What to Wear and What to Bring for a Glacier Hike in Iceland
What to wear on a glacier hike in Iceland comes down to less than you'd think, since crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe already come with every one of the three Falljökull departures. What's left on your list looks like packing for a long, windy walk anywhere: warm layers, a windproof shell, and boots stiff enough to hold a crampon. The one local number worth knowing before you pack: the wind off Falljökull itself, not the air temperature on the forecast, is what actually chills you on the ice. Below is exactly what to wear, what to bring, and what the tours already hand you.
Quick answer
Falljökull tours provide the crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe, so what's left on your list is warm layers, a windproof and waterproof shell, and stiff-soled boots. Skaftafell's average daytime high runs from 2°C in winter to 13°C in July, and wind off the icefall makes every one of those temperatures feel colder than the number suggests.
Key takeaways
- Tours provide crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe on every departure
- What's on you: warm layers, a windproof and waterproof outer shell, and stiff-soled hiking boots
- Don't wear cotton or soft-soled sneakers; crampons lever straight off a flexible sole
- Skaftafell's typical daytime high is 2°C in December and January, 13°C in July
- The footwear answer in one line: stiff-soled boots, your own or rented at the base
- Winter and summer differ mostly in mid-layer thickness, not in the basic kit
What to Wear
Base Layer
Wool or synthetic, never cotton, fitted close enough to move under a harness without bunching. You'll warm up fast on the moraine walk and cool down just as fast once you stop to fit crampons, so a base layer that keeps moving sweat off your skin matters more here than it looks like it should.
Sun Protection
Sunglasses with real UV protection and sunscreen on any exposed skin, even under cloud. Glare bounces up off blue ice and snow patches on the route, and Skaftafell's flat light on an overcast day doesn't cut UV exposure the way it looks like it should.
Waterproof Outer Layer
A windproof, waterproof jacket and trousers, framed here as when you'll actually want one rather than as a blanket rule: anywhere below roughly 8°C, which covers Skaftafell for eight months of the year, wind off the icefall cuts through anything less. Rent both at the base if you didn't pack your own; the price is set at the counter, not here.
Footwear
Its own category, because it's the one piece of gear that actually decides whether crampons hold.
- Stiff-soled hiking boots that cover the ankle: the only footwear crampons grip properly; your own broken-in pair or a rental at the base
- Soft-soled sneakers or trainers: not usable alone; crampons lever straight off a flexible sole with nothing to bite into
- Sandals or flip-flops: no grip on moraine or ice, and no way to attach a crampon at all
- Barefoot: never an option here; this isn't a soft-sand niche
Color matters more for visibility than fashion up here. What actually helps or hurts:
| Color | Good? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bright colors (red, orange, yellow) | Good | Easiest for your guide to spot you against grey ice and cloud |
| White | Bad | Blends straight into the ice and any cloud that rolls in, exactly when visibility matters most |
| Black | Context-dependent | Fine as a base layer, but a head-to-toe black outer layer disappears against grey rock and cloud much like white does |
| Earth tones (brown, khaki, olive) | Bad here | No wildlife-shyness reason to wear it, and it blends with the moraine underfoot as poorly as white blends with the ice |
| Cotton (any color) | Bad | Stays wet once you sweat or meltwater sprays you, and wet cotton loses warmth fast in the wind |
| Quick-dry synthetic or wool | Good | Dries against your skin and keeps insulating even damp |
| Reflective or high-visibility trim | Good | Helps your guide's headcount at a glance in a group of up to fourteen |
The two items people get wrong
Boots and gloves. Trainers and low-cut shoes will not take a crampon binding, which is why every operator hires stiff boots above the ankle at the base and why the wrong footwear costs money rather than the tour.
Gloves fail differently. Thin liners are useless in wind on ice and thick ski gloves make a camera unworkable. Two pairs solves it: a warm outer for walking and a thin liner for the ten minutes you spend taking photographs at the top.
What to Bring
The flat list, checklist style, of what actually earns a spot in your bag:
- Warm base layer, wool or synthetic: keeps you warm even once you're sweating under the harness
- Waterproof, windproof outer jacket: wind off the icefall cuts through anything less
- Warm hat that covers the ears: your head loses heat fastest on the exposed upper icefall
- Gloves, a snug pair: handling an ice axe or a rope needs grip, not bulky mittens
- Sunglasses with UV protection: glare off blue ice and snow is stronger than it looks under cloud
- Sunscreen: UV reflects up off the ice as much as it comes down from the sky
- Wool or synthetic hiking socks: cotton socks blister fast inside rented boots
- A small daypack: for water, snacks and the layer you peel off once you're moving
- Water bottle: there's no shop once you're past the meeting point
- Cash or card for gear rental: boots and waterproofs rent at the counter if you didn't bring your own
- Camera or phone in a zipped pocket, not a loose strap: hands need to be free for the ice axe and any handrail rope
- A spare pair of dry socks: the walk over moraine can leave the first pair damp before you even reach the ice
What Falljökull Tours Provide (So You Don't Overpack)
Whichever of the easy hike or advanced hike you book, the provided kit below is identical; only the ice climb adds items of its own on top.
| Item | Usually provided | Bring your own | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crampons | Yes, all tours | No | Fitted at the base before the shuttle |
| Helmet | Yes, all tours | No | Worn from the moraine walk onward |
| Harness | Yes, all tours | No | Used on any roped section |
| Ice axe | Yes, all tours | No | Issued with a short how-to before you start |
| Climbing boots and ropes | Only on the ice climb and hike | Not applicable elsewhere | The easy and advanced hikes don't include a roped climb, so they don't issue climbing boots |
| Hiking boots | No | Yes, or rent at the base | Stiff-soled, ankle-covering boots are required for crampons to hold |
| Waterproof jacket and trousers | No | Yes, or rent at the base | Priced at the counter for anyone who didn't pack their own |
| Rain gear and gloves (ice climb) | No | Yes | Listed on the operator's own "what to bring" note for this tour specifically |
| Hotel pickup | No, any tour | Arrange your own transport to the Hof meeting point | None of the three tours include transport |
| Coffee and Icelandic chocolate | Yes, all tours | No | Served after the hike, back at the base |
| Food or lunch | No, any tour | Yes | Nearest place to eat is Freysnes, 5 km east |
For what boot and waterproof rental adds to the day's total, see the full glacier hike cost breakdown.
What NOT to Wear or Bring
Sourced from what actually goes wrong on the ice, not generic packing-blog boilerplate:
- Cotton clothing: stays wet and cold once you're moving or if meltwater splashes you
- Loose jewelry: can catch on a harness buckle or a carabiner
- Heels, flip-flops or unsecured sandals: no grip on moraine or ice, and crampons won't attach to them at all
- Soft-soled sneakers or trainers alone: crampons lever straight off a flexible sole; you need the stiffer boots provided or rented at the base
- Anything you can't afford to drop: meltwater and crevasses are unforgiving to whatever slips from an unzipped pocket
Packing by Season at Skaftafell
Layers shift more than the actual kit list does. Full month-by-month conditions live in our guide to the best time for a glacier hike here; the packing version is below.
| Season | Wear this |
|---|---|
| Winter (December to February), 2°C average high, 4.2 to 8.4 hours of daylight | Warm base layer, an insulated mid layer, waterproof shell, a hat that covers the ears, liner gloves under a snugger outer pair |
| Shoulder (March to May, September to November), 3°C to 9°C average high | The same shell and base layer, plus a lighter mid layer you can peel off, since a clear morning and a cloudy afternoon can differ by several degrees |
| Summer (June to August), 11°C to 13°C average high, up to 20.9 hours of daylight | Lighter base layer, waterproof shell still on since wind, not warmth, is the issue, sunglasses and sunscreen matter more here than in any other season |
Dressed for the Camera: Shooting on Falljökull
If you're chasing photos of the icefall, dress for standing still, which feels colder than walking. Batteries drain fast in the cold, so carry a spare in an inner pocket, close to your body, rather than in an outer pocket sitting at ambient temperature. The short shuttle from the base to the trailhead is your last warm stop before the moraine walk, so use it to check settings and swap lenses rather than doing it standing on ice with cold fingers.
Blue ice photographs better under the flat light of an overcast sky than under a hard midday sun, so a grey forecast is good news for photographers even if it disappoints everyone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear jeans on a glacier hike?
No. Jeans are cotton, so they stay wet and cold the moment meltwater splashes onto them or you start sweating under the harness, and denim doesn't stretch enough for the high steps crampons sometimes need.
Can I wear shorts on a glacier hike?
No, even in July. Even on the warmest days, around 13°C, wind off the ice and crampon straps against bare skin make trousers the better call; save shorts for after, back at the base.
Do I need my own hiking boots?
No. Boots rent at the meeting point along with waterproof jackets and trousers if you didn't bring your own, priced at the counter, though your own broken-in boots will always fit better than a rental. See the full cost breakdown for what rental typically adds.
Does the tour provide gloves?
Not on the easy or advanced hike; only rain gear and gloves sit on the ice climb's own bring-list. Pack a snug pair for handling the ice axe on any of the three.
Will my phone or camera get wet or cold?
It can get cold enough to drain a battery fast, so keep a spare close to your body rather than in an outer pocket. Moisture is a bigger risk on the shuttle and moraine walk than on the ice itself, which stays dry underfoot in most conditions.
What should I NOT bring?
Cotton clothing, loose jewelry, and any footwear without a stiff sole. Crampons won't stay attached to soft trainers or grip through sandals.
Is there a big difference between summer and winter packing?
Mostly in layers, not gear. Winter's 2°C average high and short daylight call for a warmer mid layer and an early start; summer's 13°C average high still needs a windproof shell, since wind on the icefall cuts through a T-shirt regardless of the season. For full month-by-month conditions, see the best time for a glacier hike here.
None of this is complicated once you've done it once. Dress like you're going for a long, windy walk that happens to end on ice, wear boots that hold a crampon, and let the tour handle everything sharp, roped or technical. The gear that actually matters, we already hand you at the base, and the rest of this list fits in one small daypack with room to spare.