What to pack for Iceland

I’m currently waiting to board my flight to Reykjavik, Iceland and I am so excited!! I’ve heard so many great things about this unique little city - I can’t wait to explore it myself! I’ve also heard it’s actually an up-and-coming top vegan destination; with cafes, restaurants and even (rumour has it) vegan clothes stores… I’m determined to see as much of the City as I can and find out the truth about this supposed vegan buzz!

Everyone I know who’s been before have told me to prepare for the cold weather and to focus on packing practically and not fashionably – this is like telling a fish not to swim. I really struggle to find practical clothing that looks good too, I often end up wearing what I want and just dealing with the consequences! This time, however, I gave myself enough time to research and shop for the perfect wardrobe for a trip to Iceland, and I wanted to share some of my packing essentials with you guys! (obviously this isn't everything that I'm bringing with me to Iceland, just the most interesting bits ;) )

Okay first of let’s talk about this jacket, a.k.a my new love of my life. This is the ladies Nordic jacket by Hoodlamb and omg it is literally the best jacket you could ever wish for. I’m just gonna throw some stats at ya; designed in Amsterdam, hemp herringbone and organic cotton shell, lining made with Thermore® EcoDown (vegan alternative to duck/goose down – see my previous post about my search for the perfect vegan coat) and protects you up to -5 degrees. And if that’s not enough, it’s actually now on sale for £170 down from £340 – unfortunately I didn’t buy it at the right time so missed out on this great saving! But this coat/jacket will last me a lifetime and I feel so happy to have finally found the perfect coat that’s not only vegan and cruelty-free, but compliments my personal style!

I bought these leggings from Boody, an Australian brand using chemical-free organic bamboo yarn to produce a gorgeous range of basics including leggings, underwear, t-shirts and soft bras. Bamboo requires much less water than cotton to grow and actually helps preserve soil and prevents soil erosion, unlike cotton. They are super soft and feel great against your skin, and have really good coverage!

I know most hotels supply shampoo and conditioner as standard but I would assume 99% of them are tested on animals or contain animal-derived products. For this reason I got myself some new products from the Body Shop, any excuse to go there really, who am I kidding? I got the Rainforest Shine shampoo and conditioner as it really cleans my hair and makes it feel fresh – something I will definitely need after hiking across Icelandic glaciers all day! I realised the bottles were over the liquid allowance for hand luggage so I decanted it into two small reusable cosmetic bottles. I love knowing the Body Shop is 100% vegetarian (the only non-vegan ingredients they use are beeswax, honey, lanolin and shellac) and the vegan products are easily spotted. They are also at the forefront of the campaign against animal testing – I wish more high street brands would follow suit!

The paddle hairbrush was given to me for my birthday a few years ago and I couldn’t be without it! It’s by a company called Earth Therapeutics and is made from bamboo with special bristles to prevent breakages and split ends. 

Can’t forget the beauty products! I tried to pick out all the small items I had that would work for a few days away, some of these I wouldn’t actually use on a day-to-day basis but what I do normally use is too big to bring in my hand luggage. The Body Shop shower cream and body butter will be perfect for Iceland as it’s super moisturising and will stop my skin drying out in the harsh weather conditions.

My heart now belongs to Bare Minerals, ever since I first walked into their concession store in House of Fraser and claimed my free sample of the Performance Wear Liquid Foundation. I love their products so much and I’m so relieved to have finally found make up that gives great coverage and lasts all day. I use the liquid foundation and touch up with the Bare Pro Performance Wear Powder Foundation if I need to, but I usually pick one or the other depending on the day. The brushes are hypoallergenic and the fibres are made with high quality synthetics instead of animal hair.

I also packed my favourite BarryM nail varnish – most of their products are vegan and all of their nail polish products are. Here’s a great post by Ethical Elephant about the BarryM products that are/aren’t vegan. I also grabbed my go-to lipstick, from Natural Collection (Boots) but I got this years ago so don’t think they make this one anymore #vintage

My trusty Matt & Nat backpack will be coming with me, I rarely go out without it now. I’ve been told the tap water in Iceland is the best in the world so I’m bringing a reusable water bottle to take advantage of this – and to save a few £££ in the cafes and restaurants as I’ve also heard Reykjavik is insanely expensive for food and drink!

I picked up the hat in a charity shop and it’s made from polyester so no little sheep have been hurt in the making of my hat! Should keep me warm while I’m out hunting for the elusive Northern Lights (keep your fingers crossed for me please!) And finally, last but not least, my current read; “To die for; Is fashion wearing out the world?” by Lucy Siegle. I am so loving this book at the moment, I can’t put it down! It’s so great to read about another woman’s experience of fast fashion, there’s a lot I can relate to, and how she’s working towards slowing down the industry and what we can do to make a difference. Give it a read if you’re in need of a new book – you heard it here first (maybe)

So there you have it, all the essentials I’ll be bringing with me to Iceland. I hope you found this post helpful if you’re planning a trip there soon or somewhere similar! Happy travels xoxo