{"id":126,"date":"2026-10-14T21:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T21:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/?p=126"},"modified":"2026-10-14T21:34:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T21:34:00","slug":"19-days-8-countries-one-backpack-everything-we-packed-for-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/?p=126","title":{"rendered":"19 Days, 8 Countries, One Backpack: Everything We Packed for Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As you&#8217;ve probably figured out by now, I research everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google. Travel blogs. Forums. Facebook groups. Reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I like to get opinions from different sources, but I take both the glowing reviews and the horror stories with a grain of salt. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I started reading blogs about traveling through Europe and what to pack, one recommendation kept coming up: bring a backpack instead of a suitcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, more than a year before our trip, I started researching backpacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apparently, choosing what to carry your clothes in takes almost as much planning as the trip itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why We Chose Backpacks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One backpack kept coming up in my research: the Cotopaxi Allpa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It opens like a suitcase, with zippered compartments on both sides and extra pockets outside. Basically, a suitcase you wear on your back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I used my annual REI coupon to buy one, tested it on a weekend trip, and liked it enough to buy Allie one with the following year&#8217;s coupon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, I really did start planning that early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everything I&#8217;d read warned about European cobblestones, stairs, and tiny hotel elevators. Since we were constantly changing cities, backpacks seemed like the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And they absolutely were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of our train connections were as short as five minutes. We&#8217;d get off one train, find the next platform, race down a staircase, through the station, up another staircase and onto the next train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was no time to drag a suitcase behind us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Occasionally, we&#8217;d pass someone struggling with an enormous rolling suitcase on the stairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Allie and I would exchange a look and a giggle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is why we brought backpacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, were they actually light?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mine weighed 35 pounds by the time we got home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So maybe <em>I did<\/em>n&#8217;t pack light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s call it packing efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What We Actually Brought<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We each had our backpack plus a small reusable bag for the airplane. That held the things we wanted handy during the flight: snacks, water, headphones, phones, portable chargers, Kleenex, Clorox wipes, a book, and an inflatable pillow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I had originally planned to bring a regular neck pillow, but the inflatable version took up almost no space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of my more unusual packing decisions was bringing a book I intended to leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I even made it its own Instagram account and wrote a note inside asking whoever found it to read it and pass it along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I left it at our hostel in St. Moritz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe it&#8217;s still sitting on a shelf in Switzerland. Maybe someone took it home. Maybe it&#8217;s traveling around Europe without me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I kind of love that possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Clothes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We were traveling from London through the Swiss Alps and into Italy, so I needed clothes for everything from cool mountain weather to summer heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My original packing formula was three tops for every bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That sounded great in theory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In reality, I ended up packing about as many tops as bottoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apparently, even my carefully researched packing spreadsheet was more of a suggestion than a rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s roughly what went into my backpack:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bottoms: Blue shorts, a skort, lightweight blue pants, lightweight black pants, and leggings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tops: Five shirts in various shades of blue, black, gray, and white.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other clothing: A lightweight dress, pajamas, three bras, nine pairs of underwear, eight pairs of socks, a packable jacket and a sun hat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shoes: Birkenstocks, running shoes and casual leather Adidas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I wore my bulkiest shoes (the Hokas) on most travel days and rolled my clothes instead of using packing cubes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And yes, nine pairs of underwear was a carefully calculated decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lucerne was roughly halfway through our trip, so I&#8217;d planned to do laundry there. I also packed quick-drying clothes that I could wash in hotel sinks along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Naturally, I brought Woolite, travel-sized detergent <em>and<\/em> dryer sheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apparently, I was prepared for every possible laundry emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We did our bigger load at a laundromat in Lucerne, and the system worked surprisingly well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don&#8217;t need 19 days of clothes for a 19-day trip. You need clothes you&#8217;re willing to wash and wear again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Toiletries and Other Essentials<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where I got a little carried away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I brought shampoo, conditioner, lotion, sunscreen, face wash, moisturizer, toner, deodorant, hair supplies, nail clippers, tweezers, baby wipes, and what felt like my entire bathroom cabinet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All the liquids were travel-sized, but I still managed to bring my practically complete skincare routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was 19 days; I could have left some of that at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What I <em>am<\/em> glad I brought was a tiny medicine kit with Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl, Tums, cold medicine, bandages, Neosporin, itch cream, and motion-sickness medication. Even if I didn\u2019t use most of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also each had our own European power adapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Could we have shared one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did I want to negotiate with my 18-year-old every night about whose phone got charged first?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Absolutely not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>My Other Packing Strategy: Shopping<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I knew I was going to buy clothes in Europe, so I intentionally left some room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This plan worked perhaps a little <em>too<\/em> well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In London, I bought adorable days-of-the-week underwear\u2014despite my very carefully calculated nine-pair system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I also bought a skirt that Allie and I both wore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two travelers. One skirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s practically budgeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Amsterdam, I found a vest at a thrift store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Mt. Pilatus, I bought a T-shirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then came Milan, where we went to Primark. If you haven\u2019t heard of Primark, it\u2019s like all your favorites at Target (minus the groceries), but at Walmart prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I bought another T-shirt, two swimsuits, a bigger zippered shoulder bag, a toiletry bag, face masks, and my new favorite face sunscreen. I think I spent $50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did I wear the swimsuits on the trip?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But two swimsuits for $8? How could I pass that up?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moving on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And in Venice, I bought a lemon-patterned dress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also didn&#8217;t wear it during the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I had to have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are practical travel purchases&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then there are Venice lemon-dress purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Different category, and honestly I wish I had bought the skirt too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What I&#8217;d Change Next Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;d leave two pairs of pants at home, skip one blue shirt, and bring far fewer toiletries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;d probably manage with two pairs of shoes instead of three, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The things I&#8217;d definitely keep? My sun hat. I didn\u2019t wear it every day, but on the days I did, apparently it made me look like a local.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within our first two hours in Venice, three different people asked me for directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clearly, I looked like I knew what I was doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or at least like a convincing tourist in a hat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for the backpacks? I&#8217;d use them again in a heartbeat. They made all those train connections and city changes so much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;d just leave a little more empty space next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For shopping, obviously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nineteen days. Eight countries. A 35-pound backpack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And somehow, we still came home with more clothes than we left with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Next Up: Day 1 \u2014 We&#8217;re Actually Going to Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What we have bought so far &#8211; links take you to Amazon, but you can buy at other retailers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Backpacks:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/link.amazon\/B07V28tje\">Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Travel Pack, Black<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/link.amazon\/B04DrPe7R\">Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Travel Pack, Blue Spruce and Abyss<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Travel Adapters:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This one was my favorite!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/link.amazon\/B01S7idW5\">Anker Nano Travel Adapter (1-Pack), 2 USB-C Universal Charger, 20W<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/link.amazon\/B03Gz0obr\">EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter with 1AC\/3 USB-C\/2 USB-A Ports<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pocket-Sized Pharmacy:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/link.amazon\/B06c13YVI\">3 Pack 14 Grids Travel Pill Organizer Box with 415-Pcs Medicine Name Labels &#8211; Pocket Daily Pharmacy Case Container Kits<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Anti-Theft Purse &#8211; I still use this purse for everyday use:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/link.amazon\/B02bsio2S\">Travelon Anti-Theft Heritage Small Crossbody Bag<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As you&#8217;ve probably figured out by now, I research everything. Google. Travel blogs. Forums. Facebook groups. Reviews. I like to get opinions from different sources, but I take both the glowing reviews and the horror stories with a grain of salt. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle. When I started reading blogs about [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[15,11,10,16],"class_list":["post-126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-budget-travel-europe","tag-europe-by-train","tag-europe-travel","tag-europe-trip-planning"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":129,"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126\/revisions\/129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loveanchorslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}