After spending 3 months in Europe with changing climates, I've accumulated a fair amount of knowledge on solo backpacking. I visited from April to June and experienced everything from cold and rainy weather in Ireland at the beginning of my trip to hot, dry weather in Greece at the end. Given that, here are my top 10 tips for your backpacking trip from spring to fall. Please note that this isn't for more intense trips that require sleeping bags, hiking poles, etc.
All images courtesy of Unsplash
Table of Contents
List of 10 tips
Travel light
Packing cubes are a must
Strategize your outfits
Build a selection of hostel essentials
Your backpack size is important
Bring a good medical kit
Lock down your daypack and day-use items
Take a lightweight tablet
Always be alert about important items
Find a way to document your travels
1. Travel light
You'll be carrying your entire life with you for anywhere from a few weeks to months. It's important to travel with only the necessities. I brought the following clothing items for my trip from April to June:
1-2 long-sleeved shirts
3-4 short-sleeved shirts
2-3 long, breathable pants
1 pair of jeans
1-2 breathable dresses
While not everyone may enjoy bringing a dress on a backpacking trip, I did this to wear on days when I needed to look nicer, or when I needed a laundry day and ran out of pants to wear! I ended up buying these dresses after the colder days in April.
1 lightweight, hooded, rollable puffer jacket
I used this for colder northern European countries that I visited in April. Thankfully, my siblings visited me in May and could take the jacket back home to lighten the load. If you don't have this option, buy a cheap puffer (under $40) and donate it when it's no longer needed.
1-2 swimsuits
1 pajama set
2-3 pairs of shoes (more on this below)
I also brought very limited toiletries to conserve space, and my back thanked me for it. Leave your 10-step skincare routine at home!
If you are traveling in the summer, I would obviously forget the puffer jacket and bring one long-sleeved shirt for cold airplane rides, then bring more smaller tops and shorts. Summer packing will allow you to bring more clothing as there is less fabric to work with.
2. Packing cubes are a must
Every travel blog will tell you this, but you just can't travel without them. I had the following setup for my packing cubes:
2 large cubes - one for tops and one for pants
1 small cube for miscellaneous items (ex. medicine bag, toiletry bag)
1 small cube for undergarments
1 laundry bag
1 shoe bag for flip-flops
I highly recommend folding your clothes the Marie Kondo way. Roll each item in a way that allows them to stand on their own, then arrange the clothes in a packing cube so that you can see all of the clothes you have available. This way, you save space and can clearly remember what you've put in your laundry bag. You can also bring wrinkle spray to apply after unrolling and wearing an item — a life saver!
Lastly, put scented dryer sheets in your packing cubes, and replace them as needed. This will keep your clothes smelling fresh, especially as the weeks go by.
3. Strategize your outfits
Ever heard of a capsule wardrobe? It essentially allows you to mix and match pieces easily to create different outfits with limited items. To do this, I primarily brought clothes with neutral tones and tried everything on before my trip to ensure each top could work with each pant.
You'll also need to strategize your shoe options — I wouldn't bring more than 3 pairs. I brought:
1 pair of flip-flops for the hostel showers
1 pair of Tevas or similar sturdy walking shoes
Alternatively, bring one pair of comfortable sneakers that you feel confident will be good for the soles of your feet
1 optional shoe. I only brought the above 2 pairs to have a lighter load, but depending on your trip, you may bring:
Lightweight hiking boots
A nicer pair of heels or formal shoes for nightlife
4. Build a selection of hostel essentials
Mine included:
Lightweight and quick-drying for easy transportation
Earplugs
A good sleeping mask if light bothers you
A universal power adaptor
2 padlocks to lock up your backpack at the hotel
A few tide pods
I didn't bring this, but those who wanted to save a few bucks brought their own detergent or tide pods for laundry. While hostels often have soap you can buy, some locations had a ridiculous upcharge
Some hostels will have only a few outlets to share between many guests. Bringing an extension will ensure all your devices can be charged for the next day, and may make you a new friend if you share it.
5. Your backpack size is important
If you're opting for a backpack instead of a suitcase, which I would recommend for flexibility if you'll be in hostels, make sure to take the smallest backpack you can. For most, that's 40 gallons for a multi-week/month trip. I am 5'1 and was able to carry everything I needed in 40 gallons without feeling overpowered most of the time, so if you are much taller, you may be able to take a bit more than 40 gallons and feel the same way.
The one I used is from REI, and I loved it because it was easy to open, included a compartment for a laptop (I brought an iPad), had a rain cover, and comfortable straps for my waist and chest. At the time, they sold an included day pack to clip onto the outside of the 40-gallon pack. It is no longer sold as a package, but you can easily roll up your personal backpack and bring it along.
6. Bring a good medical kit
You don't want to be stuck in a foreign country without the medical essentials. Bring your inhalers and epipens, and ask for a larger supply of your prescription drugs. Also, stock up on some bandaids, anti-nauseates, Tylenol, allergy medicine, and anti-diuretics. I always brought 1-2 bandaids and anti-nauseates in my daypack in case of emergency.
7. Lock down your daypack and day-use items
I had two packs for daily use: one compressible backpack for hiking and one tote bag that I used most other days. I linked the notable items I used below, but there are hundreds of different options to choose from if you're looking for something different. I always made sure to have:
A lightweight portable charger and cord
Sunglasses and sunscreen
A portable tripod with Bluetooth remote if I was exploring by myself for the day
A roll-up water bottle to save space when empty
An ATM card with no international fees in case I needed to take out cash
One credit card without international fees
Portable deodorant or roll-on perfume
Gum, a Kleenex pack, hair ties, hand sanitizer, headphones, chapstick
8. Take a lightweight tablet
If you are just traveling for fun and don't need to worry about working, there is no need to bring a laptop on your trip. However, I would recommend bringing a lightweight tablet (like an iPad) and a portable keyboard to allow you to book tours as you go, easily type out emails, or have a better view of itineraries to follow. While I met many who just used a phone, those who were traveling for months at a time often brought a small tablet or regretted not having one. Make sure to lock up your tablet if you are not bringing it around for the day!
9. Always be alert about important items
The entire time I was solo traveling, I was very mindful of where my passport and credit cards were. Specifically for credit cards, make sure to take at least 2, keeping one in your day bag and one in your backpacking bag so you can use the other if one gets lost or stolen. Also, add your cards to your digital wallet to reduce the amount of times you need to physically take out your credit cards.
I used cash much more than I thought I would for food stands and places that offered cash discounts. I never took out more than $200 at a time because of safety. Make sure to also keep your cash in multiple locations, and never count your money in public. I had a tab on the notes app in my phone on approximately how much money I had in cash at any given time so I knew when I needed to make an ATM trip.
10. Find a way to document your travels
Backpacking will be one of the greatest adventures of your life. Make sure to document it in some way! Whether that's bringing a journal and pen, downloading an app like Polarsteps to keep in touch with your friends, buying postcards, or just taking countless pictures to look back on, this is one of the most important things to figure out how to do ahead of your trip.
Did I miss anything? Lead a comment if there are any other essentials you believe you must remember when packing for a backpacking trip.
*None of the links in this post are sponsored
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