What to Wear for Summer Photo Tours in Iceland

• See Also: What To Wear For Winter Photo Tours

What’s more likely though is that you’ll experience Iceland’s famous ‘samples’ of weather, like a meteorological buffet. So pack and prepare for bad conditions, and be pleasantly surprised if you’re lucky enough to avoid them!   

Similar to winter, a summer photography tour is going to expose you to plenty of Iceland’s notoriously fickle weather. As such, your clothes and accessories need to be versatile and changeable, meaning that it’s best to bring along thin layers that you can interchange and add or remove at a moment’s notice. Read on to find out exactly what you'll need to wear to be comfortable during your summer trip to Iceland.

• See also:  8 Day Summer Photography Workshop in Iceland

• See also:  10 Day Circle of Iceland Photo Workshop in the Summer

Upper Base Layer

It is important to bring upper garments that are breathable, quick-drying and which offer some sort of UV protection. During your photography tour, you may find yourself shooting in and around coastal areas, which can be windy and quite wet.

You can use quick-dry shirts as base layers, teamed with long sleeve shirts to provide some protection against sudden changes in temperature. You will need to bring along 3 to 4 pairs for a 10-day adventure, each of which you can wear at least twice.

Mountain Hardwear Photon Long Sleeve T - Men's

For men, we recommend the Mountain Hardwear Photon Long Sleeve Shirt. The soft, lightweight fabric of this shirt offers superior comfort and is great for managing moisture and odour.

Mountain Hardwear Wicked Lite LS Tee - Women's

For women, we suggest the Mountain Hardwear Wicked Lite LS Shirt. This shirt is lightweight and made of moisture-wicking fabric, which keeps you dry and comfortable while you’re being active.

• See also:  3 Day Summer Photo Workshop on the South Coast of Iceland

Mid Layer

This layer goes on top of your base layer. Similar to during the winter, a mid layer in summer will help you stay insulated against the cold. You won’t need a mid layer as heavyweight as as during the winter, so it is best to look for one that is lightweight and breathable in a vest style, which will allow you to wear it unzipped if you become too warm.

Jack Wolfskin Women's Kiruna Striped Jacket

For men, we suggest the Jack Wolfskin Kiruna Striped Jacket, which offers a basic level of heat retention. This classic summer hiking fleece comes in a compact pack size, so you can keep it in your backpack on standby for when it gets cooler higher up on the hill or when it’s time for a quick rest break.

Jack Wolfskin Kiruna Jungle Women

For women, we recommend the Jack Wolfskin Kiruna Jungle. This lightweight fleece is perfect for hiking with light insulation and two hand pockets, as well as an adjustable hem.

• See also:  2-Day Snaefellsnes Peninsula in Summer Photography Tour

Outer Layer

It is very unlikely that you will be experiencing snow during your summer trip, so while hats and gloves will come in handy when the temperature drops, the focus of your outer layer during a summer tour should be on dealing with the wind and the rain.

What makes many of Iceland’s sights so spectacular is their exposure to the elements, particularly at the dramatic Reynisfjara beach or in the desolate Highlands. These areas can get very windy and we can guarantee you that when the wind picks up, the temperature can feel a lot colder than it really is. As such, we recommend bringing along a waterproof and windproof outer layer that can take the sting out of those biting Icelandic gales.

Columbia Men's Watertight II Jacket

For men, we suggest the Columbia Men’s Watertight II Jacket. This water-resistant, windproof and breathable jacket is designed to keep you dry on rainy days. It is made of lightweight, soft material that is easy to carry

Columbia Men's South Canyon Pants

For men, we suggest the Columbia Men's South Canyon Pants, which are waterproof and ideal for a rainy day hike. The polyester shell is tough and durable though the fabric itself is quite soft and comfortable.

Columbia Storm Surge Pant

For women, we recommend the Columbia Storm Surge Pants, which are built to handle the worst of wet conditions and will keep your legs nice and dry.  

Columbia Women's Tested Tough In Pink Rain Jacket

For women, we recommend the Columbia Women’s Tested Tough Jacket, which is water resistant and windproof. It is lightweight, easy to carry and will keep you dry on rainy days and during outdoor activities.

• See also:  5-Day Summer Photo Tour | Black Sand Beaches, Waterfalls & Glacier Lagoons

Socks

Even if you have a pair of sturdy walking boots, it is very necessary to give your feet extra protection. So to keep you steady when conditions are rough, we suggest bringing along a few pairs of MERIWOOL Merino Wool Blend Hiking Socks, which are soft, comfortable and absorb sweat from your skin, releasing it back into the air. These socks have natural antibacterial properties and are odour resistant. They are also easy to wash, quick to dry and will help you reduce the risk of blisters.

MERIWOOL 3 Pairs Merino Wool Blend Socks

We suggest bringing along a few pairs of MERIWOOL Merino Wool Blend Hiking Socks, which are soft, comfortable and absorb sweat from your skin, releasing it back into the air. These socks have natural antibacterial properties and are odour resistant. They are also easy to wash, quick to dry and will help you reduce the risk of blisters.

• See also:  13 Day Photo Workshop of Iceland's South Coast & Highlands

Footwear

Many of Iceland’s most breathtaking locations are off the beaten track, so you will need to have footwear that can protect your feet and ankles from unsteady ground and stand up to wet, muddy or slippery surfaces.

These Timberland White Ledge Men’s and Women’s Waterproof Boots are lightweight and sturdy - perfect for traversing the diverse terrains during a tour of Iceland’s sights.

As we will be working on coastal and river scenes, you will also need overshoes or rubber boots for extra protection. This will allow you to get into the water for the right vantage point when searching for compositions. There is no need to worry about squeezing these into your luggage though, as we will provide you with rubber boots suitable for standing in the water for the duration of your photography tour.

Timberland White Ledge Men's Waterproof Boot

These Timberland White Ledge men’s Waterproof Boots are lightweight and sturdy - perfect for traversing the diverse terrains during a tour of Iceland’s sights. As we will be working on coastal and river scenes, you will also need overshoes or rubber boots for extra protection.

This will allow you to get into the water for the right vantage point when searching for compositions. There is no need to worry about squeezing these into your luggage though, as we will provide you with rubber boots suitable for standing in the water for the duration of your photography tour.

Timberland Women's White Ledge Hiking Boot

These Timberland White Ledge women’s Waterproof Boots are lightweight and sturdy - perfect for traversing the diverse terrains during a tour of Iceland’s sights. As we will be working on coastal and river scenes, you will also need overshoes or rubber boots for extra protection.

This will allow you to get into the water for the right vantage point when searching for compositions. There is no need to worry about squeezing these into your luggage though, as we will provide you with rubber boots suitable for standing in the water for the duration of your photography tour.

• See also:  10 Day Photo Workshop in the Highlands & South Coast

Gloves

We all know what happens when it’s cold, wet and windy: our hands go numb. And that’s a bad situation for any photographer to be in. The last thing you’ll want is to miss that perfect shot because your fingers are too cold.

SEALSKINZ Men's Stretch Fleece Nano Cycling Gloves

We recommend bringing a pair of gloves like these by Sealskinz, which are unisex, stretchy, and fit like … well, a glove. They’re not the thickest, but they will give you extra protection against the wind and are still compatible with touch screens. Handy!

• See also:  Midnight Sun in the Westfjords | 11 Day Photo Workshop

Sun Protection

Summertime in Iceland means another more obvious thing: light. And lots of it. If you’re lucky and your tour coincides with blue skies and sunny weather or the Midnight Sun, then sunglasses and sunscreen are definitely needed. You might also want to bring along a cap or a hat. It might not feel like the Caribbean but you can still get sunburnt!  

You'll still need sunglasses during summer in Iceland! Photo by: 'Max Pixel'.

Now that you’ve booked your summer photography workshop and considered some of our recommended gear above, you will definitely be set for your exciting adventure to Iceland! Organising to have your clothing well in advance of your tour means that you will be well-equipped for the dynamic weather conditions, which will be a huge boost to both your learning and actual experience of the workshop that you’ve booked.

Bringing along these essentials will also help our guides to teach and show you how to photograph some of the most captivating and epic landscapes that you will witness in your life.

So get ready to photograph some of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the world. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Get off the beaten track in Iceland on our wonderful 11-Day Midnight Sun in Westfjords Photo Workshop!