Iceland 3 nights including Northern Lights - realistic clothes

[GeX]

My bad, I thought I'd linked one that was 100% merino wool. I just wanted to point out that you don't need to spend £200 on a base layer. My wife's are 100% wool but cheap, mine are bamboo fibre (I too prefer natural fibres).

 

[Janesy B]

When I went to Iceland I had a pair of long johns to wear under my jeans if I was going to colder more open places. For the top half it's not really about having a massive huge jacket, rather layering up. I had some Uniqlo heattech t shirts to wear under a wooly jumper and I'd have a fleece or light jacket under a warmer jacket. No point spending ££££ for 3 days though.

I'm not sure that the northern lights affect the clothes you need to wear.

You'll be going to fairly open/remote places in the middle of the night when it's the coldest to see the aurora. So yes it actually does affect what's needed.

 

[Pudney]

When I went to Iceland 5 years ago I got this thin wool tubular scarf (snood? maybe). Greatest thing ever at keeping neck and face warm. Temperatures got down to about -20 at night whilst trying to see the Northern Lights, but that was in mid December. Also worked great when I was in Canada in temperatures of -34!

Layers everywhere else, if you get too hot remove one of the layers.

 

[jpaul]

most of the clothing can be the same as for skiing -
I swear by Patagonia capilene (artificial) mid weight base layers, which you can use subsequently as single layer for running/walking/cycling in the UK.
Mittens, as for skiing, and a balaclaver for the face and neck, stops your cheeks/jaw chilling.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

The weather for Reykjavik in November is overnight lows of -1, not exactly cold, just be sensible, just take a few layers and you will be fine. No need to go mad buying special base layers or thermal pants, even for the northern lights tours.

OP what hiking have you planned? It depends on what you are doing really depends on what you need but it shouldn’t be that cold. The most at that time of year a cheap skiing jacket and trousers will be more than enough for an organised tourist trip. You can normally get a jacket, trousers, hat, gloves and socks for £70 from mountain warehouse. That will be good for a week in the Alps let alone a day trip in Iceland.

 

[Tefal]

Hi all,

Venturing off to Iceland for a 3 night stay in November and we've got a night trip to northern lights(hopefully) and then a day trekking about then a free day the 3rd day. We've googled what clothing to wear but we're on a bit of a budget with clothes buying so wondering if anyone has any advice on what definitely needs buying and what is probably a waste of money.

I'm naturally always baking hot and sweat loads even in winter and in coats and my wife's always cold even in the middle of summer.

Also anyone got any ideas what to do in Rejavik on the free 3rd day. So any tips would be great.

Don't need anything fancy just a few layers

Layers are better anyway as you can dial it in when your moving through snow you will get hot.

When I was in sarasselka in north Finland typically had, thermal underwear (long johns, but they were too hot when in doors) and jeans or walking pants. shirt/'t shirt (basically what i wanted to be sat in inside so nice ish) Then a old hoodie or a fleece and an old outdoor coat. If it was very cold hoodie and fleece.


Good boots make the world of differnce otherwise a pair of sealskinz socks makes crappy boots lovley warm and waterproof


So best advice, dont buy anything new just take "more" of your current clothes and chucks them on. But if you're citying it meh you'll be inside a lot. You only get cold if you're sat still outside

 

[Tefal]

Merino wool regulates the body temperature and wicks the sweat. That stuff costs money i spent 200 pounds on a merino base layer and another 2 on the shells. And cheap polyester fleece is the midlayer i would not wear that itchy plastic crap as a base layer but your going to have too because of money.

And some of it inc the stuff i have is made from plastic bottles. So your prostate etc will love all that plastic offgassing too. Thats why people pay for outdoor gear polyester causes cancer im sure of it.

Meh, merino wool is ok, but it's not a mirrcile certainly not something is spend 200 quid on for a base layer.


The artificial base layers work fantastically and are cheap the only problem with is if you happen to be in active combat and an explosion melts them to your skin. But as the op isnt gping to Iraq hell be fine.

The cancer and off gassing stuff is of course just ridiculous nonsense .

Most people pay top dollar for outdoor gear for exactly the same reason thier misses pays an extra 200 so her handbag says Gucci.

 

[Tefal]

When I went to Iceland 5 years ago I got this thin wool tubular scarf (snood? maybe). Greatest thing ever at keeping neck and face warm. Temperatures got down to about -20 at night whilst trying to see the Northern Lights, but that was in mid December. Also worked great when I was in Canada in temperatures of -34!

Layers everywhere else, if you get too hot remove one of the layers.

Buff also make those scars.

I got pair of them one of the long thick-thin types and a smaller just thin type from some highstreet outdoor store 2 for 1 for 7 quid. Theyr e everywhere now. Very useful things

 

[Axeboy]

The actual temperature might not seem that bad but with the wind it can be brutal, especially at the water front. You'll be fine with winter clothing as mentioned above, I've been 3 or 4 times but always in February. Take good gloves.

Highly recommended the Brewery Tour, of all the tours, it's the one I would do again and again

 

[Rofflay]

Meh, merino wool is ok, but it's not a mirrcile certainly not something is spend 200 quid on for a base layer.


The artificial base layers work fantastically and are cheap the only problem with is if you happen to be in active combat and an explosion melts them to your skin. But as the op isnt gping to Iraq hell be fine.

The cancer and off gassing stuff is of course just ridiculous nonsense .

Most people pay top dollar for outdoor gear for exactly the same reason thier misses pays an extra 200 so her handbag says Gucci.

Well prostate cancer is now in two of my relatives so i had a read on google about what happens when you sweat and heat up the plastic fibres in polyester boxers. And i have my suspicions about it because just look at what that is made from it is a byproduct of oil? Plastic has a whole range of bad things it does to life. You really think wearing plastic is tinfoil hat stuff?

Google polyester cancer and polyester offgassing it put me off letting the Patagonia Capilene touch my skin and if you sniff the Midlayer it has a clear smell which means offgassing.

 

[Shoeyuk]

When we went had long johns and jumpers with hats and gloves.

I did buy an arcteryx thin coat which kept me nice and toast with a cheap waterproof.

The tours we did for the northern lights they would loan you thermal trousers and coats if required.

My only regret was the whale watching trip the sea was very rough everyone I could see on the boat was sick.

looking at going back for the midnight walk during the summer solstice

 

[alexakasloth]

Just get some cotton thermals and a decent jumper and coat, on a budget you could get a skiing jacket from decathalon and thermals from Primark.
I went on a sailing exped around Iceland in July last year, even on the island of Grimsy which is on the edge of the artic I was wearing a T Shirt and hiking trousers, and yes as people have stated it's very expensive (£10 for a beer unless it's the happy hour pub).

 

[Rofflay]

http://patra.com/products/MLJ/mens-pure-silk-thermal-long-johns

Not bad at all? Thermal silk for 40 quid and keeps the air from going up your back. I looked around at something not wool for day to day and thats one of the best i saw yet.

 

[Janesy B]

Well prostate cancer is now in two of my relatives so i had a read on google about what happens when you sweat and heat up the plastic fibres in polyester boxers. And i have my suspicions about it because just look at what that is made from it is a byproduct of oil? Plastic has a whole range of bad things it does to life. You really think wearing plastic is tinfoil hat stuff?

Google polyester cancer and polyester offgassing it put me off letting the Patagonia Capilene touch my skin and if you sniff the Midlayer it has a clear smell which means offgassing.

Jet fuel doesn't melt steel beams.

I've got some cotton pants that are a bit whiffy, that's probably my off-gassing

 

[Street]

Well prostate cancer is now in two of my relatives so i had a read on google about what happens when you sweat and heat up the plastic fibres in polyester boxers. And i have my suspicions about it because just look at what that is made from it is a byproduct of oil? Plastic has a whole range of bad things it does to life. You really think wearing plastic is tinfoil hat stuff?

Google polyester cancer and polyester offgassing it put me off letting the Patagonia Capilene touch my skin and if you sniff the Midlayer it has a clear smell which means offgassing.

Lol, what? I'm sure your sample of two is an accurate representation and all but what about the millions of other people that wear synthetic gear and wear it day in day out with no side effects?

 

[Liquid_Entity]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Think will just buy some thermal underwear, gloves, hat and a winter coat. Everything else is just normal.

Someone mentioned brewery tour, is it beer or lager cos I don't like beer. I've looked up a few pages and lots of walking tours around rejakavic. We're doing golden circle tour and northern lights tour. 3rd day still isn't decided yet. I'm nor good with boats so whale watching ain't my first choice.

 

[Janesy B]

Lol, what? I'm sure your sample of two is an accurate representation and all but what about the millions of other people that wear synthetic gear and wear it day in day out with no side effects?

Everything 'offgasses', the new car smell is just VOCs for example. There are about a million and one other things to worry about than polyester rubbing against your balls.

 

[Street]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Think will just buy some thermal underwear, gloves, hat and a winter coat. Everything else is just normal.

I find Power Stretch leggings are a god send when it's properly cold and I could be stood around a lot.

Everything 'offgasses', the new car smell is just VOCs for example. There are about a million and one other things to worry about than polyester rubbing against your balls.

Exactly!

 

[Tefal]

Well prostate cancer is now in two of my relatives so i had a read on google about what happens when you sweat and heat up the plastic fibres in polyester boxers.

I'd be more worried about other things coming out if you're arse hole is so slack the "gas" from your boxers is going up it and affecting your prostate

 

[Rofflay]

I'd be more worried about other things coming out if you're arse hole is so slack the "gas" from your boxers is going up it and affecting your prostate

My last post on GD read google. I mean you really think i have an iq low enough to mean gasses going up in your bum? Clearly i mean leeching through sweat into your balls and systems its a plastic? And the offgassing if you have a poly layer near the mouth well you now inhale and can breathe in tiny fibres of plastic.

And by cause cancer i do not mean you wear it and your balls fall of but if everything else in your life is plastic and cancers quite common clearly there is a link. If there was not a link google would have a lot less info.