I Backpacked Around Europe for Months - Here are 5 things I'm glad I brought and 5 I'd leave at home

After trying to drag a rolling suitcase through the Costa Rican countryside the year prior, I'd learned my lesson. This time, the rolling suitcase stayed at home, and I brought a backpack instead. My backpack of choice - the 40 liter Baboon to the Moon. Armed with my neon green backpack, I traveled through Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and the Portuguese countryside for nearly 4 months. If you're anything like me and love to shop, the idea of traveling with limited space was daunting to say the least. Still, I made some serious decisions about what got to come and what stayed at home. By the time my travels had finished, I had some serious thoughts about the choice pieces of clothing that made their way into my bag. Without further ado, here are 5 pieces of clothing I'm so glad I brought - and 5 I wish I would've left at home.

1. Leave at home: Wide leg jeans

Like most girls my age, my wide leg light wash jeans are a staple of my wardrobe at home, so it was a no brainer to toss them in my backpack. And they did not leave my backpack all summer. I completely underestimated how hot and stiff jeans would feel in the summer heat. Even when going out, I could never bring myself to pull them on. While my pair from Pull & Bear remain close in my heart, I wish I would have left them far away during my trip. Pull & Bear no longer sell my exact pair, but they are quite similar to the iconic Levi's Baggy Dad jean.

The Levi's Baggy Dad Jean

1. Instead bring: Linen trousers

I lived in my linen trousers. They were a pink pair of trousers from a few years prior from Zara, and I could not have imagined how often I would wear them. Whether as a beach coverup, a dinner, or a shopping trip, these trousers remained a staple in my summer wardrobe. They rolled up tiny, looked good wrinkly, and could go weeks without needing a wash. Mine were pink so they hide wear and tear easily as well! Regardless, these are my top pair. Zara no longer sells my exact pair, but here are some that are similar.

Similar pants from Zara

Similar pants from Revolve

Here I am about to board a bus in my trusted pink trousers.

2. Leave at home: Clubbing mini dress

LBD from Revolve

While I was packing for my trip, I was already plotting the great clubs I was going to hit during my time in Europe. And hit those clubs I did - just rarely in my black mini dress.

I rarely would put on this tight mini dress, and nearly every time I did, I switched it out for a lighter and breezier dress. Even in bigger cities like Madrid or Milan where the dress wouldn't have looked out of place, I opted for comfier options. Sorry Chanel, but this LBD should have stayed at home.

2. Instead bring: Mesh cover up

About halfway through my time, I found a mesh coverup from Zara super similar to the taupe slip from Doen. It did all the jobs of the LBD I brought, but with half the weight and twice the options. I wore this dress to the beach, to a music festival, and to dinners in between. This quickly became a staple of my summer wardrobe, and I wish I would've known to bring the lighter alternative and leave the heavy dress at home.

Cute lightweight slip from Doen

A different coverup option from Revolve

3. Leave at home: Exercise dress

Speaking of dresses, I was overjoyed when I stumbled upon this cute little Aerie number a few days before leaving! Workout dresses are all the rage, and this little white number with cutout details fit the bill. I could already imagine myself wearing this little number through my travels. I could not have been more wrong. Not only did I stick out like a sore thumb every time I wore the spandex material in public, but it was so hot and got dirty so easily. This remained in the corner of my backpack until laundry day, and even then, I resented it as I put it on!

Selfie before a bike ride in the Tuscan countryside. The dress did not stay this clean for long!

Here's a cute option from Girlfriend Collective - just be careful with the white!

3. Instead bring: Easy maxi dress

I last minute threw in a years old maxi dress from LoveStitch. This dress has seen it all already, but it came in handy on several occasions in the summer Portuguese heat. Like the linen trousers, it rolls up tiny and light and can last for weeks in between washes. Bonus - it was big enough to lay out on in case I forgot a towel! This dress was a classic for my summer adventures.

On the roof of the Milan Cathedral! I brought a light crochet sweater to cover my shoulders inside.

I bought my dress several years ago, but here is a similar version from Lovestitch!

4. Leave at home: White button up

I know, I know, saying to leave the white button up at home feels borderline sacrilegious. I love my white button down and this is no hate for the classic cut, but it became a pain during my backpacking travels. It was hot, stained easily, and not the classic Euro silhouette I envisioned in the slightest. I was better off leaving this layering number back in the closer.

One of the few times I wore the button up! You can see how wrinkly it was from sitting in my bag.

Here is the exact button up I'm wearing in the photo from Gap.

4. Instead bring: Crochet sweater

During my time, I bought two different crochet sweaters! Breathable and light, these both did the job of the white button up but far more efficiently. They were great layers on chilly summer nights and cute on top of bikini tops for lunches by the beach. I bought two and had them on constant rotation. Not to mention, most churches in Europe require your shoulders to be covered, so a lightweight crochet sweater is a great way to make sure you're covered!

You can tell I lived in this dress and sweater during the summer! Here I am on a train in Switzerland.

Here's a similar pullover from L Space!

5. Leave at home: Makeup

I thought I was going light on the make up routine and brought only my necessities. Of course, my necessities included loose powder and a contour stick. I can count on one hand how often I wore make up, but I love my products too much to just leave them behind as I traveled. While they're small, they're heavy and took up valuable space! I should've known I'd be going barefaced on the beach more time than not and left the products back in my makeup drawer.

I passed on makeup to opt for a glowy base most days!

5. Instead bring: Sunscreen and aftercare

I spent my days frolicking on the Portuguese beach, and while my skin had never been tanner and my hair blonder, I definitely felt the effects of the sunshine! I made sure to stock up on good sunscreen before I left, which I quickly ran through. I kept SPF30 on me at all times because the UV was no joke! Not to mention, my hair and skin were so dry they were begging for moisture. I ended up stocking up on coconut oil for some much needed moisture. I should've known to bring all the skincare and leave all the makeup at home.

I bought so much from Vichy skincare they gifted me my own tote bag! I think I bought out their entire sunscreen collection.

And finally, here are two products that the jury's still out:

1. Platform sandals

I found these adorable platform sandals about midway through my journey. I quickly fell in love with the mint green color so despite my bag screaming at me to let it be, I let myself buy them. I made sure they were light and comfy - two necessities for summer travels, but they still were bigger than was realistically necessary. My advice - do your research ahead of your travels to find cute and comfy shoes.

Here I am wearing the sandals at an all day festival!

2. Crocheting yarn

Backpacking around means long train rides with limited data. I needed to find something to do with my hands during the long rides, so I decided to pick up some yarn and a crocheting needle in a small beachside town in Spain. While I was glad to have something to do with my hands, I'll be honest, I was about as committed as my budget was big (aka not very). I fully suggest bringing an activity or something to do during some of the more boring lulls of travel, just make sure it's something you would actually do in your day to day life.

And there you have it! Here are 5 things I regret bringing with me during my travels, and 5 things I would bring in their place. The name of the game is light and breezy, so leave the contour sticks and mini dresses at home. Keep in mind, this is just what worked for me! I spent far more time by the beach than I did in any city, so my packing list is very much a reflection of that! Happy packing!