Since I have gotten back from my trip I’ve realized the fact that I went three months with only three pairs of socks is pretty fascinating.

When I was prepping for the trip it was really useful to read other traveler’s blogs and packing lists to help me get idea of what I should bring myself. Since those lists were so helpful to me, I figured I should return the favor!

We all traveled with one carry-on compliant backpack, the Osprey Farpoint 40. It comes in a small/medium and a medium/large frame, so it worked great for everyone in the group. We saved a ton of money on baggage fees, since so many European budget airlines have strict carry on airline allowances. It was also great not to be  impeded by carrying too much stuff. Now that I have been home for a while I’m starting to wonder why I have so much stuff in the first place!

Clothing

If you followed our trip you probably know what clothing I packed, since I wore it over and over again!

• One rain coat– I’ve listed this first because it was the best thing I packed. The waterproof material keeps you warm while still being lightweight. What a bonus!
• One pair of jeans
• Five pairs of underwear– Honestly I could have done with less, but it was nice to not have to wash a pair in the sink every single night.
• One cardigan
• Two sports bras
• Two pairs of leggings– one thick pair and one thin for sleeping and/or warmer days

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  Four light weight long sleeve shirts (one purple, one black, one dark blue, and one tan.) Dark colors means fewer stains! I also had one short sleeve t-shirt- I purchased this halfway through the trip after encountering warmer weather!

• One pair athletic shorts for sleeping and warmer days
• One compressible down winter jacket- My travel companions were perfectly fine without a jacket, but I get cold so easily, and I was very thankful to have it in Germany, Belgium, Norway, and especially Iceland.
• One tank top– For sleeping and warmer days
• One lightweight pull over

Footwear

• Three pairs of hiking socks– Our whole group wore Darn Tough Vermont socks. I packed two thick cushion and one light weight pair. I’ve never had issues with holes like I have with SmartWool, and if you do they replace them for life.  I’ve taken the same pair of Darn Tough Vermont Socks on three international trips now and they are still perfect.
• One pair of hiking boots– I’ve also taken these on three international trips totaling over 6 months of almost continuous wear. Still perfect.
• One pair of Toms Shoes- Light canvas takes up little space and perfect when I needed a break from my boots!

Extras

• Toiletries– Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mini brush, shampoo bar- not having the constantly replace a 3 ounce bottle saved money and one bar lasted the whole trip!

  

• One lightweight collapsible day pack– This was an absolute must for our day trips, and
  carrying snacks and water bottles. We shared one between the three of us. The guys weren’t excited about the bright lime green color I chose, but after a laundry mishap in Vienna it turned almost brown, so then everyone was happy!
• Travel Sheet– A lot of hostels provided really poor sheets, so this was great for an extra layer of warmth and as protection from questionable bedding. Even with this I still got spectacular bed bugs in Poland, but only on my face- the one part that wasn’t protected by the sheet! I bought a Cocoon Silk Travel Sheet.
• One reusable waterbottle
• Travel journal
• One folder- For organizing tickets and postcards
• Purse– I probably didn’t need this, but it was useful for snacks and my wallet when I wasn’t carrying my backpack.
• Camera– I brought my old Canon T2i Rebel. It’s much lighter than my regular Canon 7D, and I wasn’t as worried about it getting stolen.
• Netbook- The computer was completely useless after I lost my charger. Before that it was great for viewing photos and updating the blog.
• Portable phone charger, power adapters, charging cable
• Packing cube for organizing clothing and keeping everything folded