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One of our readers recently traveled carry-on only for two weeks to Europe in the dead of winter—an impressive feat. Traveling carry-on only for two weeks can be tricky enough, yet alone in freezing temperatures. Find out how she did it!

 

Traveling to Europe in the summer? Read this post!

 

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Two Weeks in Europe in the Winter

By: Stephanie Su

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Table Of Contents

 

 

There is one major difference between being at home in the winter and traveling when it’s cold: the amount of time you’ll spend outdoors.

When you’re traveling, you’ll likely spend extended periods of time outdoors sightseeing. Don’t be unprepared.

For a little more help, the video shared below can also give ideas on how to choose winter clothing.

 

 

Choosing clothing for winter just got easier—watch this video to learn more!

 

Start by reading these general tips on packing for winter travel:

• Winter Packing List for Cold Weather
• Capsule Wardrobe for Winter
• How to Pack for Cold Weather
• How to Stay Warm in Cold Weather (without the bulk)
• The Best Travel Shoes for Winter

 

Stephanie Su just came back from a two-week trip to Slovakia, Austria, and Germany! It was a proper winter, with highs of only 37 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 25 degrees Fahrenheit, plus wind and snow on occasion.

 

You can still pack your travel capsule wardrobe in a small suitcase even when you travel in cold weather by using packing cubes to compress your clothing as shown in this video!

 

This is her experience packing carryon only for this trip:

For this trip, I visited major cities, including Bratislava, Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich, as well as mountainous villages and surrounding hiking areas, such as Hallstatt and Berchtesgaden.

My total carry-on bag weight was 9.5kg. Yikes! I wasn’t too happy about that. Luckily, the airlines didn’t give me any trouble about it (I flew with Ryanair and Eurowings), but I was still annoyed that I had cut down the size of my bag but still was carrying so much weight.

Here’s what I packed:

 

 

Osprey Ozone 2-Wheel Carry-On 40L/21.5 in Blue | Black
New version of Ozone

 

Bags

 

For this trip, I traveled carry-on. I’m a very minimalist solo traveler. My main bag for this trip was the Osprey Ozone 35L backpack (now sold out), which I chose because it’s so lightweight (less than two pounds). However, the Osprey Ozone 35 L is currently sold out but here’s a similar one.

For me, this shift to carry-on only travel has actually resulted in a whole lifestyle change for in how I buy, own, and value things.

 

Prefer a wheeled suitcase? Read our Osprey Ozone 46 review – it’s wheeled!

 

 

Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag

 

I also brought this Anti-Theft Shoulder Bag. It’s just okay. It’s slightly bigger and heavier than I had expected.

I had bought it to try and replace an older cross body purse but it didn’t feel quite right to me. I like its lockable zippers and sleek, fashionable (enough) look, but it’s just not very useful for the kind of traveling I do. I mostly use it on travel days and when I go out for meals by myself and want to bring a book with me.

 

Read these articles for other anti-theft products included purses:

• Money Belts and Anti-theft Accessories
• Best Anti-theft Bags for Women
• 6 Tools to Protect Your From Pickpockets in Europe
• 10 Tried and Tested Anti-theft Travel Tips

 

Read these tips on how to keep your passport safe when you travel!

 

 

Fjallraven Kanken Classic Pack

 

For my day bag, I used a Fjallraven Kanken 16L, which I love. I’ve found that backpacks work better for me than satchels or cross body purses. Hence my Kanken.

 

Here are other cute backpack purses for travel!

 

 

Packing List for Europe in Winter

 

I kept my Europe packing list pretty basic, focusing on layers and a few heavier outer layers.

• 1 Smartwool merino wool blend tank in black
• 2 Icebreaker long-sleeve merino wool shirts in black and teal
• 1 Uniqlo packable down vest in white
• 1 lightweight sweater in black
• 1 fuzzy wool and mohair blend sweater in green
• 1 pair of black travel pants in black
• 1 pair of Athleta Jeggings in wine
• 1 pair of Icebreaker merino wool leggings  in black
• 1 pair of fleece-lined leggings in black
• 1 leather mini-skirt in black
• 1 Ibex Reese tunic in teal
• 1 black coat
• 1 cotton shirt and 1 pair of ankle pants for pajamas
• 1 nude bra and 1 black bra
• 1 sports bra
• 4 pairs of Smartwool merino socks
• 7 pairs of underwear
• 1 convertible blanket scarf/shawl in black and grey
• 1 pair of gloves
• 1 hat

 

Read this Europe winter packing list for a complete clothing list for cold weather!

 

 

UGG Ashton Waterproof Leather Boot

 

Shoes

 

For shoes, I packed just two pairs. The first was a pair of flip-flops, which I wore in the hostel showers.

The other was a pair of Ugg Wilde waterproof boots in slate (which is now sold out). I’ve raved about these boots on other posts in the Travel Fashion Girl Facebook group before, but now I can say it loud and proud: these are the BEST boots for lightweight winter travel. While the boots Alex packed were the UGG Wilde, they are sadly out of stock, but the Ashton leather waterproof boots are similar to the Wilde and so versatile! 

They’re warm and comfortable even after walking around for eight hours. They also look stylish enough to wear in the cities yet sturdy enough for hiking on forest paths. They didn’t have as much traction as I would’ve liked in icy conditions, but I just made sure to step carefully and I was fine. These are SO, SO, SO GOOD. (I even cover more on proper winter shoes in the video below!)

 

 

Watch this video to get the lowdown on the best shoes for winter!

 

Find out what our readers rate as the best waterproof boots for winter travel!

 

 

 Newvanga Travel Adapter

 

Electronics

 

I had to bring a few electronics with me, which fit well in my backpack:

• MacBook Air 11”
• Fuji x-T2 mirrorless camera with 18-55mm kit lens
• iPhone
• International plug adaptor
• Power bank
• Assorted chargers

 

I would rather not have brought my laptop with me, but I needed to work on essays (I’m doing my Master’s right now). I love photography, so the camera weight is something I put up with.

The Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera is often considered the best travel camera because it’s smaller and lighter than an entry-level DSLR yet just as powerful, if not more. If you’re curious, my last camera was a Canon Rebel T3i, and the Fuji loads better in terms of picture quality.

 

The voltage is different in Europe and the USA! Read this guide before you travel!

 

 

Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag

 

Toiletries and Other Necessities

 

For toiletries and other essentials, I packed a few standard items:

• 1 Lush solid shampoo
• 1 travel-sized conditioner
• 1 full-sized collapsible Wet Brush
• A few travel-sized razors
• 2 skinny packing cubes for my clothing
• 1 travel towel
• 1 collapsible shopping bag
• 1 travel clothesline
• 1 silk sleep liner

 

Check out our top ten best toiletry bags for travel!

 

Beyond my essentials that I packed in my backpack, I carried a few other items in my crossbody bag:

• 1 Kindle
• 1 journal
• 1 Lonely Planet Austria book
• 1 wallet
• A few pens
• 1 chapstick
• My passport, cards, and other travel documents

 

I only ended up using the cross body bag on travel days because I preferred to use my Fjallraven Kanken Backpack when I was out and about. I could have done without the Lonely Planet book, but I wanted to have it for this trip.

In the future, I’d like to get a lighter toiletry bag and avoid having to take my laptop.

 

Download our free printable travel checklist for a complete packing list including toiletries and beauty products!

 

 

Compass Rose Packing Cubes

 

What I Did Right and What I’d Change Next Time

 

Thoughts on my packing after the trip? I’m quite happy and wouldn’t have added anything else. My bag was full, but not so full that I couldn’t squeeze in some gifts to bring back with me. However, packing everything is another matter!

Packing cubes can help organize all the layers you have in mind for winter travels. The Compass Rose brand of slim packing cubes has a unique color and numbering system, so it’s easy to remember where you’ve packed everything. The video below helps demonstrate how they work.

 

 

Learn our hacks with packing cubes in the video above!

 

My most surprisingly useful clothing item was the mohair blend sweater. It’s quite ugly but it was basically so ugly that it could be considered fashionable again! The main thing was that it turned me into a little furnace.

My typical outfit on days when I knew I’d be spending a long time outdoors was to wear the Icebreaker layer, mohair sweater, Ibex tunic, black coat, Icebreaker leggings, pants/trousers, blanket scarf, and done! With this combination, I even felt too warm, especially after uphill walks!

 

 

TFG readers recommend: Uniqlo Merino Wool V Neck Sweater

 

Instead of the cheap acrylic black sweater, I wish I had brought another merino wool sweater, which I would’ve gotten more use out of, but at the time I didn’t own another similar sweater. (Read why merino wool is the best fabric for travel.)

The Uniqlo Merino Wool V Neck Sweater, which is featured above and made of 100% merino wool is a packable item that will provide warmth, without overheating the body. TFG readers love it so much especially for winter travel!  

I didn’t really need the vest or wear it that much, but it was lightweight and super packable, so it was fine. I hand washed items when needed, but because most of what I’d brought was merino wool, they really didn’t need that much washing.

As for shoes, I’m completely content with the one pair of boots I packed (UGG WIlde) which is now sold out but here’s a similar one and never once wanted for another pair of shoes.

  

For more tips, read our complete year round packing guide for Europe!

 

 

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What’s on your packing list for a 2 week winter trip in Europe? Please comment below!

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For more Europe packing tips, please read:

• 10-Step Packing Guide for Europe
• How to Choose the Best Shoes for Europe
• What to Wear in Europe: Packing List for Every Destination
• The Only Packing List for Europe You’ll Ever Need!

 

Suggested travel resources:

• Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring
• Travel Shoes for Europe
• The Best Carry-on Suitcases for Europe

 

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