Live and Learn (Gear That Worked in Iceland) — Seeing (the world) 2̶0̶2̶0̶ 2022!

We’ve spent years figuring out the best travel gear to pack on trips, but every trip is unique and the gear keeps changing. At the end of this recent trip to Iceland, we asked the kids (and each other) what we thought worked well on the trip, and what we wouldn’t pack if we were going back again. Obviously a wintry trip to Iceland is going to be pretty different than a beach trip to Costa Rica, but it’s still helpful to review. This is especially key for us right now, as we’re heading towards 6 months of travel in which we hope to stick with carry-on-only minimalist packing. It’s gonna be tough.

Here are some shout-outs to the winners from this trip. I’ll link to the products if possible down below.

1) My Salomon boots.
Other than a pair of flip-flops for our time at the Blue Lagoon, these were the only shoes I brought. They were comfortable for walking around all day. They kept me warm. They looked nice enough that I didn’t feel weird wearing them to restaurants or museums. And when push came to shove (meaning when I stepped fully into a deep puddle of muddy ice water) they kept me dry and didn’t even look dirty afterwards. Story’s boots did not have the same success in the same puddle, so we spent some time using the hand dryers in the Thingvellir National Park bathrooms. Way to go, Salomon!

These boots are made for walking, on lava and in ice mush.

2) My fancy pants big Costco coat. Okay, so this one is definitely not one I’d suggest for probably any other trip, but it really kept me warm and dry in cold/wind/rain/snow. When we went dogsledding, the rest of the family borrowed big suits to put on over all their other clothing and gear, but I was perfectly fine wearing the coat I came in. And at home in Colorado, I can say that purchasing this coat this year made me feel like I finally got my outerwear right after a decade of living here.

3) Our new LiteGear rolling backpack that fits under airplane seats and is, therefore, a personal item in addition to my carry-on. I know Mike hates the idea of anything more than one bag on his back for travel, but the mom in me knows that inevitably we will be carrying random bags of food and kleenex and cough drops and water bottles and whatever other crap we accumulate just within the airport. I do not want everything in the overhead bin. I want to be able to read my book or blow my nose or keep a snack within reach. Plus, as dads sometimes do, he doesn’t always remember that our kids are going to be homeschooling while we’re on the go later this year. While I have no intention of dragging along huge textbooks, the reality is that there will need to be some antique items like paper, pencils, and laptops along for the ride. I can get all of my clothes and toiletries into my carry-on bag, but there is zero room for anything else. So having a second, smaller bag that can contain all the random goodies is a huge help. And the LiteGear one is perfect for what I want. It can roll or be worn as a backpack. There’s a smaller sling bag that hooks onto it with latches and magnets, and that is great for walking around a city on non-travel days. The size is excellent - it holds plenty but also slides under an airplane seat with no problem.

On this trip, Story and I each used one of these bags. I kept quick access stuff in mine, like passports and snacks. We also tossed masks, hats, gloves, and little accessories that we knew would go back and forth in usage often. My hope for the big trip is to keep these bags no more than half-full for most of the trip. So then when we do inevitably need somewhere to cram a jacket or we buy a couple small souvenirs, we’ll have space to put everything.

4) Fleece-lined waterproof pants. Think snow pants but less bulky and fuzzier on the inside. I ordered a pair for myself a while back to test out before the trip (lots of opportunities for testing in Colorado!). I loved them so much, I ordered the same brand for Story. And then I found a men’s option for Sagan, too. And then, my friend who had visited Iceland in October sent me the link to the exact same pants I bought, suggesting that I get them before our trip. It seems I was not the only fan. They worked great for both of our families - practical and still nice-looking enough to wear for a night out.

There were a few other choices we made that worked out great, but those were the items I actively thought, “Nailed it with these ones!” As promised, here are some links in case you decide to trek near the Arctic Circle yourself sometime soon.

They don’t seem to carry my exact Salomon boots anymore, but these ones are pretty close. I think these are the ones Sagan wore on the trip, too.

LiteGear Rolling Mobile Pro 2.0

Waterproof pants, for women/girls and for men