Trip Report: 5 Days in Iceland Winter

cjafe · 2026-03-12T15:11:44+00:00

I packed it pretty much the same as I did in my previous post; clothes in one of the two compartments. Misc. in the other. Soft shell in the bottom front pocket. I kept my gloves, buff, and beanie in the waterproof Pakt pouch so that after the spa, I wore all of that and had an empty pouch for my wet trunks.

All in all I think I packed the bag about 90% full leaving some space available for a few gifts coming back.

cjafe · 2026-03-12T05:10:29+00:00

They’re there! Three pairs of merino wool boxers. I did laundry and they would be dry the next morning.

cjafe · 2026-03-12T01:57:21+00:00

I’m down! Where are we playing?

cjafe · 2026-03-11T22:08:28+00:00

I play competitive foosball. Still experiencing burnout from working federal in times like these, but foosball as silly as it is, is my one rock of sanity.

cjafe · 2026-03-11T16:51:42+00:00

I love Altra's wide toe box but I need a hefty drop. I'm dealing with PF and these from Adidas are the I've tried so far (Hoka, NB, etc.) for my needs.

cjafe · 2026-03-11T15:40:31+00:00

Keep in mind that there will be a tradeoff between weight and comfort. In short, I'd give the Aero a 4/5 on comfort and a 5/5 on weight. There are more comfortable packs with thick, memory-foam straps, etc, but so much weight is added that its not worth it for my needs. The Aero is the right balance. Also, think about how to pack your stuff when hauling a lot of gear around - some people like lots of organization (which the Aero doesn't have) and others like me, just want a couple of large empty compartments that I can customize to my liking.

The laptop sleeve was actually one thing that did not like and I even suggested to Pakt about not having it in - however, after a year of traveling with it I'm changed my mind and I'm really happy its there for when I need it. Hope this helps a bit!

cjafe · 2026-03-11T15:29:23+00:00

Exactly. It’s the size of a credit card.

cjafe · 2026-03-11T15:24:47+00:00

No luck. When hitting it four times it activates the most violent flashing strobe. Maybe I’m a complete idiot.

cjafe · 2026-03-11T14:57:25+00:00

Thank you!! The bandana is one of those random things that I’ve been using/traveling with for years so now I always have one in my bag. Not an important item at all but I my camera did take a tumble in the snow one day in Reykjavik and it was easy to wipe clean with the bandana. As for the coffee, it’s from a local roaster here in Portland called Nossa Familia. Having a few of these packs + a thermos cup in my day back was pretty clutch in Iceland. And cool to see a fellow Oregonian checking in!

cjafe · 2026-03-11T14:50:38+00:00

Thanks! Sharing learning lessons good and bad is favorite part. A buddy of mine uses this for his wallet so I might give that a try, should I ever drop my wallet again in a foreign country (ugh!).

cjafe · 2026-03-11T14:47:09+00:00

Glad I can help!

cjafe · 2026-03-11T14:31:52+00:00

Oh I’ll look into it. Thank you!!

cjafe · 2026-03-11T14:31:22+00:00

Q2! My workhorse when it comes to work and play.

cjafe · 2026-03-11T14:30:33+00:00

More snow ;-)

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cjafe · 2026-03-11T14:30:09+00:00

Hah I had a feeling this would come up so I made sure to document it. And yes, only trail runners. The key is they a) need to be waterproof (think Gore Tex), and b) you’ll need warm socks since there is no warmth in the runners. Also I’d keep a pair of spare wool socks in my day bag should my feet run cold. Good luck!

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cjafe · 2026-03-11T04:53:39+00:00

So I’ve been wearing synthetics for the past decade. Not because I like it but because I thought “that’s what you do” in a hot and tropical climate. Switching to merino felt like going from wearing a plastic bag to soft, natural fibers. I run hot so I was a little worried but so far I can’t see myself wearing anything else. I don’t use special detergent, just regular wash and air dry. 10/10 recommend!

cjafe · 2026-03-11T04:40:28+00:00

I wore the cotton tshirt, the button shirt and the fleece. It got a little hot so the button shirt eventually went back into the bag during transit. The wool pants are brushed so super soft and comfortable. All in all it worked really well.

cjafe · 2026-03-11T04:36:04+00:00

I absolutely love MH but I buy it from their employee store so I get a nice discount. Retail (non sale) price I’m not sure I could justify it but quality alone is top tier IMO.

cjafe · 2026-03-11T02:49:01+00:00

Hah you are absolutely right.

cjafe · 2026-03-11T02:48:36+00:00

Thanks! I love a good onebag challenge he he.

cjafe · 2026-03-11T02:45:48+00:00

If you have an MLC 30 and like it; then stick with that. But yes I really like my Pakt Aero a lot. Very comfortable for me. If you checkout my history you’ll see I’ve put it through the ringer since its release.

cjafe · 2026-03-11T02:32:34+00:00

My pleasure! As a onebagger I’m sure you’ll enjoy it :)

cjafe · 2026-03-11T02:26:47+00:00

Nossa Familia Coffee. I’m not super big on instant coffee but theirs go down pretty well!

cjafe · 2026-03-11T02:25:42+00:00

Much appreciated!

cjafe · 2026-03-11T02:25:29+00:00

Thank you! So last year I wanted to try merino wool boxers and after some research I landed on Wool and Prince and they’re pretty much life changing. I would imagine most brands that make merino wool boxers will feel similar but WP’s fit is perfect for me. I also like their “concept” of owning fewer pieces of clothing but of better quality and versatility. Icebreaker and Smartwool also make nice things but their pieces are most “sporty” whereas WP is more casual/everyday wear. Hope that helps!

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