cheap but nice thermals/waterproofs for iceland trip

[frankie80]

I am off to iceland in april but don't have a big budget for thermals etc and I don't want to look too much like an eskimo.

does anyone know where I can get cheap but good thermal/waterproof/windproof clothing for my trip?

if anyone's been in April, clothing tips appreciated

M&S do good thermals . Wear them in layers . Take a swimsuit for all the hot pools / the Blue Lagoon and lots of hair conditioner / shampoo etc for rinsing out the mineral waters . Hat and gloves essential too and sturdy walking boots . You will love it , wonderful country .

Sainsburys.
Ours have lovely thermals in and some ski gear

If you are going to do the glacier walking it will be cold. Merino thermals are the warmest and the best synthetic not so much.

Make sure your hiking boots are waterproof I always treat them when I am using them in snow and ice.

M & S have some in the sale, they are in the lingerie part of the sale. I wore M&S ones when I went to Iceland. I wore pretty much the same sort of clothes as if i was going on a winter holiday in the Lake district, fleece, decent padded mac (I wore a Merrell Wakefield), walking boots etc and went in March.

Went to Norway in March. Pretty similar I should think. Had thermals from Primark , but it may be too late to get them (Damart probably worth a try if you cant get elsewhere as I think they sell them all year . I think synthetic is actually supposed to be better than cotton/wool as your 'base' layer). Wore snow boots on the plane , as they are heavy . Wore a fleece lined walking jacket and paddded walking trousers, which I have anyway (DH wore vey old skiing trousers) but wished I'd had a down coat . Bought a hat there , partly as a souvenir .

TK Maxx is a good place to get good jackets, gloves etc, also a lot of the warmer clothes will now be in the sales. Are you going touring around all over Iceland (well the bits you can get to) or is it a short break in Reykjavik with a couple of coach tours.

Merino is far more odour resistant than synthetic also warmer.

I'm Nordic though not exactly from where you are going.
I have never owned proper thermal underwear.

The key is windproof and waterproof. This will keep you warm.

The cheap tricks: wear leggings over opaques under jeans or normal trousers. Or if you have a few pairs of holey opaques, cut off the sock part and layer a few of them, wear normal socks, or double socks.
I love merino tights.

Back home, everyone owns some Goretex clothes (hooded anorak, windproof trousers). If really cold, woolen socks in boots. Darwin prize if they leak.
A parka can work well if it's water resistant, with the hood you won't need a hat. Or or a couple of sweaters or a fleece under a windbreaker. Gloves are essential.

God I sound glamorous...

Reykjavik is quite style conscious.

Here is a blog which is really interesting, sign up for her newsletter it has some great tips and her walking tour once you get there is well worth it. Enjoy Iceland.

www.iheartreykjavik.net/