lot of hiking. If you're not planning on hiking too much, then my main recommendation is to get something waterproof because wet shoes aren't fun. Nordstrom rack usually has hiking boots/shoes for good prices. I got a pair of Keens there and I know they've had Merrell's recently.
2. We didn't go horseback riding, so I have no idea in iceland, but I've definitely warn thin pants horseback riding because I never thought about it and I was perfectly fine.
3. I brought my hunters for when I knew I'd be walking through water higher than my hiking boots aka the pool hidden in the mountains. They were useful for that, but if that's not in the plan, I wouldn't bother. Hiking boots would serve you far better.
4. I was there in late sept/early october and found that base layers and full rain gear were really great to have. Where you're going in August you can probably bring some fleece tights and long sleeve shirts and be fine, but I would recommend rain pants because wet pants, like wet shoes, are not fun.
5. One of my favorite things about Iceland was that I never had to get dressed up. It's kind of anything goes