How to Pack a Backpack for Traveling Europe – Pack Like a Pro!

Heading to Europe soon? Deciding what to pack can be one of the hardest parts of preparing to travel. Since I’ve been through the packing process quite a few times, I thought I would save you some time by giving you the list of things that I generally bring on a backing trip to Europe.

Ben’s Packing List

Packing Gear

• Osprey Packs Farpoint 70 Backpack – Find on Amazon here
• AmazonBasics Packing Cubes

Clothes

• 5 undershirts/stand-alone t-shirts
  Tip: pack shirts that are higher in polyester in case you need to dry your clothes. Cotton takes forever to dry
  Tip 2: Pack shirts that are easy to match with the pants you bring
• 1-2 fun short sleeve shirts
  These are shirts don’t match with a lot but you want to wear regardless
• 2 long sleeve shirts (for base layers)
• 1-2 heavier layers/sweatshirts (for when it’s cold)
• 1-2 button up shirts (in case you go out to dinner) 
• 1 to 2 pair of pants
  Tip: I always bring a pair of jeans. You can never go wrong with jeans.
• 1 pair of khaki shorts
• 1 belt
• 3 pairs of athletic pants
• 1 swimsuit
• 7 pairs of boxers
• 7 pairs of socks
• 1 raincoat
• 1 umbrella
• 1 pair of sunglasses
• 1 pair of flip flops
• 2 pairs of shoes you could walk a long way in
  Tip: A plus if one pair is water resistant (getting caught in the rain sucks)

Toiletries

• Travel size containers of my favorite shampoo, conditioner
  Tip: you can always buy more shampoo or conditioner when you get over to Europe. Don’t bring too much
• 1 Toothbrush
• Travel Size Toothpaste
• Electric razor on full charge (one charge can make it 2 weeks)
• Travel Size Face wash
• 1 Small pack of wipes (for when you want to clean your face quick on the go)
• Medications
• Stuff you can buy over in Europe:
  Sunscreen – famous for exploding in your bag on airplanes
  Bug spray – not necessary in a lot of places in Europe

Technology & Vlogging Gear

• Macbook Pro
• Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II – Find on Amazon here
  Tip: If you are looking for a camera that you can attach a microphone to, I would suggest the newer Canon G7X Mark III
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite – Find on Amazon here
• Anker PowerCore 26800 Portable Charger – Find on Amazon here
• Power Converter
  Tip: Make sure to buy one with USB plugins included
• JOBY GorillaPod 3K Kit – Find on Amazon here

My top 3 tips to keep in mind when packing for a backpacking trip:

1.) Have as many outfit combinations as possible

When you are packing for travel, it’s easy to just throw in your favorite clothes and call it a day. But one of the harshest realities of traveling for a long period of time is when you hit the point when you start repeating outfits. Often times, this point comes when you haven’t had a chance to wash your clothes yet, especially when you are staying in hostels.

Yuck.

To hold off that horrible moment as long as possible, you’ll want to pack as many different amount of outfit combinations as possible. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to pack all boring, neutral colors. Just try to pack things that are easy to match with many others. For example, khaki shorts, jeans, etc.

2.) Layers, Layers, Layers

It’s very tempting to simply think about packing light clothes for traveling during the summer, but don’t forget to pack something warm just in case! Even if it is just one sweater, having it just in case is a much better idea than not having it. There is nothing worse than getting caught in cold weather when just you are just packed with summer gear. It sucks. You either have to just suffer through the cold, or buy something while you are over there.

When picking out your warm layers, make sure to pick something that isn’t super bulky. While thick sweaters may be super warm and comfy, they can also take up a ton of room in your bag. Try to pack thinner sweaters and one or two long sleeved shirts for your warm layers instead to save space.

3.) Be prepared for rain

Getting caught in the rain unprepared while traveling is the worst. THE WORST. Especially when you don’t have replacements for things like your shoes or pants. Shoes, in particular, can take forever to dry, and we all know that there is nothing worse than walking around in wet shoes.

Tips to help be prepared: bring a good rain jacket, bring an umbrella, and bring an extra pair of shoes.

If you haven’t seen our full list of 2020 travel gear yet, make sure to check that out as well