8 Essential Campervan Gear Items for Your Iceland Ring Road Trip

Stepping into a campervan to tour Iceland’s legendary Ring Road is the ultimate way to experience a landscape defined by tumbling waterfalls, black sand beaches, and active volcanoes. While the freedom of the open road is unmatched, the island’s notoriously fickle climate and compact living quarters can quickly punish unprepared travelers. Having the precise gear on hand transforms a cramped, damp vehicle into a cozy, highly efficient mobile basecamp for your subarctic adventure.

Preparing for Iceland’s Unpredictable Coastal Weather

Iceland’s maritime climate is famously mercurial, capable of shifting from bright sunshine to horizontal sleet in the span of fifteen minutes. Along the exposed coastal stretches of the Ring Road, ferocious Atlantic winds can batter a campervan, making temperature regulation a constant challenge. Packing for this journey requires preparing for cold, damp conditions even in the height of summer.

Moisture is the primary enemy when living out of a vehicle in northern latitudes. Condensation naturally builds up inside a parked campervan overnight, meaning wet gear stays wet unless you actively manage your microclimate. Quick-drying fabrics, reliable insulation, and wind-resistant outer layers are non-negotiable foundations for daily comfort.

True preparation means understanding that you will constantly transition between the warm cabin of your van and the harsh, damp outdoors. Gear must be highly packable, easy to layer, and rugged enough to withstand gritty volcanic dust and relentless moisture. Ignoring these environmental realities leads to damp bedding, cold nights, and a miserable road trip.

Why Soft Luggage Beats Hard Suitcases in a Campervan

Campervans are masterpieces of space efficiency, but they have zero tolerance for rigid, oversized items. Hard-sided suitcases are the ultimate space killers in a mobile home because they cannot bend, compress, or mold to awkward storage compartments. Once unpacked, a hard suitcase becomes a giant, rattling obstacle that you must constantly shuffle from the bed to the front seats.

Soft-sided luggage, on the other hand, conforms easily to the tight benches, under-bed storage, or overhead cabinets typical of Icelandic rental vans. You can stuff soft bags into tight corners, compress them down as they empty, or even roll them up and tuck them away entirely. This flexibility keeps the living area organized and free of tripping hazards during long driving days.

Furthermore, hard plastic shells slide around on wood laminate campervan floors, creating distracting noise and potential damage while navigating winding coastal roads. Soft fabric bags dampen sound, stay put when tucked into storage cubbies, and make packing up each morning a quick, stress-free routine.

Duffel Bag – Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L

A heavy-duty, weather-resistant gear hauler is essential for keeping your clothing and personal items dry and organized throughout a multi-week road trip. Living out of a van means constantly loading and unloading gear, often in wind-driven rain or grit-heavy parking lots. A flimsy suitcase will quickly succumb to wet ground, but a rugged duffel protects your essentials from the elements.

The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L is the benchmark for this task due to its extremely durable, weather-resistant 900-denier recycled polyester ripstop with a TPU-film laminate. It features padded, removable shoulder straps that allow you to carry it like a backpack, leaving your hands free to open van doors or carry groceries. The heavy-duty base padding protects your gear from rough gravel surfaces when setting up camp.

• Capacity: 70 Liters (ideal for 10-14 days of layering pieces)
• Weight: 3 lbs 1.4 oz
• Material: 100% recycled body fabric, lining, and webbing
• Key Feature: Removable ergonomic shoulder straps and reinforced haul handles

While the 70L size is the sweet spot for a two-week Icelandic itinerary, it can easily exceed airline carry-on limits if stuffed to capacity, so plan to check it. The heavy TPU coating can also stiffen in sub-freezing temperatures, requiring a bit more effort to zip shut. This bag is perfect for travelers who prioritize bombproof weather protection and packability, but it is not ideal for those who prefer rolling luggage with telescoping handles.

Sleeping Bag – Kelty Cosmic Down 20 Sleeping Bag

Even with a built-in diesel heater, campervan interiors cool down rapidly once the engine is switched off for the night. A reliable, rated sleeping bag is your primary defense against subarctic drafts and ensures a restorative night’s sleep after long driving hours. Relying solely on rental bedding can be a gamble, as comfort ratings vary wildly.

The Kelty Cosmic Down 20 Sleeping Bag offers an exceptional balance of warmth, packability, and value, utilizing cozy 550-fill water-resistant down. This proprietary DriDown technology ensures that even if condensation dampens the van’s interior, the insulation retains its loft and trapping ability. Its thermal-comfort rating keeps you comfortable down to freezing temperatures, which are common overnight in Iceland even during the summer.

• Temperature Rating: 20°F / -7°C (limit), 32°F / 0°C (comfort)
• Insulation: 550-fill DriDown (PFC-free)
• Weight: 2 lbs 10 oz (Regular)
• Shape: Relaxed mummy for extra wiggle room

Because this bag uses 550-fill down, it is slightly bulkier when packed than high-end, expensive mountaineering bags, but the cost savings and roomy cut make it perfect for campervan travel. It is vital to shake out the bag and let it loft for an hour before sleeping to maximize its insulating power. This bag is a stellar choice for campervan tourists who want reliable down warmth without a premium price tag, though it is not meant for extreme alpine expeditions.

Pack Towel – PackTowl Personal Microfiber Towel

Visiting Iceland’s geothermal pools, local hot springs, and campsite showers is a daily ritual on the Ring Road. Standard cotton towels are a disaster in a campervan because they take hours to dry, quickly developing a musty, sour odor in the damp cabin. A specialized, fast-drying towel is mandatory to keep your living space smelling fresh and dry.

The PackTowl Personal Microfiber Towel is the gold standard because it absorbs four times its weight in water and wrings out almost completely dry. It features a helpful Polygiene odor control treatment that prevents mildew growth, which is critical when the towel is hanging from a van headrest between stops. The fabric is remarkably soft against the skin, avoiding the scratchy feel common in cheaper microfiber towels.

• Material: 85% Polyester, 15% Nylon microfiber
• Dry Time: Up to 70% faster than comparable cotton towels
• Sizes: Face, Hand, Body, and XL (Body or XL is recommended for bathing)
• Key Feature: Integrated snap loop for easy hanging to dry

Users should know that microfiber behaves differently than cotton; patting yourself dry is far more effective than rubbing your skin. To maintain its high absorption rates, never wash this towel with fabric softener, as it coats the fibers and ruins performance. This towel is an absolute necessity for anyone taking advantage of Iceland’s thermal culture, though those who absolutely demand the plush, heavy feel of home towels may find the thin material a transition.

Satellite Communicator – Garmin inReach Mini 2

Cell service along the Ring Road is generally excellent, but deep fjords, remote gravel passes, and sudden mountain blizzards can leave you completely cut off. In Iceland, weather emergencies and road closures happen fast, and being able to call for assistance or receive localized alerts can save your life. A satellite communicator ensures you are never truly stranded, even when cellular networks fail.

The Garmin inReach Mini 2 is a palm-sized lifesaver that utilizes the global Iridium satellite network for two-way messaging, route tracking, and SOS capabilities. It allows you to check real-time weather forecasts specific to your GPS coordinates, which is invaluable before traversing high-elevation passes. Its long battery life of up to 14 days in moderate tracking mode means you rarely have to worry about charging it.

• Weight: 3.5 oz
• Battery Life: Up to 14 days (10-minute tracking interval)
• Connectivity: Bluetooth pairing with smartphones via Garmin Messenger app
• Water Rating: IPX7 (withstands rain, splashes, and brief immersion)

To use the device’s communication features, you must activate an active satellite subscription plan, so do this at home before departing. The small screen can be tedious for typing messages directly, so pairing it with your smartphone via the Garmin app is highly recommended for easy texting. This is an indispensable safety tool for peace of mind in remote areas, though it may be overkill for travelers who never plan to step more than five feet away from major tourist hubs.

Power Bank – Anker 737 Power Bank PowerCore 24K

While modern campervans usually feature auxiliary USB ports, relying solely on the vehicle’s house battery to charge phones, cameras, and drones can lead to dead vehicle batteries in the wilderness. A dedicated, high-capacity power bank ensures all your navigation and photography gear stays charged without compromising the van’s electrical system. This is especially true during cold nights, which drain lithium-ion batteries rapidly.

The Anker 737 Power Bank PowerCore 24K is the ultimate power solution, featuring a massive 24,000mAh capacity and ultra-fast 140W two-way charging. It can fully charge a smartphone multiple times or even power up a USB-C laptop or camera battery directly, keeping your devices alive for days off-grid. The smart digital display provides real-time data on input power, output power, and estimated time to fully recharge the bank itself.

• Capacity: 24,000 mAh
• Output: Max 140W via USB-C (Power Delivery 3.1)
• Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 USB-A
• Weight: 1.4 lbs

Keep in mind that this power bank is relatively heavy and must be carried in your flight carry-on baggage, as airline rules strictly prohibit giant lithium-ion batteries in checked luggage. To recharge this massive bank quickly, you will need a high-wattage wall charger, otherwise charging it fully can take several hours. It is the perfect investment for photographers and digital nomads capturing their journey, but it is too heavy for casual travelers who only need a small emergency top-up.

Travel Mug – Yeti Rambler 20 oz Travel Mug

Long hours of driving through dramatic landscapes require steady caffeine and hydration, but paper cups from Icelandic gas stations cool down in minutes in a cold cabin. A double-walled insulated travel mug keeps your coffee piping hot during long stretches of road and reduces single-use waste. It also serves as an excellent container for hot soup or tea when wind forces you to eat inside the van.

The Yeti Rambler 20 oz Travel Mug stands out due to its heavy-duty 18/8 stainless steel build and reliable double-wall vacuum insulation. This specific model features the innovative Stronghold Lid, a twist-on, leak-resistant lid with a dual-slider magnet that stays secure even over bumpy gravel roads. Its tapered base is specifically engineered to fit snugly into standard campervan cup holders, preventing messy spills in transit.

• Material: Kitchen-grade 18/8 stainless steel
• Lid: Stronghold twist-on, leak-resistant lid
• Compatibility: Dishwasher safe and cup-holder friendly
• Design: No Sweat design prevents condensation on hands

Note that while the Stronghold lid is highly splash-resistant and won’t leak if tipped over in a cup holder, it is not designed to be thrown upside down inside a backpack like a thermos. Additionally, the insulated walls are so effective that boiling liquids will stay scalding for hours; vent the lid occasionally to let it reach a drinkable temperature. This is a must-have for the driver who values premium heat retention, though it may be unnecessary weight for those who drink their beverages immediately.

Eye Mask – Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask

From late May through August, Iceland experiences the phenomenon of the midnight sun, meaning night never truly gets dark. Sleeping in a campervan with basic window curtains often results in thin shafts of blinding light waking you up at 3:00 AM. Without a way to trick your brain into sleeping, the constant daylight will rapidly disrupt your sleep cycle and cause driving fatigue.

The Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask provides a simple, luxurious solution crafted from 19-momme natural mulberry silk on both sides. This incredibly breathable, smooth fabric feels cool against the skin and prevents facial sweating or irritation during the night. It features an adjustable, elastic strap that sits flat against the head without plastic buckles digging into your ears when sleeping on your side.

• Material: 100% organic mulberry silk (both sides)
• Strap Type: Flat, adjustable elastic band
• Coverage: Wide nose-bridge design to block light gaps
• Maintenance: Hand wash with mild soap, air dry

Since this mask is made of delicate silk, throwing it in the campsite washing machine will ruin the fibers, so plan to hand-wash and air-dry it if it gets dirty. Ensure the strap is adjusted loosely enough to avoid pressure on your eyeballs, which can cause temporary blurry vision upon waking. This is an absolute game-changer for summer Ring Road explorers, though winter travelers hunting the Northern Lights won’t have any need for it.

Camp Slipper – The North Face ThermoBall Traction Mule

Taking off wet, muddy hiking boots before stepping into your clean campervan is essential for keeping your living and sleeping quarters hygienic. However, walking around the cold van floor or stepping outside onto wet gravel at midnight in socks is a recipe for cold, wet feet. A dedicated camp slipper bridges this gap, offering instant warmth and easy slip-on convenience.

The North Face ThermoBall Traction Mule is the perfect camp shoe, combining cozy ThermoBall Eco synthetic insulation with a durable, high-traction rubber outsole. This allows you to step out into damp grass to check the Northern Lights or walk to the campsite bathroom without switching back into heavy hiking boots. The collapsible heel design lets you wear them as slip-ons for immediate convenience inside the van cabin.

• Insulation: Lightweight ThermoBall Eco (retains warmth when wet)
• Outsole: 40% recycled rubber for reliable grip
• Upper: Water-resistant, 100% recycled ripstop fabric
• Design: Collapsible heel with elastic side panels

While the upper is treated with a water-resistant coating, these are not waterproof boots and will eventually wet through if submerged in deep puddles or heavy rain. They also run slightly small, so sizing up is recommended if you plan to wear them with thick wool hiking socks. This is a cozy, luxury-tier upgrade for anyone who values comfort and cleanliness inside their mobile home, but is not intended for active hiking.

Navigating Iceland’s Ring Road Safely in a Campervan

Driving the 828-mile Ring Road is a bucket-list experience, but the route demands your undivided attention and a healthy dose of respect. The road is primarily a two-lane highway with narrow shoulders, frequent single-lane bridges, and blind curves over steep hills. Wind is often the greatest hazard; violent gusts can easily catch the side of a high-profile campervan and force it off the asphalt, or rip doors right off their hinges when parked.

Before starting the engine each morning, checking Vedur.is (for weather) and Road.is (for road conditions) must become a non-negotiable habit. Standard campervans are strictly forbidden on Iceland’s interior mountain tracks, known as F-roads, which require high-clearance 4×4 vehicles and experienced off-road driving. Attempting these routes in a standard van will void your insurance and risk costly recovery fees.

Speed limits are strictly enforced via automated speed cameras, with 90 km/h (56 mph) being the maximum limit on paved rural roads. Additionally, watch out for free-roaming sheep that often wander onto the asphalt, especially during the summer months. Always park facing the wind, hold your van doors with both hands when exiting, and never pull over on the highway shoulder to take photos—use designated pull-offs instead.

Understanding Campground Rules and Etiquette in Iceland

To protect the island’s delicate volcanic ecosystem, wild camping is illegal in Iceland; campervans must park overnight at designated campgrounds. This law is strictly enforced, and violators face heavy fines from local authorities. Fortunately, the country boasts a vast network of well-maintained campsites along the Ring Road, many of which do not require advanced reservations and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Respecting camp etiquette is crucial for keeping these spaces open and enjoyable for everyone. Most campgrounds feature quiet hours starting at 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM, which must be respected to allow tired hikers and drivers to rest. Always use the provided facilities to dispose of grey water, empty chemical toilets, and sort your recycling, rather than dumping waste in natural areas.

Many campsites offer shared kitchen facilities, hot showers, and laundry services, which require collective responsibility to keep clean. Always wash your dishes immediately after cooking and leave the counter space clean for the next traveler. By showing respect for local regulations and your fellow campers, you ensure that Iceland’s unique campervan culture remains sustainable for years to come.

Navigating the breathtaking sweeps of Iceland’s Ring Road in a campervan is an experience that stays with you forever. Equipping yourself with the right combination of durable, weather-resistant, and space-saving gear ensures you stay comfortable, dry, and safe regardless of what the subarctic climate throws your way. With your mobile home properly outfitted, you can focus entirely on the awe-inspiring landscapes rolling past your windshield.