EVERYTHING I packed in one backpack for 10 days in Europe

OK, this is the last post about my March Europe trip. I wrote last week about how I managed to pack 10 days’ worth of stuff into my L.L. Bean backpack, but I got a few questions about what exactly I brought.

I learned the hard way my last trip to Europe how much it sucks to roll a suitcase everywhere when you’re hostel-hopping, so I’ve been trying to get a lot more economical with my packing. Plus, I’ve been flying Spirit Airlines more and more, so all the better if I can fit all my stuff into a single backpack.

Here’s a complete list of everything I packed for 10 days of sidewalk walking, Airbnb sleeping and city center exploring.

Keep in mind I was wearing some of these things at any given point, so that freed up some of the space in this bag as well.

(Heads up! This post contains affiliate links.)

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Like I mentioned in my earlier packing post, my backpack of choice was the L.L. Bean Continental Travel Pack. I have an older version of this backpack, which I snagged pre-owned on Ebay.

The older version I have opens like a clamshell and has two internal pockets, which you’ll see in the photos below. Unfortunately the new one — linked above — isn’t exactly the same, but still looks fairly similar.

Since I have the older-style clamshell version, I put clothes on the right side (with the buckling straps) and everything else (shoes, toiletries, etc.) on the left side.

The front of the bag also zips around and open, so I stashed my collapsible backpack (which held my computer and chargers) in that pocket, as well as my crossbody when I needed to.

I clipped a few things on the outside of my bag, including my Nalgene water bottle (I do wish this bag had a water bottle pocket), a thin-shackled travel lock (we didn’t stay in any hostels, but the thin shackles are ideal for hostel lockers and backpack zippers) and a bandana.

Here’s how it all breaks down:

FRONT POCKET:

Foldable lightweight nylon backpack: MacBook Pro and charger, iPhone charging cord and block, micro-USB cord, passport copy, Kindle, earbuds, outlet converter, snacks, keys, inflatable travel pillow, Advil, quart-size Ziploc bags and sleeping pills for the flight.

• I stashed my chargers, cords, blocks and outlet converter in a little zip-top cloth bag inside my collapsible backpack.
• I carried my inflatable travel pillow in here for the long flights to and from Europe since I put this bag under the seat in front of me and my backpack in the overhead bin, but for the rest of the trip my pillow just went in the left side of my travel pack.

Crossbody purse (I had an older J.Crew version at the time, but this Madewell version linked is very similar in style and price): iPhone battery pack, birth control, passport, ID, credit cards, Ventra card, insurance card, cash (dollars, lira, crowns and euros), Invisalign case, Chapstick, tissues, iPhones.

• I ditched my wallet and just kept all my cards and cash binder-clipped together inside an inner pocket in my crossbody purse.

LEFT SIDE:

I used two different bags to pack all of my toiletries: My hanging Travelon kit and the smaller bag from my Cuyana travel set. I packed all my liquids in the TSA-approved compartment of my Travelon kit and other miscellaneous items in the other half. Makeup and brushes went in the Cuyana bag. Pretty much everything I packed was the smallest size I could find it in!

I LOVE this Travelon kit. It’s TSA-compatible, so you don’t have to unpack liquids (during U.S.-based flights, at least) if you’re going through security.

Cuyana bag: powder compact, eyeliners, mascaras, eyeshadow, eyebrow powder, blush, setting powder, lipsticks, oil sheets, brushes (eyebrow, eyeshadow, blush, powder, eyelash curler), micellar wipes.

Travelon side one: hair ties and bobby pins, Q-tips and cotton balls, Invisalign aligners, tweezers, deodorant, contact case, spare contacts, tampons, blister block, razor, foldable hair brush, multi-purpose wet wipes, travel toothbrush, travel scrubbie (this is technically for your face, but I found that it made a great travel-friendly alternative to a traditional loofah).

Travelon liquid side: contact solution, primer, concealer, face cleanser and lotion, sunblock, shampoo, conditioner, Dr. Bronner’s, lotion, dry shampoo, travel toothpaste(s) (thanks, Invisalign), perfume roller.

Shoes: cognac flats, navy canvas Keds, taupe booties (similar linked).

Etc.: sunglasses, collapsible umbrella, winter headband, gloves, scarves (one wool and one bandana, plus the scarf I picked up in Istanbul), belt.

RIGHT SIDE:

Outerwear: Barbour jacket, quilted vest, puffer jacket, rain jacket, fleece, heavy knit cardigan.

Bottoms: Dark skinny jeans, black leggings, pajama shorts.

Tops: Three t-shirts (olive, black and navy), Two baseball tees (blue and black-and-gray), navy-and-white striped shirt, chambray, white blouse, black blouse, layering tank top.

Intimates (not pictured, srry): Nude bra, comfy bralette, 12 pairs of underwear, three pairs of ankle socks, three pairs of no-show socks.

• I mentioned above that I brought a bunch of quart-size Ziploc bags with me. I packed clean underwear and socks in two of them labeled “clean,” and then transferred them to some of the spare Ziploc bags throughout the week. I also packed two or three dryer sheets within my folded clothes as well.

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When it came down to figuring out what to wear every day, it was easy enough because everything kind of worked well together. I wore the same pair of dark skinny jeans every day, and then chose footwear/ outerwear based on the weather. I wore my leggings and bralette on the flights with a t-shirt, and wore the same jewelry (a necklace, a ring and a watch) every day also.

Here are a few quick photos of what the backpack looks like with everything in it — including the collapsible backpack and the crossbody bag — minus an outfit I was wearing. The straps are tucked into the back so you can get a better idea for size.

I’d tell you to look at my original post to see how I put outfits together, but I wore a jacket basically everywhere, so it really didn’t even matter what I wore half the time.

So, that’s it! Every single thing I fit into my one backpack for 10 days overseas.

I have to say now that I’ve done it, I definitely prefer to travel with a single backpack. I’m not sure how feasible it would be for some trips if I were to go hiking or do anything other than city exploration, but for a simple week-long trip that’s just wandering through city centers, I’m sold!

This post was originally published April 21, 2018. It was last updated Dec. 8, 2023.