Iceland Clothing questions

[Bob Loblaw]

I'm going to Iceland in a few weeks and I desperately need clothing help. Keeping in mind that I am a huge wimp when it comes to cold weather, which coat should I go for?

I'm leaning towards something longer and warmer like this:
www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/womens-jackets-vests/womens-arctic-parka_2.html

But I worry that the length might be annoying for windy and active days when we are dog sledding and exploring ice caves, so maybe I should go with more of a standard ski jacket like this:
www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/womens-jackets-vests/women-39-s-hooded-elysium-jacket.html?from=subCat

For boots, I should get some warm Sorel snow boots instead of using my Hunter boots with a fleece liner, right?

Finally, any recommendations for waterproof pants? As of now I only have my snowboard pants and they're more bulky than I would like.

[Deleted]

I went last Thanksgiving and it was around 30 degrees in Reykjavik. There was a light snow, but it wasn't terribly cold.

Either coat would be fine. I wore a Northface shell with the Denali fleece zipped in. I wore long underwear for a base layer and most days I was hot.

I would wear snow boots with ski socks too.

I ended up getting some random Helly Hansen or REI brand water proof pants that slip over a pair of jeans, but the only day that I needed them was when we went up to the glaciers. Actually, these are the pants:
www.rei.com/product/794279/rei-ultra-light-pants-womens-regular

I love Iceland and H and I almost went back this Thanksgiving. You're going to have a great time!

[GilliC]

What are you planning to do while you're there? This makes a huge difference in what kind of clothing you'll need.

It's very windy in a lot of places, so I would definitely recommend a windproof waterproof outer shell. Of the two jackets you listed, honestly the first one looks better because of the HyVent outer layer. It doesn't say what the waterproofing is on the Elysium. I just looked it up on backcountry.com, and it says "Smooth nylon ripstop fabric boosts durability and makes it easy to layer a weatherproof shell overtop when wet storms roll in" So if it rains (which isn't uncommon this time of year), you would need something waterproof over the outside. I agree, though, that the Arctic Parka might be a bit long if you're looking to do something more active than just walking around Reykjavik.

Personally, I would choose something a bit lighter weight, because a full-on down jacket is a lot for above-freezing temperatures, even if your body temps run cold. If you're doing anything active, that's going to heat you up even more. I tend to follow the same idea as uwhuskygirl and go with a fleece under a water-proof shell. I might even keep a lighter-weight fleece in my daypack so that I can swap them out if I'm getting too hot but not warm enough to go with only the shell. If you're looking for something a bit more integrated than just choosing your own layers, I find that 3-in-1 jackets can be a great option (as long as the outer layer is breathable waterproof), and North Face offers a ton of triclimate jackets.

Waterproof pants are also an excellent investment, considerint the winds in Iceland. Rain coming in sideways will soak you in no time, and even if it's not raining, it can be nice to have rain pants on when you visit the waterfalls because of all the mist in the air. We went to Iceland when my boyfriend was visiting from Brazil, and when we went to buy him a good rain shell, I asked if he wanted pants too. He said no, but after one rainy day outside Reykjavik, we headed to a sportswear shop to buy him a pair. I definitely recommend a breathable waterproof fabric if you can afford it, because it will be more comfortable and less clammy, and choose something that has an extra leg opening so that you get them on/off without removing your shoes.

My last piece of clothing advice is waterproof shoes. It's not hard to get your shoes wet, and unless you're bringing extras, you usually can't wait until they're fully dry. You probably don't need to go for full boots unless you're doing something that will call for them, but a pair of waterproof hiking shoes are very handy and will probably serve you much better than basic trainers.

Uwhuskygirl's suggestion of long underwear is good if you're really worried about the cold. They don't take up a lot of luggage space, and a base layer can make a huge difference. Wind will cut right through a pair of jeans, so if you wear a layer underneath, you'll be a lot warmer. This is another good argument for the rain pants, because you'll have a wind-resistant outer layer to help cut the windchill.

(As for our own gear, here's what we used:)
Waterproof shells: DBF had a Nørrona Falketind shell in GoreTex Pac-Lite that worked out great. It's a thin shell, so it definitely needs a good fleece underneath. I had a 3-in-1 Weeather Challenger jacket from LLBean, and while I love the convenience of the 3-in-1 jacket when I travel, the TEK2.5 outer shell wasn't as waterproof or as breathable as I would have liked, and I've already ordered something new with proper GoreTex.
Rain pants: I have LLBean's Stowaway Rain Pants, which I've used extensively in the past year. They've been great in every situation I've thrown at them. DBF hit up a local Icelandic shop and got a pair of water-resistant soft shell pants from Zo-On, and he was very happy with them.
Shoes: I have a pair of GoreTex Salomon Exit hiking shoes that I bought for Alaska. They keep my feet dry, and in a neutral beige color, they don't look completely ridiculous when I'm walking around town. However, comfort is most important, so I recommend hitting up someplace like REI and trying on a variety of waterproof hiking shoes until you find what works best. (DBF had a pair of North Face GoreTex hiking boots that really didn't stand up to the rain. His feet were soaked in a 20-minute downpour.)
Base layer: I love my Helly Hansen Warm pants and wear them almost every day in the winter. They are by far the warmest base pants I've tried, and they wick moisture quite well too.

(So that's a bit long, but I really love my gear and have spent way too much time/money accumulating some of it!)

[katieh]

Agreed, it depends on what you are doing.

We have been twice, once in September and once in March. March was our first trip and we stayed in Reykjavik (where I did fine with a long wool trench, hat gloves scarf, tall leather boots, and jeans - Reykjavik on average is no colder than NYC in winter and I was coming from Chicago). We went horseback riding and they gave us warm suits to wear. Same with dogsledding. The only time I'd wished I brought better gear was visiting Gullfoss as the grounds was icy and slushy and my boots had terrible traction and weren't water proof. For the city, I wouldn't buy a bunch of new stuff, but I would get what I needed to be comfortable for activities.

Also bear in mind you can get great gear in Iceland. There is a 66 North in Reykjavik that has amazing winter coats (very stylish and super warm) for about the same prices as what you posted.

[Bob Loblaw]

Thanks ladies. This information is INCREDIBLY helpful! We will be doing a little of everything - walking around Reykjavik, dog sledding (I didn't realize they give you a suit), driving ourselves around to see waterfalls, snowmobiling and a Northern Lights tour.