What to wear on the glacier

What should you wear for snowmobiling in Iceland?

Thermal layers under the tour's overall, a fleece or wool sweater, warm socks and waterproof boots. Dress for winter even in summer.

• Base layer: long-sleeved thermal top and leggings, merino wool or synthetic.
• Mid layer: a fleece or wool sweater. Mountaineers of Iceland asks for fleece or wool sweaters, thermal leggings and warm socks, and no cotton.
• Outer layer: your own waterproof jacket and trousers for the stops and the walk to the truck. The overall goes over them.
• Feet: wool socks and waterproof hiking boots that cover the ankle.
• Hands: thin liner gloves under the tour's gloves.
• Eyes: sunglasses for the truck ride and the stops.

One Golden Circle guest put the rule in a sentence: "The big thing to note is to layer. While the Golden Circle spots may be fairly warm, the glacier is cold and windy."

What gear does the snowmobile tour provide?

An overall, gloves, a helmet and a buff or balaclava on every tour, plus overshoes or goggles depending on the operator.

From the listings and operator pages:

The suits come in a wide range of sizes; Snowmobile.is says they go up to 5XL and it has no weight limit. One guest on the Gullfoss tour added that "if you need better gloves or boots you can rent" at the base camp.

What should you wear under the snowmobile suit?

A thermal base layer, a fleece and, if you have them, waterproof trousers. The overall keeps out wind, not water, and you sit on snow for an hour.

The overalls are windproof and warm, and on cold days guests report being comfortable at minus 12 to minus 15. What they don't do is keep a seat dry. One super jeep guest warned: "Nothing is truly waterproof, merely resistant, so be prepared for wet bums and maybe have a dry pair of pants to change into!"

Skip jeans: wet cotton stays cold for the rest of the day. Thin layers you can take off in the truck beat one thick jumper, because the vehicles are heated and the rides to base camp are long.

What shoes should you wear for snowmobiling?

Waterproof hiking boots that cover the ankle, with wool socks. Most tours lend overshoes, but not boots.

Your feet rest on the snowmobile's footboards in the snow for an hour, and the walk from truck to sled is through slush on warm days. Trainers get soaked. One guest on the Into the Glacier combo wrote simply: "Definitely need waterproof boots!" Into the Glacier requires water-repellent footwear for the tunnel and hands out crampons inside.

Forgot? On the tunnel tour, one guest in August was given "waterproof boots that went on over my tennis shoes". The Glacier Rush lists shoes as not included, so bring your own boots for it.

How do you keep your hands warm on a snowmobile?

Wear thin liner gloves under the tour's gloves, and use the heated handlebar grips. Fingers are the first thing to get cold.

On the throttle your thumb stays pressed for long stretches, and the wind hits your hands first. A guest on the Secret Lagoon day, at minus 15 with wind chill, found her fingertips "painfully cold after 10 minutes" and gave the fix: "Take liner gloves to wear inside theirs."

Many sleds have heated grips. Ask the guide to switch them on before you set off, and check they work; a guest on one tour found theirs didn't. The passenger can tuck their hands into the driver's pockets or behind their back.

Ride the glacier, then warm up in the hot water of the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir. Pickup in Reykjavík.

★ 4.6 · 10 hours · from $433

Explore the snowmobile and Secret Lagoon day → Tour details

Do you need goggles or sunglasses for snowmobiling?

The helmet has a visor, and Snowmobile.is tours lend ski goggles. Bring sunglasses for the truck ride and the stops: snow glare is strong on a clear day.

The visor is your eye protection on the sled. In falling snow it can ice up; one guest on a whiteout day struggled to see until a guide gave her goggles. If that happens, stop and wave to the guide straight away. If you wear glasses, tell the crew at gear-up so they find a helmet that fits over them.

On a sunny day the snow reflects far more light than a beach. Sunglasses and sunscreen on your nose and cheeks are worth it in March and April, when the sun is higher and the days are long.

How cold is it on the glacier?

Colder and windier than Reykjavík. Guests on winter tours report minus 12 to minus 15°C with wind chill; in summer it can feel mild in the sun.

Winter guests write about "minus 12 out there" and "-15 with windchill". Even the Gullfoss tour's gear only goes so far: "They provided overalls and helmets but you need to wrap up warm". In summer it is a different place. A guest in July found it "surprisingly warm so a hat would have been handy", and still recommended wool socks and hiking boots. It also snows in August.

The weather on the ice can turn in an hour. Season and weather covers what each month brings.

What else should you bring on a snowmobile tour?

Snacks and water, a charged phone in an inside pocket, lip balm, sunscreen, and a swimsuit if your day includes the Secret Lagoon.

• Food: no tour includes lunch. Pickup days stop at a café; on the Gullfoss and Geysir tours, eat first.
• Phone: cold drains batteries fast. Keep it in an inside pocket, and bring a small power bank on long days. Guides will often take photos for you at the stop.
• Lip balm and sunscreen: the wind and glare dry you out.
• Swimsuit: on the Secret Lagoon day it is not included; the listing says you can rent one at your own expense.
• A spare pair of trousers or socks: for the drive home if you got wet.
• Leave behind: a big backpack. Keep only what fits in your pockets on the sled.

Frequently asked questions