That's what we are bringing for our year abroad.
Packing for the trip has been one of the most difficult logistical pieces. It's also one of the most common things I'm asked. "How do you pack for a whole year?", people wonder. I'm going to share my experience thus far and will definitely update as we test our choices.
We will be spending lots of time in Europe's famous cities. A large focus of our trip is also on nature and hiking. We will be visiting as many national parks as possible. The weather will range from Southern Italy in summer to Paris at Christmas. I considered this carefully when deciding what would make it into the bags.
Here are my thoughts so far:
1. Be Realistic About What Clothes and Shoes You NEED
What I WANT is a perfectly organized suitcase with fashionable outfits (think cute sundresses and chic Parisian accessories) for every possible occasion, and endless durable and tidy clothes for both kids.
What I WANT is a pair of summer sandals, flats, running shoes, hiking shoes, fashionable fall boots, and my favorite house slippers.
But what we NEED are clothes that:
Travel well rolled in a backpack and are lightweight
Layer
Wash easily and hang to dry
Serve multiple purposes (sundresses that can be used as a swim coverup)
Are comfortable
We NEED shoes that:
Are weather resistant
Serve multiple purposes (sandals that can also handle a light hike)
Are comfortable
We have already tested and broken-in with long walks
2. Buy Brands That You Trust
This will be different for everyone. We all have favorite brands of clothes and shoes that stand the test of time. I certainly have mine (see below)-unless we are talking about kids' shoes. I have yet to find a brand that can withstand Ollie for more than a few weeks!
I'll share my personal selections and some of the specific items that I bought for the trip.
L.L. Bean Packaway Jackets:
If you only remember one thing from this blog post, let it be the L.L. Bean packaway jacket. It is the miracle of all travel jackets.
Henri had been searching for a light, low profile, warm, and water-resistant jacket for months. We went to many, many stores and tortured many, many sales associates. One guy finally told Henri that what he is looking for is impossible and doesn't exist.
His persistence payed off! A random recommendation for L.L. Bean led us to the packaway jacket. It is pricey but totally worth it!! Extra bonus; it comes in men's, women's, and kids' versions. Check out our Instagram page this fall if you want to see all of them at once (awkward family photo alert).
Athleta Uptempo Shirt:
I wear this shirt constantly; I think I have every color. There have both short and long-sleeve versions. It's good for hiking or running around town. Despite throwing it in the washer and dryer with all the other laundry, it always looks brand new.
J Crew Ruched Bandeau One-Piece Swimsuit:
This bathing suit is so flattering and comes in tons of colors. Ladies, just buy it. You won't regret it.
Keens Hiking Sandals
Ok, these sandals are not the cutest, but they are great hiking shoes for most trail conditions and can even go in water. My last pair finally disintegrated after 10 years. Downsides are they can accumulate rocks/sand and they tend to stink over time :(
I was able to find a slightly more fashionable version (the ROSE) since I will need to wear them with dresses. I've been breaking-in the Rose sandal and they are super comfortable even after walking several miles. I expect they will work well during hikes too; I may be able to even hike in colder weather if I wear them with socks (I know, not cool).
Merrell Kids' Hiking Shoes
As I mentioned earlier, kids' shoes are really difficult for us. Ollie tears through shoes in a matter of weeks. The toes rip, the laces break, the sole peels away, and the shoes get filthy. These Merrell shoes have been the the sturdiest we've found. The ultimate test awaits!
REI Kids' Tarn 40 Pack
You can't beat the value of this bag. It's ~$100 and is the perfect size for our 8-year-olds with lots of room to grow. It easily accommodates all the kids' clothes and shoes with extra room for their homeschooling materials. The back panel is adjustable so that it fits them perfectly and will for years.
We were NOT looking for a backpack to carry all our stuff on long hiking trips. A framed backpack would likely have been better for that. But this bag was the best option for the kids to carry their own gear in airports, train stations, etc. I can already hear the complaining!
Patagonia Black Hole Travel Bags
Feel free to hate us for loving everything Patagonia, but the gear is just so good! We were able to find the perfect size backpack for Henri and rolling duffel. The price wasn't that much more than other brands and reviews touted the bags' durability. One review swears it is the GOAT- we're about to find out!
3. You Do Not Need to Travel with an Entire Pharmacy
This is a really hard one for me as a mom and physician. I travel with a treasure trove of first aid supplies, medications, and hair care products. It all takes up so much space! I usually have (at least!) 2-3 gallon-size ziplock bags full of samplings from every aisle at CVS. We just don't have the capacity for that on this trip and I am way outside my comfort zone.
Here's what made the cut:
Antibacterial ointment, a few bandages, and skin glue
Ibuprofen for both adults and kids
Seasonal allergy medicine for both adults and kids
Prescription medications (inhalers for the twins' mild asthma, migraine meds, a few emergency antibiotics)
A few capsules of adult cold medicine and one bottle of kids' cold medicine- enough to tide us over until we get to a pharmacy
Travel size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, and lotion in case the airBnB doesn't supply
Sunscreen and bug spray
A few items of makeup (one mascara, blush, and eyeshadow compact) and 2 brushes
Contacts and related supplies, and back-up glasses
Hair-dryer brush- I'm embarrassed about this one, but I love it so much I MADE room for it. At least my hair will look good when I'm wearing the same wrinkled outfit repeatedly ;)
Anything else needed and not provided by the AirBNBs we will have to purchase at the store. It's NOT a big deal considering we are traveling through Europe and not some remote part of the world (except when we are in Albania). It might be inconvenient at times, but a necessity given how light we are traveling.
4. Other Random Conveniences for Traveling with Kids
Kindles- books are out of the question
IPads and headphones for homeschooling
Comfort items for the kids- one blanket and small stuffy
Compact board games- SpotIt, Uno, Blink
Coloring pencils/markers and a small notebook
Kids' travel journals
Wet-bags for stashing bathing suits, wet clothes in backpacks
Ultra lightweight travel towels
Voila! Now it's time to test it out and add and remove as we experience FAMILY FUNISHMENT! I'll let you all know how it goes.
Cheers,
Steph