Pack-Smart Travel Gear
Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not a professional travel agent. That being said, I’m also not receiving any form of affiliate marketing revenue.
What I bring to the table is twenty years of experience traveling with my wife. We've worn out shoes on European cobblestones, taken more flights than I can count, and hopped on hundreds of trains—I'm happy to pass on what we've learned.
I’m sharing my essential travel tips—covering packing, clothing, and tech—with a special focus on the do's and don'ts of train travel.
Pack Smarter, Travel Trains Better
My first piece of advice—echoed by nearly every excellent travel blog, website, and YouTube channel—is to pack light. If you are the type of traveler who insists on hauling multiple large suitcases, dozens of outfit changes, six pairs of shoes, and every piece of tech you own, you can stop reading now and skip down to my section on Top Packing Items I Love.
When I travel, I carry only one suitcase—a carry-on. For both train and .......
Simple Packing Solutions:
Back to packing: I’m not going to lecture you on exactly how many shirts, slacks, shorts, and socks to pack—you can find plenty of slick videos and PDFs for that online. Instead, I’ll tell you two things. First, crack open your suitcase two weeks before you fly to make your initial selections. As the days pass, refine your wardrobe to suit your destination’s climate, focusing on a cohesive capsule collection—versatile items in a specific color palette that can be mixed and matched. Don't forget your electronics, passport, travel-sized toiletries, and comfortable shoes.
Second, you will have packed too much! Make the tough choices and remove a few items. Bear in mind, you can always buy a t-shirt or sweater during your holiday.
Top Packing Items I Love
Shoes
They need to be comfortable, durable, and cobble-stone resistant. If you can limit yourself to just two pairs, I recommend one waterproof option and one pair of sandals. Women may want a third, slightly dressier option.
I wholeheartedly endorse Vessi Waterproof Shoes. I’m not adding a link because I want you to know I’m not getting any kind of 'kickback' for this recommendation—I just love them. They come in men’s, women’s, and kids’ sizes in a huge variety of colors and styles, and they are 100% waterproof. Here’s a photo of the two pairs I own: I’m bringing the gray ones to Italy in May.
When traveling to warm climates in spring, summer, or fall, sandals are essential. I strongly suggest the Ecco Offroad Nubuck sandals for their superior traction on wet or dry cobblestones. Although I love Birkenstocks, they lack the necessary grip for uneven terrain. These brand-new Ecco are currently being broken in for our upcoming trip to Italy.
Clothing
Shirts
I cannot praise the Unbound Merino t-shirts and polos enough. They are incredibly comfortable, durable, and naturally odor-resistant, enabling you to significantly reduce your packing list (No need to change, that shirt still smells great). Despite the higher price point, I’ve found them to be worth it—I’m still wearing the same two t-shirts and polo after six years of travel. Here are my Unbound Merino items:
Wife's suggestion:
My wife found that black capris, a black skort, and black jeans—or semi-casual slacks—are versatile enough to dress up or down, and they don't show stains.
Rain Gear
I strongly suggest including 100% waterproof rain gear. Recently, my wife and I met a good friend in Lisbon, Portugal, only to wake up to pouring rain on our planned day trip to Sintra. When our friend confessed she hadn’t packed any rain gear, a pair of scissors and some quick, creative snipping turned a garbage bag into her protective covering. We had a great time staying warm and dry, but our friend... well, she had a truly 'unique' experience.
I won't tell you exactly which product to buy, but a quick Google search based on your budget will help you find a highly rated option. I personally have two jackets in my price range—one from Columbia Sportswear and one from WindRiver—and I’ll be taking the Columbia because it's slightly lighter.
Tech Gear
Travel Plug Adaptors
Another must-have is a reliable power bank. You’ll likely be using your phone all day for navigation, photos, and self-guided walking tours. I used to constantly worry about my battery dying before I finally bought one, which forced me to keep my phone usage to a minimum. Just search for 'best travel power bank of the year' to find the top pick (myself, as seen in the photo, I have a 10,000mAh Anker Nano Power Bank).
If you are traveling internationally, a reliable travel plug adapter is an absolute necessity. However, after trying the popular 'Universal Travel Adapter,' I found it to be finicky, awkward to switch, and prone to collapsing upon plugging it into a socket. I have decided that dedicated, country-specific adapters are much better, hence my collection shown in the photo.
Protect your phone, money and other valuables.
A Wise Choice
Do you keep your phone or wallet in your back pocket? Stop. A month before your trip, train yourself to use safer locations. High-density tourist areas are magnets for pickpockets. I’ve experienced two ‘shakey-shakey’ dance distractions and had a hand in my pocket on the subway. I was even physically attacked by a scoundrel who tore off my gold cross—a wedding gift from my wife. For the last ten years, I’ve used SimplifyLiving’s Anti-Theft Crossbody Bag. It is lightweight, tough, water-resistant, and low-profile. Featuring RFID blocking, slash-proof material, and hidden zippers, it also includes a brilliantly accessible magnetic tab pocket for my phone.
I have one top recommendation for your wallet: a Wise prepaid debit card. You simply transfer money from your linked bank account, then use the app to convert funds into multiple currencies with low fees. Accepted in 175 countries and supporting over 40 currencies, it is perfect for contactless transit tapping. Plus, you can instantly freeze and unfreeze the card directly in the app.
Strap 'em Up
Let’s talk about gold-chain thieves. The main rule? No expensive jewelry. Crooks are looking for an easy, quick grab, not a struggle. They rarely go for something locked, zipped, or fastened securely. They want items they can easily swipe from a pocket, cut from a bag, or snatch from a dangling purse. If you love accessories, stick to costume jewelry. My wife buys her travel pieces at thrift stores—that way, if it’s lost or stolen, it’s not a huge loss.
A Bit of Free Advice
I worry about train luggage theft since storage is often by the doors, far from my seat. With the 'grab and run' trend, I wanted extra security. I bought a brightly colored, lockable TravelSafe™ strap for my upcoming Italy trip; it's designed to be a visible deterrent that makes thieves pick an easier target.