In a
previous post, I discussed what I was planning on taking on a 2-month solo trip to Europe using a
20-inch Level 8 Carry-on and a
backpack. The backpack is not a full hiker's backpack; it's what I used for work. Now that I'm back, here's what worked, didn't work, and wasn't needed. The changes are highlighted; the items I decided not to take have a line through them.
What I Didn't Use
I thought I did pretty well; I used almost everything. I didn't use the door lock because I felt safe enough in all of my accommodations to not use it. I only used the door stopper in 1 place, and only because the deadbolt didn't work. I only used the
PwrMobile once, because the outlet in one of the lodgings didn't allow room under the travel adapter for the cords to be plugged in. The only other thing I didn't use was the Z-Pack and Amoxicillin.
What I Ditched Along the Way
1) The first thing to go was the quick-dry towel. I took it thinking that it would be easy to use when I needed to wash some clothes. It wasn't, and it was taking up precious space. I ended up leaving it on the ship.
2) Next was my cardigan. It was a cheapie & I just didn't think I would use it that much since I had my fleece & my WoolX sweater. I didn't miss it at all. I left it in the hotel room in Dublin the day I started the
Vagabond Tour.
3) My Owala Water Bottle. It didn't fit into the side of my backpack very well. It was easier just to buy a couple of bottles of water. I bought another Owala soon after I arrived home. I think I left it in the hotel at the end of the Vagabond Tour.
4) Barefoot Shoes. I packed these in the bottom of my backpack, but they still took up some room. I only wore them once; I wore my Topos shoes and my boots. Again, they weren't very expensive, so it doesn't bother me to buy another pair.
5) The Clothesline. It just didn't work for me. I had a very difficult time trying to find somewhere in the hotels to hang it, and I couldn't get it tight enough to get more than a couple of pairs of pants on it. I left it in Waterford toward the end of the Ireland leg of the trip; I washed my pants in the sink and knew I could get through the rest of the trip without another washing.
Laundry
Overall, I was pretty proud of myself. I lived out of my suitcase (and backpack) for 2 months and didn't go crazy. I would hang up my pants and shirts overnight after I wore them, then repack them at the bottom of my suitcase the next morning. I sprayed some Febreze on them to freshen them up; I bought a bottle at one point and just carried it in my backpack. Before I had to fly to Scotland, I discarded what was left.
I packed the laundry sheets and used them at first, but I didn't feel like they were doing the job I thought they should have. I ended up buying a cheap, small bottle of liquid laundry detergent. I packed that in my backpack as well (hence the need to ditch my barefoot shoes). I left the bottle in the hotel before I flew to Scotland as well.
I could have done with 4 pairs of undies; I just washed them and hung them up overnight to dry. Not that 2 pairs of underwear would have made a huge impact on more space!
Tell me what you think: Could you have done 2 months with just a 20-inch carry-on and a backpack, knowing the weather was going to be rainy and cool?
There are more posts to come, so be sure to check back!
