I spent 2 weeks backpacking Europe for the first time and wished I'd packed even lighter. Here are 3 things I could have left behind.

11.09.2023 - 18:47 / insider.com / Europe For

The first time I traveled for two weeks with a backpack, it was the lightest I'd ever packed for the longest trip I'd ever taken. I had everything I needed, but I was surprised to find that I could have packed even lighter. 

Traveling with just a backpack works for me because I find I have less stuff to worry about losing or forgetting when getting from one location to the next, and it leaves my hands free when commuting. Plus, fitting everything in a backpack means I don't have to check luggage and pay the accompanying fee, or feel the anxiety of whether it will make it to my destination.

Last October, I packed my backpack for my longest journey yet — a two-week trip to Europe. I took a red-eye flight from NYC to Berlin and traveled by train from Germany to Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.

For this adventure, I used a 32-liter backpack, the largest one I own, to hold everything I needed for two weeks. I packed my work computer, camera, and chargers; snacks, toiletries, and medications; one packing cube stuffed with clothing; and additional necessities like a raincoat, a tote, and a pair of shower slides.

While I longed for more outfit variety, I was glad I packed so little. I didn't feel as weighed down by my backpack as I had on previous trips, so I had more energy throughout the day. But there were a few items I could have left behind to make my bag even lighter.

For one thing, I could have done without the maxi dress.

I brought it for days when I wanted to dress formally. But apart from different jackets over top, I found that my dress looked the same to me every time I wore it. And since it was so long, I thought it took up the same amount of space in my packing cube that a pair of shorts and a couple of extra shirts could have taken.

Replacing the dress with a pair of nice shorts and some blouses would have given me nice outfits that were more versatile. 

I didn't need 10 pairs of socks either. I brought so many because I'd had trouble washing and drying my socks in just one night on previous trips, leaving me wishing I had packed more.

But since I booked two nights in most of the cities I visited in Europe, I found I had plenty of time to dry my socks. I probably could have done with six pairs to leave more room in my bag for small souvenirs. 

I love taking pictures on digital and film cameras, but I could have lightened my gear load.

For example, I brought way too much film for this trip. I packed eight rolls of film and only shot four of them due to some rainy days. Plus, I was surprised by how easy it seemed to buy film in Europe — if I'd needed more, I could have stopped at one of the many film stores I passed in Vienna and Berlin. In Vienna, I even spotted a film vending machine on the