What to Pack for a Backpacking Trip to Europe
Monday, June 2, 2008
Taking a backpacking trip across Europe is one of the most adventurous and rewarding ways to travel. You can set your own pace, hop on the various train systems, walk from small town to village, and make new friends along the way. A key to enjoying yourself while backpacking is light luggage – you’ll be carrying everything on your back, so it’s important to bring only the bare necessities.
Even if you’re going for two weeks or more, you need only three complete outfits in your backpack. How can you get by? Bring nothing unless it is wash-and-wear. Many websites sell travel clothing made of acetate-nylon blends for easy care. Clothes like these can be washed in your hotel or hostel sink if necessary, and laid out to dry at night so they are ready to pack the next morning. Likewise, take care that your tops, pants, shorts, and skirts mix-and-match. The idea is to have as many outfits as possible at your disposal while bringing the least number of items. The only things you may want to pack extra pairs of are socks and underwear, which don’t require much space.
A good combination for most trips would be:
• 1-2 pairs of Khakis or dark pants, 1-2 pair of shorts. Forget jeans unless traveling in cold weather; they require more space and are usually too hot.
• 2-3 short-sleeved shirts or tanks, preferably in neutral or darker colors that won’t easily show dirt.
• 1 long-sleeved shirt and a lightweight sweater
Even if you think you’ll need to dress up on vacation, you don’t necessarily have to take a complete outfit with you. Most places in Europe require only a nice pair of slacks and a polo shirt for men. For women, the guidelines may be different, so ladies should always pack the quintessential black knit dress. It won’t wrinkle and can be worn casually, or dressed up with earrings and lipstick.
Other items to consider are a swimsuit or swim trunks and a Ziploc bag in case you have to store them wet, and a sunhat to protect your scalp, face, and eyes from hot temperatures. A foldable straw hat or canvas one is best so you can toss them into your backpack.
It is a good idea to splurge on shoes. You’ll be walking a lot, so a quality pair of walking shoes is essential. Break them in before your trip and wear them when you leave. The only other shoes you may need are a pair of slightly dressier shoes or sandals in case you’ll be going somewhere with a dress code. Finally, if you have room in your luggage, bring some flip-flops to wear at the beach and in communal bathrooms where you’ll want to protect your feet.
You’ll need a guidebook and maps, but don’t stuff a huge, 800-page travel guide into your light luggage or backpack. It’s a better idea to rip out or copy the pages you need and leave the book at home. The same goes for maps – look for detailed regional maps and skip the larger, more comprehensive ones.
Hair dryers, curling irons, and irons are not needed. Invest in a hairstyle you won’t need to fuss around with too much since you will be constantly on the go. As far as personal electronics, a compact digital camera and an MP3 player for long treks between towns will suffice.
Light luggage stays that way because you pack only what you need. Since you’ll be washing your clothes frequently, pack travel-sized bottles of detergent. The same applies to toiletries and medications – small bottles and travel sizes.
A small, folding travel umbrella will come in handy if the weather takes a turn for the worse. If you have room, add a lightweight poncho.
Finally, bring a money belt. There may be times when you can lock up your light luggage or backpack up at a hotel or hostel for the day, but you should never leave your debit or credit cards, passport, or other personally identifiable documents behind, no matter how soon you plan to return. A money belt is ideal for times like these and most stores selling luggage online offer money belts, too.
No matter what, remember you are backpacking across Europe to leave the weight of your life behind for a few weeks. Keep luggage light so you can enjoy yourself more freely. You may be amazed by how little you actually need.
Rethink Your Clothing
Even if you’re going for two weeks or more, you need only three complete outfits in your backpack. How can you get by? Bring nothing unless it is wash-and-wear. Many websites sell travel clothing made of acetate-nylon blends for easy care. Clothes like these can be washed in your hotel or hostel sink if necessary, and laid out to dry at night so they are ready to pack the next morning. Likewise, take care that your tops, pants, shorts, and skirts mix-and-match. The idea is to have as many outfits as possible at your disposal while bringing the least number of items. The only things you may want to pack extra pairs of are socks and underwear, which don’t require much space.
A good combination for most trips would be:
• 1-2 pairs of Khakis or dark pants, 1-2 pair of shorts. Forget jeans unless traveling in cold weather; they require more space and are usually too hot.
• 2-3 short-sleeved shirts or tanks, preferably in neutral or darker colors that won’t easily show dirt.
• 1 long-sleeved shirt and a lightweight sweater
Even if you think you’ll need to dress up on vacation, you don’t necessarily have to take a complete outfit with you. Most places in Europe require only a nice pair of slacks and a polo shirt for men. For women, the guidelines may be different, so ladies should always pack the quintessential black knit dress. It won’t wrinkle and can be worn casually, or dressed up with earrings and lipstick.
Other items to consider are a swimsuit or swim trunks and a Ziploc bag in case you have to store them wet, and a sunhat to protect your scalp, face, and eyes from hot temperatures. A foldable straw hat or canvas one is best so you can toss them into your backpack.
Shoes Must be Comfortable
It is a good idea to splurge on shoes. You’ll be walking a lot, so a quality pair of walking shoes is essential. Break them in before your trip and wear them when you leave. The only other shoes you may need are a pair of slightly dressier shoes or sandals in case you’ll be going somewhere with a dress code. Finally, if you have room in your luggage, bring some flip-flops to wear at the beach and in communal bathrooms where you’ll want to protect your feet.
Streamline Your Guidebook
You’ll need a guidebook and maps, but don’t stuff a huge, 800-page travel guide into your light luggage or backpack. It’s a better idea to rip out or copy the pages you need and leave the book at home. The same goes for maps – look for detailed regional maps and skip the larger, more comprehensive ones.
Leave the Gadgets at Home
Hair dryers, curling irons, and irons are not needed. Invest in a hairstyle you won’t need to fuss around with too much since you will be constantly on the go. As far as personal electronics, a compact digital camera and an MP3 player for long treks between towns will suffice.
Odds and Ends
Light luggage stays that way because you pack only what you need. Since you’ll be washing your clothes frequently, pack travel-sized bottles of detergent. The same applies to toiletries and medications – small bottles and travel sizes.
A small, folding travel umbrella will come in handy if the weather takes a turn for the worse. If you have room, add a lightweight poncho.
Finally, bring a money belt. There may be times when you can lock up your light luggage or backpack up at a hotel or hostel for the day, but you should never leave your debit or credit cards, passport, or other personally identifiable documents behind, no matter how soon you plan to return. A money belt is ideal for times like these and most stores selling luggage online offer money belts, too.
No matter what, remember you are backpacking across Europe to leave the weight of your life behind for a few weeks. Keep luggage light so you can enjoy yourself more freely. You may be amazed by how little you actually need.
posted by Innovation Luggage at
2:10 PM
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