After extensive online research, the one piece of advice that stuck out to me the most when trying to pack was to first pull together everything you think you might need. Once you're finished building a mountain of clothes, then start taking away items.
My goal for packing was to find a nice balance between dressing comfortably while also looking semifashionable, because, hello — Europe!
Basics played a huge part in my backpacking wardrobe. Because I had very limited space, I packed mostly neutral-colored pieces so they would be easy to mix and match. Since I knew I would be wearing these clothes over and over — and over! — I didn't want to spend too much money on these items.
One thing to remember when packing is that you will be able to wash clothes while on your adventure. The great thing about staying in mostly Airbnbs was that the majority of these places had their own washers.
In addition, don't fret too much about forgetting certain items when it comes to your clothes. Chances are you'll most likely be able to find whatever slipped your mind in a store somewhere in your destination. H&Ms were practically on every corner in Europe!
What was in my backpack for 10 weeks overseas?
- Five dresses and four tank tops
- Two long-sleeved shirts and two lightweight sweaters
- Two pairs of shorts
- One maxi skirt
- One pair of jeans (keep in mind jeans can be super heavy!)
- One pair of yoga pants and one pair of running shorts
- Two running tops
- Three pairs of shoes (sneakers, TOMS, and Birkenstocks)
- One lightweight, waterproof jacket (a MUST!)
- One bathing suit
*I tried to pack only cotton clothes, as they were easy to wash and quick to dry.
Any regrets?
Believe it or not, I only had one regret. Looking back, I should have spent more money on better-quality tennis shoes and kept the TOMS at home. Since I averaged walking 10 miles per day, comfort quickly became my top priority.
Overall, I was surprised at how well I made use of everything I packed. No piece of clothing went unworn!
