My bucket list got checked. I saw the Northern Lights!
This is a three-part series about my fabulous trip to Iceland, so get ready to take notes and Just Ask me, your adventure stylist, for travel tips.
But before I divulge my traveling secrets, I’d like to get you ready for the trip with three must have items on your Icelandic packing list for winter travel.
1) The Right Boots
First and foremost, bring a great pair of warm, waterproof hiking boots with great traction. I bought The North Face Cryos Hiker Wedge Waterproof hiking boots with a Vibram sole. They not only kept my feet warm (most of the time! Bad circulation blah blah blah), they made me feel stable walking on the gritty snowy terrain. These are very comfortable boots and my treks were blister free! I recommend walking in them around your house before you set out for your Icelandic adventure.
Icelandic Note: These boots are not ice-proof! Put on crampons when hiking the glacier. Side note: why are they called crampons and not clampons? Ha!
2) Bundle Up
Now, on to another very important article of clothing that you cannot leave behind—a warm winter coat! I bought The North Face CRYOS GTX TRICLIMATE in black. This chic, comfy coat with the faux fur hood is waterproof and it also shielded me from the Icelandic winds, which were fierce at times. I was never cold! One of the best investments I’ve made.
3) The Perfect Pair
The third essential item you’ll need is a good pair of warm gloves. For me, my hands get cold easily so I did some research and found The Sealskinz Extreme Cold Weather Heated Gloves. These have rechargeable batteries that tuck into the back of the glove and have a heat control based on how warm and toasty you want your hands to be. These were life savers and even the snowmobile and hiking guides remarked on how cool they were because you can see the red light blare when the gloves are in heat mode. Brilliant!
