5 months and 19 countries – what did I pack? Too much! This was my first serious backpacking adventure and although it was grand, it could have been a bit more practical.
I left in August and returned in January, so I knew I would be needing clothing for the warm, cold and rainy weather. I also packed for all of the “what if’s” I could come up with. Let’s just say I over packed. If you’ve backpacked before, whether for a 10 day trip or a 10 month trip, you’ve probably heard the rule, “Pack what you think you’ll need, then take half.” It proved a bit unfortunate that I hadn’t heard this before. If I were to do it all again, here’s a list of what I’d bring. If you don’t see it on the list, it’s probably because I now know I can buy it on the way instead of lugging it around before the time comes when I actually need it!
Necessities
– 1 pair of jeans
– 2 comfortable shirts
– 1 dress shirt
– 2 tank tops
– 1 pair of comfortable pants
– 2 bra’s
– 3 socks
– 5 underwear
– 1 sweater
– 1 jacket
– 1 pair of flip flops
– 1 pair of shoes
– 1 pair of thermals or leggings
– 1 swimsuit
Misc
– BlackDiamond Headlamp
– Kindle Paperwhite loaded with guidebooks
– Make-up bag (including tweezers and nail clippers)
– Camera/charger/lenses
– WakaWaka Solar Charger
– Phone/charger
– IPOD/charger
– Z-Lite Sleeping pad
– Sleeping bag
– Ear plugs/Eye mask
I used my Osprey Ariel 65 pack with zero regrets. The pack fit me comfortably and had enough space for everything I wanted to carry plus everything I bought along the way.
Check out which European countries I’ve been to here!
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