Help Choosing a bag?
 

I will be in Italy for 5 months staying in one spot, and then travelling around Europe for 1-2 months afterwards. I will be there for Winter and Summer

I need help choosing the right size bag? I am thinking 40-60 L

The bag I am looking at so far is the OSPREY Womens Waypoint 65

I am 18 yrs old travelling solo and about 5'7 54 kg. What bag do you recommend, and what can you fit in that bag?

I am thinking of taking
Laptop 2kg ( Do you reckon I should buy an Ipad or Chromebook instead ? )
Sony Nex 5 Camera
Toiletries (I hardly ever wear make up, so won't be to much)
Light weight Nike Free 5 Sneakers
Jandals
Ipod
Silk Sleep Sack
1 pair of Togs
4 x t-shirts
1 x thermal long sleeve top
1 x thermal bottoms
1 x puffer jacket
1 x rain jacket
1 x shirt
1 x skirt
1 x dress
5 x socks
5 x underwear
2 x bras
universal adapter
1 x scarf
1 x beanie
1 x shorts
1 x leggings
1 x pants
1 x travel towel

Anything I should leave or bring?

I'll be wearing black hi top chucks, jeans, anorak on plane

Laptop, etc. - it's difficult to type on an ipad and you might want to blog and send emails so I would take the laptop. As far as chrome - I don't like the idea of not having my applications accessible (Word, Excel, etc.).

I always travel with 3 adapters - bring at least 2 in case you forget 1 in an outlet.

Bathing suit.
If you use washcloths then bring them.
I'd bring an extra pair of pants.
Gloves (for winter)

I don't know what Jandals, Togs, and Beanies are. Perhaps I'm out of touch! :)

>>it's difficult to type on an ipad <<

Not if you use a stylus. About half my Fodors posts are on my iPad mini (And I post a LOT ;) )

Thanks for the advice Adrienne :)

I am from New Zealand
Jandals are like Flip Flops
Togs = BathingSuit
Beanies = Warm Hat

Jandals and Beanie -- I got . . . but togs? No idea.

If your beanie is a knit cap type -- good idea. I personally don't think the jandals or the high top Chuck Taylors are all that practical -- can you walk miles in them every day over cobblestones and rough surfaces?

we were posting the same time . . .

Ipad typing - I'm used to using 10 fingers to type so using a stylus would frustrate me. The difficult part is having to change from one keypad to another. I gave up after 5 minutes. Made me crazy(ier).

Don't forget - you can buy things you need or want. You don't need to bring it all with you. You'll get sick of wearing the same stuff over and over and will want to get some new things once in a while. Also the styles will be different and therefore exciting.

Here's a link to the bag:

http://tinyurl.com/m7v2paj

I would use a roller bag rather than a backpack. Much easier for traveling around; not so much pressure on your body. A 19" holds quite a bit, I have one that's expandable. I use a small day pack for my netbook when traveling. Plus a cross body purse that holds my valuables. That never leaves my body, even in restaurants.

How about books or a Kindle? Or perhaps you use your laptop for reading material.

Another pair of leggings and a longer tunic style shirt. Use some big zip lock bags for your clothes and squeeze the air out with your knee and you will love how it shrinks up to nothing. I love Chuck Taylors. I hiked Cinque Terre in them.
Sun screen, small tubes and bug spray small bottles. Some bandaids, antibiotic oniment, a small first aid kit.
EXciting, would love to hear more.

Thanks for the advice everyone its always good to get other peoples input.

@janisj Jandals/Flip Flops will mainly be used at beaches / hostels but I find them quite comfortable for short distances

My chucks are comfortable enough I might buy sole inserts, but they are versatile enough even at home I wear them every where even for going out.

I am looking at taking hiking boots, but not sure if I will as they are bulky and heavy and don't go well with my clothes.

@flpab I will definitely be going to the Cinque Terre, did you wear low or hi top chucks? Thanks for the other items

@adrienne I would much rather take a roller bag, but I feel it won't be very practical rolling it up the stairs, cobble streets and in hostels. I may look at getting an Ipad mini for this, but I am not a huge reader anyway. Can you link me the bag again thanks?

How much do you walk at home? More than likely you will spend a LOT more time on your feet in Europe. It isn't unusual at all to walk 5, 6, 10 miles a day when sightseeing. And it is often over centuries old pavements that are cobbled or uneven. Or through very busy/congested cities. flip flops and Chucks that are 'comfortable enough' or good for 'short distances' won't hack it.

the flip flops are fine on a beach or as shower shoes - but for day to day footwear - nope. Same w/ the Chucks. And heavy duty hiking boots are for just that - heavy duty hiking - not walking around cities/sites.

You really will need (and this will sound 'old lady/fuddy ruddy - but its true) comfortable walking shoes.

I need to tell the folks here in my town that they're Chucks aren't appropriate.

OP, if you can walk ten miles in your Chucks and have your feet feel fine, then bring them. If not, get something else, but be sure to break them in before your trip.

their, not they're. Gah.

I meant bring the Chuck Taylors and flip flops IF you have room for them PLUS actual supportive/comfortable walking shoes. I wouldn't bring just the flip flops/Chucks and the Free 5's (which are running shoes and aren't intended for serious walking)

I agree, doing that would be silly.

Unless the OP is planning on actually running, I'd skip the Free 5s entirely.

OP, gather up what you intend to take, put it into a backpack and take a 5-7 mile walk around your town while wearing your intended daily walking shoe. A few days later do the same thing with a rolling bag.

At the end you will have an answer for your footwear, what kind of bag to get, and what to pack questions.

I'm kinda surprised nobody raised the Schengen 90 day flag.

Any types of shoes you recommend?

Sparkchaser - I am getting a working holiday visa so I can stay up to 1 year.

Also I don't plan on taking the bag for any hiking or walking long distances ect, mainly for transiting from hostel to hostel etc, and then carry a small day bag. The only hiking will be at the Cinque Terre, but they will be day trips as well with just a small day bag.

Mrs. Sparkchaser swears by Meindel. Nice Euro styling.

I have two pairs of New Balance trail boots. Not very Euro looking but I'm not trying to blend in so I don't care. I also have a pair of Clark's Desert Boots that are surprisingly comfortable for long days of walking. And they look good.

<i>mainly for transiting from hostel to hostel etc</i>

Fair point but unless you're planning on taking a taxi, you should be prepared for the times where you need to walk for 30+ minutes to get to your hostel. Or to the train station.

For layering, consider silk rather than thermal fabrics -- silk gloves, a silk scarf, silk long johns, a silk undershirt. They are lightweight, warm, breathable, easily washed, and quick drying.

Instead of a dress, consider a 2nd skirt (or just the one skirt, depending on your plans and tastes) -- a dress can ONLY be worn as is; a skirt can be paired with various tops that also work with slacks, etc., and that work in various temperatures.

As for the number of sets of undergarments, after many trips, I've decided that what works best for me is to aim to hand wash my undergarments every night. Assuming that they won't necessarily dry overnight and that I might not get to it each and every night, I've found that 4 full sets work well for me.

Consider bringing a universal drain stopper, as many accommodations (especially those at lower prices) won't provide any way to keep enough water available for your hand wash. Also consider bringing some kind of traveler's clothesline, as many places (and again, especially lower cost lodging) might not provide options for hanging one's dainties (or anything else!) out to dry.

Instead of 1 universal adapter, consider one adapter with a multi-plug/multi UVP port system, such as:
http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Outlet.../dp/B000ONZTMW

IME, jeans are not very practical -- they aren't all that comfortable when traveling (I know -- who'd have thought?) and worse, they take forever to wash and dry.

A small first-aid kit is not a bad idea.

To cut down on weight, I'd opt for a mini iPad and use hotel or internet cafe computers as necessary, but that's a choice that really depends on how much you expect to want to connect on line.

Bring something to cover yourself when you go to a shared bathroom in the middle of the night. If your raincoat is long enough, great; otherwise, consider a silk robe, especially if you can find one that would double as a somewhat dressy overtop.

YES to a Kindle or something similar. Make sure you bring at least one hard copy guide book (rip out the pages you won't need beforehand and mark the key maps you'll want as soon as you get to each new location); consider bringing at least one other guide book in electronic format. My recommendation: choose something that is NOT light-emitting. Back-lit reading devices are sources of light that shine in your face when you use them, and even if they don't bother you, they draw attention to you and are disruptive to others in restaurants, etc.

Bring AT LEAST 2 pairs of shoes. Wearing the same pair of shoes all day every day day, no matter how comfortable, is unlikely to facilitate a happy experience! I have some super-lightweight Gortex-lined Salomon low-cut general purpose "athletic" shoes (good for walking and hiking, but without ankle support) that I find indispensable. I've never found a pair in plain black, but I've found several in black with touches in other colors and have used a black permanent ink marker to disguise the details that weren't black. So although I can't wear them for a fine dining experience, I can at least wear them in museums or churches without feeling like I'm obviously inappropriate.

Note that sandals may NOT be a good choice: IME sandals do not generally provide sufficient support for extensive walking, especially on hills or cobbled streets, and you are likely to end up with sore spots on your feet where they have pressed against parts of the sandals. (I hate traveling with blisters!) I don't travel with sandals unless I expect to need them for some particular purpose.

Consider bringing one thing that is just to pamper yourself. I always travel with a net "scrubber" -- a luffa-like thing that is extremely lightweight and small and that I like using each day as I shower. Others I know take a small vial of perfume or an inexpensive piece of jewelry that reminds them of a loved one or a scarf that makes them feel special or whatever.

Consider bringing an extra "day pack" or something else for use on days when you need more than your usual daily bag and your full gear. There are several options out there; I was very satisfied with:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0092ECRLA/...I24E25U07I4JK9

Do bring a flashlight, preferably a small one that you can have with you at all times. Also consider bringing a small Swiss army knife or something else with some basic tools -- just remember not to take it on board any flights. And even if you have electronic devices with you, bring a paper notebook just in case.

Hope that helps and enjoy your trip!

sparkchaser - those Clark desert boots look amazing

Kja - Thanks for the detailed tips

With the jeans - I will be taking a pair as they are skinny jeans, but the most comfortable jeans I have worn, they are 64% cotton and 36% polyester and are very thin. I wear them all the time and it will be what I wear most often, work well for going out as well.

I find Sandals very uncomfortable, with the straps rubbing against my feet, so wont be bringing them.

Thanks for the advice :)

Enjoy, and let us know how it works out!

I used to use a backpack, and I still have several, but I very rarely use them. I've found a roller bag to be much more practical. I take one that's small enough that I can carry it up stairs. You're not taking an excessive amount, so you should be OK with a fairly small bag.

What I often use is a combination of a small rolling carryon bag. (Mine is so small I can slip it under the airplane seat) and a little duffle bag that sits on top of it and has a wide strap that slips over the roller bag handle, so it stays put. When I have to go up steps, I can carry one in each hand. It's also easy to lift either of them up into an overhead compartment on trains or planes.

Cobblestones are not really a problem for a good rolling suitcase. I occasionally find a patch that's hard on the wheels, but these stretches are short and I can just carry the bags for that short distance. I don't know what the problem would be in hostels; I've seen all sorts of bags in hostels.

A larger backpack, such as the one you're considering, is a real nuisance on crowded public transportation, and in any crowded situation, such as busy urban streets. You can hardly move without smacking someone in the face. Of course, you could take it off and carry it, but then you have all the disadvantages of the rolling bag. I also got very tired of taking it off so I could sit down and then putting it back on. My largest backpack was smaller than yours (35 l, I think), but putting it on my shoulders without resting it on something at least waist height was no picnic.

I agree the rolling bag is better. We used to have a convertible bag - could be worn as a backpack but had small wheels. My husband liked to use it as a backpack but it really seemed inconvenient, I much preferred the rolling bag. A good one rolls fine over cobblestones. Much easier on trains, narrow staircases to hotel/hostel rooms, etc.

I read all that 'jeans are heavy/don't dry/don't look good' stuff and for several trips I brought other types of slacks/pants but I love my jeans and they are just as comfortable if not more so than any other type of clothing. Unless you sit in something or spill a lot they don't need to be washed that often (certainly not like under clothes or tops). On a trip that long you'll obviously have to do actual laundry every so often anyway. Take the jeans.

If flip flops are a good brand (eg Teva) I can walk miles in them. I average about 9 miles a day, every day for 4-5 weeks on my trips and do the majority in Teva flip flops. No blisters from straps rubbing. They have to be new (they wear down after a year or so) and fairly thick soled. New but broken in. Last year I did get a pair of Teva's that had more arch support and were not flip flops (but had minimal straps) and they worked well.

Does seem for that length of time you could use a few more changes of tops. I usually bring at least 6 or 7 shirts and am really sick of them after a month. Also stretches the time between when you need to do laundry. Of course you can buy stuff there, but still.

I wore high tops and put an extra insole inside of them. I am so old school, wore them all through high school in the 70's. :) I have black on blacks and love them. They have gone everywhere with me and love them most because they are light. My hikers weigh a ton. flip flops are great for hostels and even some other funky showers and floors.