So, it's less than 24 hours before we leave and we're frantically trying to pack everything that we need for our month-long adventure in Europe!
For future reference, PACK EARLY! Pack everything that you think you're going to pack a week in advance and walk around with your backpack to make sure that you'll be happy during your travels. A heavy and uncomfortable backpack while walking around the local streets of Europe, is not a good experience. I think I could have sacrificed some weight, but I'm not entirely sure yet since we haven't started yet on our Europe adventure...
We started our packing in the evening. I started out with the Rick Steeve's checklist and went from there.
Here was my final packing list:
- 5 shirts
- 2 cotton pants
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 cotton capri
- 1 swimsuit
- 1 dress
- 2 VERY light/thin sweaters (to satisfy church/tourist attire requirements)
- 1 jacket
- 5 sets of undergarments
- 1 toiletry bag
- 1 shower bag (that can be hung in hostel showers)
- 1 dry-lite towel
- 1 set of sheets
- 2 pillowcase covers
- 1 pair of shower flip-flops
- 1 pair of flip-flops
- 1 converter set
- 1 jar of peanut butter
- 1 travel wallet (to be hung around the neck)
- 3 guide books
I packed all of my clothes (save the clothes on my back and 1 jacket) in an Eagle Creek Pack it Folder (20 inches) and an Eagle Creek compressible medium bag, which was nice to keep everything organized.
THE most important thing to consider while packing was the backpack that I was taking to Europe. Abhinav wound up having a nice size Kelty Bag sitting in his garage, which was awesome, since I could always stick extra items in his bag if it was necessary. (I'm going to try to stick it out as long as I can without doing that though!)
For my backpack, I was debating between a Deuter 34L SL and a Northface Woman's Terra 45L. They're both between $100-$120, which is a better economical option than those in the $200s, like many of them are. The day before the flight, I realized that I had to take the Terra 45L due to the number of items I was taking. I liked the Deuter 34 SL because of it's truly separate compartments and the nice air layer that was on the back of the bag to prevent sweating. (The Northface only has semi-separate compartments.)
There was no question that the Northface was heavy on my back, but the way that it carries the weight on my hips is A LOT better than a normal backpack (which is what I'm used to with heavy OChem or Biology books to lug around). My bag weighed 19.5 lbs at check in and I'm very glad that it wasn't heavier. It was better than I expected, and that's all I can say right now.
I'll keep you posted on how my packing fares throughout the trip!
Hi,
My name is KC Owens, I’m a college student and I love to travel! While cruising the Internet, I found your site and really enjoyed reading your posts. I have been to countries all over Europe with just my backpack and a camera. Since I am a college student and I have significant bills, it can be difficult to find ways to travel the world. However, I have done this several times, with less than ten pounds of luggage and while on a college dime!
I was hoping that you would allow me to write a post for your site to share my tips and tricks with your readers. I put a lot of time into my traveling, it is my biggest passion and I would love to inspire others by sharing my stories, mistakes and triumphs. I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
KC Owens