Top Travel Essentials When Backpacking in Europe
Congratulations on making the decision to backpack in Europe! You’re probably wondering how to pack light while carrying all the essentials needed. We are talking about your clothing, toiletries – things you can’t leave behind.
Your first accessory needs to be a travel backpack. Go with one that spacious and lightweight. Also, consider investing in packing cubes (small bags used to separate clothing into compartments). This will make living out of your backpack so much easier!
Once you’ve found a travel backpack it’s time to gather all the essentials. Limit yourself to about 20 lbs. of gear including your backpack and learn pro packing techniques.
Follow this guide to ensure you have everything you need:
Don’t Pack Too Much Clothing
The first mistake you’ll make if you’re new to traveling is packing too much clothing. You can pack the same clothing for 5 weeks or 5 months since you’ll be doing laundry every week.
You only want to pack a few shirts and pants. Be sure they match each other since you have limited clothing. If you’re traveling Europe in colder months dress in layers. Use thermal layers, a long sleeve t-shirt, and a fleece jacket as opposed to a bulky, huge coat. Also, don’t forget a rain jacket. This will be nice to have, and most travel rain jackets are lightweight. To find the jacket that fits your needs best, you can even read reviews on lightweight jackets.
Then, of course, you need to invest in travel socks and underwear. Amateur travelers overlook bringing enough. However, these two pieces of clothing are worn close to your body, and consequently, they will determine how comfortable you are.
Take about 5 pairs of socks – we recommend quality wool pairs to keep your feet cool and dry. The same goes for underwear. Pack about 5 pairs that are made with breathable, odor-resistant, and fast drying materials.
Finally, when it comes down to shoes, only pack one pair and choose wisely! You don’t want more than 2 pairs of shoes while backpacking. Consider some sneakers for sightseeing and some hiking boots.
Travel Toiletries
Toiletries can add a lot of weight to your backpack so be sure to pack only what’s necessary. Remember that you can buy pretty much all of this once you’re in Europe.
You need shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Pour these into leak proof travel-sized bottles.
Also, don’t forget your toothbrush, toothpaste and toothbrush cover. If needed, take shaving cream and razors.
Other toiletries include:
- Deodorant
- Chapstick
- Daily contact lenses and solution or your glasses
Accessories and Miscellaneous Items
Once you have the clothing down it’s time to focus on your accessories. Let’s start with the obvious – your cell phone. Aside from a screen protector and charger, consider investing in a charging case to ensure your device never runs out of battery. Look into Casely’s best iphone cases to purchase a reliable, sturdy, protective case.
Other items to pack include:
- Sunglasses
- Travel towel
- Flashlight
- Water bottle
- Travel utensils
- Scarf
- Hat and gloves for colder weather
- Small backpack to carry smaller items like camera and phone
Another important item to have is a notebook. This is good for jotting down important phone numbers, addresses, or directions. It will also make a nice souvenir for when the trip is over. Jot down interesting things you see or cool areas you come across.
You’ll most likely be sleeping in hostels when backpacking around Europe so be sure to pack a sleep sheet if you’re worried about the cleanliness of the hostel. Also, pack some earplugs if you’re sensitive to unexpected noises throughout the night.
Focus on What You Need
When you pack what you need first, then you have less room to bring items you can do without. Best of luck backpacking in Europe and safe travels!
