thanks michelle, since your such a great help, why dont you pack for me too,lol.

Pretty much pick up shirts that say "wrinkle free" on them. It's never entirely true, but I roll them rather than fold, and that helps a lot. If it gets that bad, there's always hotel irons, drop off laundries or department stores.

On space - for Europe especially, all my toiletries could literally fit in a plastic sandwich bag. No need for just in case stuff. After all, it's Europe, not the Congo, so anything can be bought if you're not fussy on brands. So it's just my razor, fold-up travel toothbrush, and tiny travel/sample size toothpaste, deodorant & shaving cream. Only gone for a couple of weeks or so! I take a roll of antacids and tiny little bottle of nasal spray for the plane - dry air and bad food. That's pretty much it. Travel with a 21" backpack and still manage to have a nice dinner out every now and then. Shoes are the only really tricky things. Hint, wear the bulky shoes - if you've brought more than one pair - and the jeans on travel days.

You know, if you lived in the area, I would gladly pack for you :-). I love all aspects of the planning process.

Another tip--I use packing cubes for my clothes. I roll everything up and put them in--keeps everything compact and there's a mesh cover so that I can easily see where things are and if I get searched at the airport I don't end up with a pile of clothes dumped on a table.

Clifton--great tips about wearing the heavier shoes & jeans, etc.

I am using a much smaller pack this next trip than I am accustomed to; I may try to tie my running shoes onto the outside of my pack (which is a carryon) and see if the airline minds. Hmmm. Then again, everything will probably fit easily, though I may end up using that approach when I return if I buy souvenirs.

my friend loned me his pack that he uses for hiking camping. I hope its not overkill.

I had a bigger pack last year. It annoyed the hell out of me. It is obviously a cheaper option (free) than going out and buying an expensive smaller pack. You will be fine; it is just harder to manage a larger pack than a smaller one. (Takes up more room standing in the metro, more room on the hostel floor (and often there isn't much room to put things), fitting it on trains, and you have to check it (risk having it significantly delayed)).

I'm a strong girl--lifting the pack and walking around with it was not a problem. It was just dealing with the sheer size that was a royal pain in the ass.

You'll deal with it, you'll hate it at times, and next trip, you'll find yourself justifying the cost of buying your own smaller pack ;-)

Adam--
If you're borrowing a friend's pack, just make sure that the friend hasn't kept any illegal substances in it. See this thread:

http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages....4&start=50

P.S. I don't mean make sure that the friend hasn't left any in the bag (although that's a good idea); I mean make sure he's never had any in the bag.

Ok, taking a closer look at my friends pack, its a Gregory Shasta Size M.I think its 5000 cu in. Take a look at it, if this pack is just going to weigh me down on trains, I may just go and buy a more appropriate pack.

Heres link
http://www.backcountry.com/store/GRE...p;AID=10281785

I tried rolling my clothes instead of folding. When I took something out of the suitcase, everything was missed up. I had to take everything out and reroll. I stopped rolling.

Dress clothes. I subscribe to Rick Steves suggestion to bring only a nice sweater, for extra warmth when needed and to dress up for dinner.

hi Adam, That bag is WAY overkill in my opinion for a two week trip in European cities. Why don't you just go buy a simple duffle bag for $20 at a sporting good or discount store?

I want to *strongly* agree with L84SKY's excellent advice about not taking anything new. I bought some coolmax knits from TravelSmith one trip as the core of my wardrobe and they were AWFUL (without boring you too badly they were hot, pilled, stained and even burned easily long funny story looking back LOL).

My most successful packs/wardrobe have been this method... take my favorite dressy/casual outfits that make me feel the best when wearing them at home, appropriate to the season of travel where I'm going, pick 4-5 outfits that mix and match, and take those. works like a charm and no surprises.

Here's another person who has a husband who packs LARGE bottles of toiletry stuff. I've given up pointing out how stupid that is, and continue to let him pack (very inefficiently) his own bag with his own too-big stuff. (He usually travels with a 24"-inch bag, which really isn't too big.) I do try to point out, each trip, how much more I can fit in my smaller bag by packing efficiently, and using travel-size shampoo, etc.

I do always take a teeny sewing kit, which lives in my toiletry bag. After an "amusing" incident after our son gashed his leg at a museum, and getting to fill out an incident report just to get a bandaid, I always carry bandaids everywhere. Oh, and stuff for if same son gets one of his frequent nosebleeds. And a book light - necessary for us nightowls.

I always take extra plastic zip-lock bags; I occasionally use one. But they take up so little space, that I don't mind.

My goodness, Adam, that backpack is huge! For a guy going on a 16-day trip in spring time, I don't think you need one that big.

Of the list that <b>oobylicious</b> carrys, I don't bring half the things she lists. I don't bring

-pack towel (why?)
-combination locks (none of my things are valuable. no need unless you're staying at a hostel)
-mini phrasebook (most guidebooks have a language section.)
-safety pins (why?)
-plastic bags (if you do any kind of shopping, be it at gift shops, grocery stores, you'll have plenty)
-travel alarm clock (my alarm watch will do)
-a few small bungee cords (for attaching stuff to the outside of my pack)
-rainjacket (a rain hat is sufficient)
-earplugs
-sunglasses (I don't bring them cuz I usually lose them)
-mini-size advil, mini-size vitamins
-athletic tape (for things that fall apart as well as injuries)

Pack a thin sweater. If it gets cold, you can dress in layers. Bring the sweater with you on the plane. I always freeze if I am sitting near the galley area. If your in the middle of the plane, you probably will be warm.

Make sure your shoes have already been broken in. Don't try to do this in Europe. Thick socks will never dry if you wash them in the sink in Europe.

I think bringing music to Europe is rather silly. I enjoy listening to the local music when traveling and enjoy having a break from my usual favorites.

You can type or photocopy your must do travel book pages and avoid bringing a bunch of travel books to Europe. I use the cut and paste off the Internet.

Missypie, do you live in Austin? I'm beginning to think we are married to the same man. :-O

Based on StCirq's post, I can go to Europe by myself this summer.

Doing a happy dance now. I can leave my in-laws and my picky eater husband home. LOL

as a rule of thumb - I dont take anything that costs less per pound than the cost of excess baggage. It is easier to buy it there and throw it away before I come back.

yk,

my list is strictly for hostellers (hence packtowel, locks...)
you wouldn't need to pack a towel if you're staying in hotels (towels are NOT provided in most hostels). i've used everything on my pack list in the past, but of course, everyone packs differently.

(i've been travelling when it was pouring cats and dogs, and a rain hat would not be sufficient; plus I go hiking/biking, etc. in all weather; also, I don't wake up to the alarm on my watch; I need something louder; plastic bags I pack are ziploc bag size-they come in handy for soooo many things)

oobylicious-
I guess it all depends what kind of traveler Adam is?

A decade ago when I was a backpacker, there were certain things I'd bring which I won't now, such as locks or soap/shampoo etc. But of course, there're lots of things I *need* now which I didn't before (as I get older, I require higher maintainence).

I've never gone hiking/biking in Europe. If it rains, I'll either run into a store or museum and spend the rest of my day indoors. If I travel in the spring/fall period, the jacket I bring is water resistant which comes in handy when it rains.

My theory is: other than one's passport, everything else can be bought with credit card (provided one remembers to pack it)!