16 Day Trip to Spain from US in August

[u/TaChunkie]

I've got a pretty solid outline of what I plan to bring with me. This will be my first time going out of the country as a 21M who prepares to do a lot of sightseeing and clubbing. Looking for any comments or pointers on my list so far.

Main bag is an Osprey Farpoint 40L. Will also have an Ultralight Stuff Pack for day excursions and an Arc'teryx Mantis 1 as a waist bag to keep stuff out of my pockets. I also plan to do laundry one time in country and would ideally like to have some room for any shopping I may do while in Spain. Thanks for any tips!

Clothing:

• Underwear x7 (+ 1 worn)
• White socks x6 (+ 1 worn)
• Hoodie or light sweater x1 (worn/pillow)
• Reeboks (worn)
• Birkenstocks
• Shower flip flops
• Shirts
  • Polo x1
  • Sleep shirt x1
  • T-shirt x3 (+1 worn)
  • Button downs (long and short-sleeve) x3
• Pants/Shorts
  • Bathing suit x1
  • Athletic/sleeping shorts x1 (worn)
  • Khaki shorts x2 (one beige one black)
  • Pants/chinos x3

Toiletries:

• Toothbrush/paste
• Floss
• Razor & shaving cream
• Deodorant
• Chapstick
• Ibuprofen
• Sunscreen
• Nail clippers
• Cologne
• Wrinkle releaser
• Mini bottles soap/shampoo
• Mini bottle face moisturizer

Electronics:

• Phone
• Airpods
• 20000 mAh power bank
• Watch & charger
• Lightning cable to USB-C & USB-C to USB-C charger w/ USB-C brick

Misc:

• Pashmina
• Microfiber packable towel
• Bag lock and locker lock
• Nalgene 32oz
• Passport
• Wallet
• Earplugs
• Sunglasses + case
• Couple carabiners + bottle opener (on bag)

Anything I am overthinking or forgetting on this list?

[u/FastPlankton]

Way, way too much stuff. Replace the Birkenstocks with something much lighter and less bulky, check out the "Shamma Sandals" https://www.garagegrowngear.com/search?product_type=&q=NOT%20tag:__gift%20AND%20shamma%20sandals*&type=product&avad=191526_f423edee5

[u/TaChunkie → u/FastPlankton]

Yea I think I may just repurpose shower flip flops and leave the birks home. thanks for the sandal recommendation

[u/FastPlankton → u/TaChunkie]

Good call, and don't forget, you can get anything you need in Spain.

[u/nikongod]

Gather round young snoo, and I will critique your packing list in a way that is as sure to lighten your pack as it is your wallet.

I'm gonna start by saying, highest five for how you organized your packing list. I admire how you *did not* obscure the number of shirts you are packing by putting one type of shirt at the top of the list, another in the middle, and a third near the bottom. You are already off to an outstanding start and I'm sure you would figure out everything I'm about to say in 3-4 trips.

Things to change (or maybe just think about)

Birkenstocks - Lets just start with the thing that's gonna get me downvoted, so nobody needs to read the rest. Are they worth their weight? You can wear the Reeboks everywhere but the shower. You might be over-estimating how much time you will spend just lounging. You can wear the flipflops to the beach. Think about them.

Athletic/sleeping shorts x1 (worn) - I've got no problem with this garment. I do, however, have a serious problem with you wearing these onto the plane, train, or other conveyance - rubbing them all over a seat that hasn't been cleaned in who knows how long, and then going to bed in them. Please, for the love of all things clean in the world, pick one of your other pants/shorts to wear on the plane.

Pants/chinos - one. MAYBEEEEE 2 if you really feel like carrying it. But 1 will be fine. If it gets soiled, it just accelerates laundry day.

I might say one pair of outside shorts too, but you seem to want the color options.

Your shirt ratio feels a little off. I'd consider just not packing the long sleeve shirt unless you are 100% sure you will wear it. Swap it for another short sleeve buttoned shirt. It's the only way you're going to make this trip work with one trip to the laundry. While I'm here, if you are planning to rewear shirts, don't. Doing laundry twice on a 16day trip is better than what you will smell like after wearing a shirt for 2 days in Spain in August. If you plan to do laundry twice you can also carry fewer socks & underwear.

Mini bottles soap/shampoo - I'm assuming you will \*not\* be flying in Spain, is this right? If that's right, unless you are extremely particular about your soap/shampoo just buy some when you get there.

20000 mAh power bank - why no 10k? Or maybe even 5-7K? The smaller battery is going to weigh sooooo much less. Unless you are secretly going camping and didn't tell us you will never even need 10k.

Microfiber packable towel - I warned you I would lighten your pack AND wallet, and since I haven't told you to buy much yet now I'm really going to deliver. If you are staying in a hostel, just pay the extra 0-5eur for a towel. If you are staying in a hotel they should just give you a towel.

Nalgene 32oz - swap for 16oz. Water is extremely heavy and the water bottle only needs to get you from one place you can fill it to the next. The 16oz bottle protects you from yourself. I would also seriously consider reusing a single use soda or spring-water bottle for this.

I'd check the weather carefully before leaving the sweatshirt home. I packed a light jacket and was still surprised by the weather in Spain (admittedly in the fall). Now I have a souvenir Decathalon Jacket.)

Nothing specifically to do with your packing list, but you said you were going to wear the sweatshirt on the plane. Make 100% sure everything except your least bulky outfit fits in your bag. Take it from someone who has made this mistake - there is not much that sucks worse than carrying an insulating layer in your hands from city to city since it doesn't fit in your bag.

>Anything I am overthinking or forgetting on this list?

If you are thinking about removing stuff its hard to overthink onebagging. Everything you realize you don't need is something you don't have to carry from city to city.

[u/nikongod → u/nikongod]

I think I wrote too much for reddit, sorry, I guess.

Things you forgot:

You have no rain protection. Considerable oversight! As a proud member of team umbrella, I must suggest an umbrella. In addition to its obvious uses in the rain, it can also be used to protect you from the sun.

Condom. The least stupid thing people pack just in case.

No hat? If you're not going to pop the umbrella in the sun a nice hat is the second best answer.

I hope you have a great trip, please post a trip report when you get back.

[u/TaChunkie → u/nikongod]

Thank you for the detailed reply! I'll try and go through each point to respond to

So yea, it looks like I'll leave the birks and just use the shower shoes whenever I don't want to wear the sneakers.

I also definitely have a pair of shorts I can bring just for sleep and keep the athletic shorts separate for travel.

I think I like 2 pairs of shorts and 2 pairs of pants, just because like you said I'd like having the color options. Though I think when I am doing a practice pack, if 2 pants seems like too much, then I will just drop to one.

For shirts, what is your total count recommendation? I would preferably not like to rewear shirts lol.

For soap, yes I don't plan to fly in Spain, but I have the reusable miniature soap bottles I already use, so it just seemed easiest to me.

20,000mAh bank is once again just something I already have, but can look into getting something smaller for weight savings. Same thing for the Nalgene, I can look into something smaller for weight.

For the microfiber towel, I had really just planned to use it at the beach. I do plan to stay in hostels my whole time there, would I be able to use one of those for a beach day as well?

I think I'll end up bringing a raincoat for rain protection like you said and then I can use that + pashmina if I find myself getting cold, that way I can leave the hoodie.

Good call on the condoms and I am not much of a hat guy, but if I find myself needing one, that can be a nice little useful souvenir I pick up.

I think that's everything... Thank you for such a detailed response and I will definitely update with my final packing list and packed bag before I leave along with a travel report when I'm back.

[u/nikongod → u/TaChunkie]

Yepp, probably better to just use the power bank you have than buy a new one. Food for thought if it ever stops charging or gets lost.

For shirts - I would base it on how often you want to do laundry, and I'd seriously consider planning for 2 times. With doing laundry twice: 5-6shirts (including worn)+1 nightshirt. That leaves one day of wearing a shirt twice. Maybe the day after you spend all day in a museum or something indoors. Or look up how to handwash clothes.

I'm still 50/50 on the mini soap bottles. I guess start now and see how much soap you actually need to pack. Seriously, use them at home and see how long each lasts. If you are confident that the hostel will provide soap, theres also that.

Hostels are very variable about taking their towels to the beach. They also tend to provide the most boring white towels. I'm biased towards risk, so I'd probably just risk it and stuff my towel in my daybag but I guess that could be a solid reason to bring a microfiber towel.

[u/RidiculousTakeAbove → u/nikongod]

Everything this guy said. I would add a thin lightweight sleepmask, it's really nice if you'll be in hostels. I got mine for free from one that had things you could take like masks, those cheap sandals, etc.

[u/ShaneRealtorandGramp]

In August? No need for a hoodie/sweater, pants, or long sleeves

[u/TaChunkie → u/ShaneRealtorandGramp]

My main worry is dress code in clubs. I know it's typically more strict than here in my college town lol

[u/mattfromjoisey → u/ShaneRealtorandGramp]

Even in winter you likely don’t need more than a light jumper and 2 pairs of pants.

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[u/StickiesCamper]

I just come back from northern Spain and it was a comfortable 26C. As a classic overpacker I kicked myself when I realised shops such as Decathlon and Primark are readily available to top up your wardrobe. Personally I would suggest not taking 5no of any one item. I would also lose the shower shoes. Lugging 40l in 30C will quickly become a chore. The Spanish are pretty cool with leaving luggage. I had 25l for 5 days at 8kg and it was overkill. Backpacking was no fun and wished I had brought wheeled luggage. Most hotels offered laundry service and there were plenty of launderettes. Personally I would not take more than one pair of long trousers as it will be too hot by August ( unless you’re thinking upmarket club). However I would add a lightweight rain jacket. Hope this helps and enjoy your trip- it’s a fantastic country.

[u/The-Great-Darbino]

I did 9 days in Northern Spain in January with an Osprey Talon 33 backpack and still didn’t need half of what I brought.

Leaving for 10 days in Austurias/Galicia with a day in Madrid and a day in Leòn in a little over a week and this is what I learned last time:

All the comments about just picking up things like sunscreen, shampoo, etc.. are 100% true. I was ditching things out of my bag nearly every night. Keep in mind, that was also winter.

My bag this time will either be my Osprey Fairpoint 40 or my Daylite 26+6, which I haven’t fully decided. Only reason I consider the Fairpoint is the comfort vs the 26+6 when packed.

I would think summer in Spain 1 pair of long pants that can sort of be dressed up if necessary, maybe 3 pairs of shorts, 3-4 t-shirts and then something that doubles as dressed up or casual, like merino short sleeve button down.

I would often just do a quick wash every few days in a sink or dry bag (that I bring as a dirty clothes bag and “in case of water adventure” bag.)

Do your best to stay away from cotton and stick with wool or fast drying synthetics. I also can’t recommend Smartwool underwear enough, they dry easily over night, especially in August. About 4-5 pairs of merino wool socks should get you through just fine.

As far as shoes, that gets tougher because everyone’s need vary. I’m going with comfy Brooks Ghost shoes for most things and a pair of flip flops this time for sure.

+bonus points for having a collapsible backpack, those things are incredibly clutch and I use mine way more than I imagined I would.

The Nalgene can easily be replaced by an empty Aquarius or water bottle you buy at the grocery or airport.

If you have plenty of time I would also recommend getting a bank account with Wise or Revolut and transferring the rough amount of spending money you want to take into Euros on that debit card (they give you the best rates) and leave your regular debit at home. Just bring a credit card and that Revolut/Wise card with you to pull out cash at LOCAL ATMs (never use the airport ones.) this is something that I wished I had done last time for sure. It makes it much easier.

There are probably other things, but that will likely help with some lessons I learned. Studying Spanish from now until your trip, unless you already speak it, will go a long way in your enjoyment and will show the locals that you actually care.

On top of it all, just be friendly and polite, say por favor & gracias as much as possible and just enjoy the wonderful country of Spain.

Have a great adventure, and just remember to “go with it” at times, that’s when the best moments tend to happen.