Denver in a Backpack

Over the last couple years I’ve become pretty obsessed with travel blogs, especially ones about how to pack for traveling. I love how you can carry your whole life on your back while exploring new places. I’ve gotten pretty good at packing lightly and efficiently, so I want to share some of my experiences here, too!

For my Friday-Tuesday (3 full-day, 2 travel-day) trip to Denver (mid 50s-mid 60s weather in March), I packed everything in my school backpack, a women’s North Face Borealis. This counts as a personal item so I don’t have to pay for carry on or checked luggage on airlines like Frontier. If you’re going to Denver to actually take “real” hikes or ski, this packing list probably isn’t for you. For my trip to Denver, however, we mostly stayed in the city or did one easy hike in the foothills. This packing list applies to most short trips I take to mild-weathered cities in the fall or spring. 

Clothing and shoes:

-1 pair of jeans

-1 pair of gray leggings

-5 shirts (2 plaid button-downs, 1 long sleeve t-shirt, 2 short sleeve t-shirts)

-1 light black jacket

-1 bra/1 sports bra/5 pairs of underwear

-5 pairs of socks

-1 pair of shorts and 1 tshirt for sleeping

-1 pair of black chelsea rain boots

-1 pair of black Nike running shoes

Add a versatile dress and flats if you’re planning on going out, too. I could’ve fit more clothes in that backpack if I wanted.

A note about toiletry items: these are the only items I really use anyway, which is great for traveling because I can keep it low maintenance wherever I go. Since toiletry items are cheap and found everywhere anyway, I would advise taking the bare minimum along with you.

Toiletry Items:

-solid soap*

-solid shampoo/conditioner*

-toothbrush/toothpaste

-hairbrush

-lotion

-makeup/makeup wipes

-deodorant

*solid soap, shampoo, and conditioner free up room for other 3 oz. liquids such as toothpaste and lotion. Lush.com has ahhh-mazing solid shampoo, conditioner, and soaps–definitely worth a try for regular life, too.

Extras:

-phone

-phone charger

-computer

-computer charger

-glasses

–small black purse for wallet and gum

-book for the plane

Rolling up all your clothing items keeps them from wrinkling and saves SO MUCH ROOM. My clothes probably only took up half of my backpack while the toiletry bag, running shoes, and computer took up the rest. Also, wear your bulkiest items on the plane (like my jeans, black jacket and rain boots).

I personally love lists, which is why I enjoy reading about packing so much (incredible how some women can look so fashionable for three months in Europe and all their clothes are in a 50L backpack–that is my goal in life). If you’re not so good with lists, however, lay out everything you want to bring and then get rid of half of it–you’ll regret bringing too much stuff more than you will forgetting one clothing item. If you really need it, you can buy it anywhere you go.

Happy packing and happy travels!