By Nina Stepniczka
Anyone who knows me in real life knows I am a self-proclaimed hoarder. I cannot travel lightly; I like having my things with me. But, back in June, I packed for two weeks abroad to Europe into a fanny pack and a Patagonia travel backpack (the ones linked are the exact ones I used). Here’s what I found to be helpful when deciding what to pack (especially going beyond clothing) and how I fit it all in my bags.
As someone who uses a lot of random items throughout the day, and loves to change four times a day for no real reason when I am home, I find it tough to pack.
1. Think about your surroundings.
For my trip, I chose my clothes based on who I am going with and the weather forecast. I did not want to be dressed in a way that might provoke people to stare at me or in a flashy way that might cause me to get pick pocketed. Feeling bare, I left my rings and Apple Watch at home (well, I was half forced by my parents). I also did not want to have packed larger items such as jeans or long sleeves if I would only be able to comfortably wear them in one or two cities. Dresses were especially perfect, as a maxi dress could keep me ‘warm’ on ‘colder’ days as well as allow for ventilation on hotter days. Plus, when in doubt, wear a cute hoodie on the plane and have it ready to layer in the evenings or when there is a breeze.
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2. Consider the smaller items.
As for packing miscellaneous items, I thought about what I enjoy most about my day-to-day at home. For example, items like my journal and a pen would let me draw, write, and keep a travel journal. Basically, I chose more versatile items over less usable ones such as my yarn and a crochet hook. It was all about thinking through how useful and personally necessary each item was, especially when choosing between many.
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3. Get a second opinion.
Once I decided what I wanted to bring, I laid everything out on my living room floor so I could see everything and had my mom provide her expert opinion. Having a second round of decisions can help narrow down what is feasible, keeping bags lighter and space emptier. My mom reasoned with me about things I knew were not necessary such as a second book or a denim jacket.
In my backpack:
4. Use packing cubes.
I know every packing article mentions these, but especially in a small bag, packing cubes are crucial. My cube was seriously my best friend since it helped me pull out my clothes to get to my miscellaneous items (or to get dressed) without making it so I had to completely reorganize my bag every single time I needed something. The cube took up under half my backpack and I fit my daytime clothes on one side and my pjs and intimates on the other.
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My biggest packing hack:
Not only did I keep my fanny pack next to empty, but I also brought an empty tote bag to use as my personal bag on my way home. This left me with room for the inevitable hoard of souvenirs I would want as well as the ‘this doesn’t fit in my backpack anymore’ overflow.
What I packed for my two weeks in Europe:
Clothing:
I packed four dresses (two were mini dresses to help the heat and to save space), a skirt, three tops, a pair of denim shorts, and a pair of thin pants. For pajamas I brought a pair of shorts and two shirts to sleep in. And of course, I packed underwear, two bras, and socks. I also had my sweatpants and sweatshirt that I wore on the plane and a scarf to cover my shoulders in churches. For shoes, I wore my white Reebok sneakers the whole time– I couldn’t recommend them more.
It is also important to note that we did laundry at an Airbnb halfway through, so I rewore everything. And I succeeded in my goal of wearing everything I brought at least once.
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Miscellaneous:
Other basic essential items I kept in the bottom of my bag, in the front pocket and in the pocket on the top of the bag included a book. An e-book reader is perfect for travel, but I work and watch tv on screen, so I value physical books enough to lug them around. I also had two journals, a few protein bars, my toiletries, a small towel just in case an Airbnb didn’t have one (but, luckily, that was never an issue), an outlet converter, and my water bottle. I had no regrets about what I brought.
Keeping my fanny pack pretty empty on the way there, I knew I would have more on my way back, and I would appreciate the space. In it I kept my airpods, documents (i.e. my vaccination card, passport, health insurance card, and school ID card), a disposable camera, my sunglasses, and a phone charger. When using the fanny pack like a purse, I took out the phone charger and airpods, giving me extra room to pack a protein bar and whatever souvenirs I purchased throughout the day.
Packing in small spaces can be a challenge, but it is also exciting. It means travel awaits. And at the end of the day, as long as I didn’t leave without my documents and a phone, I would have been able to buy anything I needed once I landed.
Nina is from Virginia and is a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh. With her grandparents living in Austria, she has loved to travel since she was a pre-teen, and is now navigating how to carry that love into her adult life.
