What to Pack for a Year in Europe?

Like most nomadic travelers, we learned to pack light. Many of the Vloggers we follow have talked about downsizing their luggage as time wears on because it is difficult to manage. So, for one year, we each have a carry-on suitcase and a Rick Steves’ backpack.

We are “What-If” kind of people. We typically have back-up plans and extra somethings, just in case it breaks. So, packing for an entire year in these two small cases, without the expanded zippers, was a challenge. We started strategizing months in advance and with each practice pack we put back 2-3 things we could live without. This was not a wilderness trip, we could buy new later, but we must abide by a Swedish concept of Lagom. Lagom loosely means “Not too little. Not too much. Just right.” The philosophy is opposite of materialism and consumerism. Therefore, once we arrive, we can buy what we need if we follow the rule of any new item must replace an old item. It also means we cannot buy a bunch of souvenirs over the year. Our memories of this trip will be our photos and website, and anything we choose to ship home.

But what IS in our luggage? What made the cut? Here are the HIS and HERS packing lists that did make the cut and how we each chose to pack differently. Click the buttons to find the lists. Later in our travels we will share any items that got replaced or tossed aside.