Packing List for Long Term Travel in Europe – Men’s Edition

September 17, 2018 Tom W.

When preparing for extended European travel, it isn’t just where to go, it’s also what to bring. It can be stressful deciding what makes the cut and what doesn’t. Liana and I recently returned from three months backpacking in France and Italy. When it came to our own packing lists, we had to make some additions and subtractions along the way. In the end we felt we had the perfect packing list for long term travel in Europe.

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Packing for long term travel can be like living in a van. I should know, I live in one. You can’t bring everything you own, and what you do bring has to serve a purpose. You don’t want to be carrying around something for months that you never use. And you don’t want to forget something you’ll have to purchase on the way or at your destination. This packing list for long term travel in Europe will ensure you have everything you need for your adventure.

Packing List for Long Term Travel in Europe—Everything you need to pack for your two week or longer adventure in Europe — All packed up and ready for a 12 hour train ride from Sicily to Rome. My backpack fit perfectly on the rack above the seat.

Best Luggage for Backpacking Europe

How you’re going to get around plays a huge factor when choosing luggage. We traveled primarily by train and utilized public transit or our own two feet during our three months in Europe.

You generally have 2 luggage choices: a rolling suitcase or a backpack. They both have pros and cons. The primary con of a backpack is that you literally carry all of your possession on your back. The main con of a wheeled suitcase is that they are designed to roll on the nice flat floors of an airport and not the cobblestone streets and stairs of Europe.

We opted for backpacks, and strongly recommend them if you’re traveling for more than a week and visiting multiple locations. We loved our Osprey backpacks because they were the perfect size at 70 Liters, and came with a daypack you can attach to the front or back when on the move.

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How to Pack for Long Term Travel in Europe

Our travels started in Paris in Spring and ended in Italy in Summer, so we needed clothing that could transition from cold and rainy to hot and sweltering. We needed clothing and footwear for hiking and trekking, nights out on the town, and everything in between. Because I was also working while we traveled, I needed my computer and other tech to stay connected.

Check out this video to see all the travel gear I carried and how I packed it during our long term travel in Europe.

Ultimate Packing List for Long Term Travel in Europe

Three months of European travel with only what we can carry forced us to really be thoughtful about what to bring and what to leave behind. This packing list will ensure you have what you need for long term travel in Europe. Whether traveling for a week, a month, or more here’s everything you need:

Luggage and Organization

Clothes

Footwear

Tech

Toiletries

Miscellaneous

Get Packing

Whether you’re planning a 2-week vacation, a month abroad, or longer travels, I hope this post has shown you how to choose luggage, organize your bag, and what to pack. Now you don’t have to spend countless hours deciding what to bring on your long term travel adventure—use that time to plan your dream trip!

Look out for our post next week, we’ll be sharing the Women’s Packing List for Long Term Travel in Europe.

Do you have any items you never leave home without? Or any go to travel packing hacks?

Oh yeah, we hope to be publishing more videos of our adventures!

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