2023 European Summer MVPs

For the past three years I’ve been fortunate to take extended trips to Europe. A combination of remote work and a flexible time off policy means that I can mix-and-match destinations. And for the past three years I’ve continued to ‘tinker’ with my packing list. Below is the culmination, thus-far, of my lessons learned. I present these items not as something you should buy, but instead provide them with my narrative so you can draw your own judgement and importance.

Waterproof Sandals

A recent addition this year, but a needed one. Headed to the Puglia coast in 2021, or the Pont du Gard in 2022, I found myself wearing sneakers. I prioritized packing light, and was ignorant as to the state of beaches across most of France and Italy. In some cases, one must traverse rocks to get to the beach. Others have pebbles where manicured sand might be expected. Eschewing the ‘water socks’ of my youth, I’ve opted for an economical pair of Tevas. I’ll plan to cut off the tag at some point, but that won’t fool the keen eyed. These are now my beach-day preference, in all their nylon and velcro glory. Wear them into the water and let them dry. I also like the flat-pack silhouette meaning they won’t take up as much space as EVA Birks, for example.

Day bags

This year I leveled up and bought a Tango from The Observer Collection. Even still, I purchased a Non Merci canvas tote on arrival for extra carry options. These totes are typically Parisian, doubling as a day bag and grocery bag. They are also great as they pack flat in my roller bag, making it easier to travel.

I also brought with me this Alpaka Tech Case. It’s the perfect size for all the “pocket litter” for a day, or a plane flight. I didn’t like the clip on the included strap, but replaced with some paracord and a carabiner. For a more luxury and polished look, I also took advantage of the cheaper pricing in Europe and bought the Cassette Belt Bag. Both will hold my phone, keys and wallet, or more often my camera.

Camera

I always have a camera with me. This year I picked up the Ricoh GRIIIx, a fixed focal length point-and-shoot. It’s small enough to be nondescript and slip into a bag, but still has an APS-C sensor. I’ve found it’s become my go-to for walking and shooting street photos. My Leica Q2 is also with me, but I feel more drawn to it in places with spaces. I also slightly prefer the longer focal length of the Ricoh, so may look to swap my Q2 for a M with a different lens.

Aeropress & Hand Grinder

This is esoteric, but fresh (good) coffee is a major creature comfort. After spending too much on airfare and lodging, I can’t justify another €7 daily for coffee. So with most AirBNBs or hotels having a kettle, I bring my classic Aeropress me across the globe on longer stays. With it I also pack a metal filter and 1Zpresso Hand Grinder. While the current Aeropress is going strong, if I were to buy again I would get the Aeropress Go for the additional cup. It would add versatility and would certainly have avoided the mess made from an attempted oatmeal breakfast in a disposable plastic cup years ago in the U.K.

Matador gear

I’ve ran across Matador’s products a couple of times, not with intention, but in searching for specific items. They just seem to have products geared towards versatile travel. The first case was their Soap Bar Case. This nifty piece of kit allows me to throw in my wet bar of soap the morning of check out without worry. And yes, switching to bar soap instead of bottled liquid is also a huge benefit for travel.

Second, I was looking for a packable bag that I could stuff into my suitcases, but use to pack all the goodies purchased abroad for the flight home. The added benefit of Matador’s Freefly Duffle was that it was waterproof enough to use as a beach bag. I also looked at Away’s Packable Carryall (I love the Cayenne color), but opted for the Matador because it was a little larger and had a dedicated shoulder strap.

The refining process continues, all in the hopes of making the “travel” part of traveling easier for me. There are loads other “essentials” that I have from the trip, but these new additions made the most recent trip that much more enjoyable. Happy trails!